oil check?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,753
Likes: 3
From: South Orange Co., CA
'03 W211 aka E-500
oil check?
Ok, I go through the E-500's maze of menus, and find the temp/speedo digital readout. Behind that is the "Service C due in XXXX miles" message. Behind that is the oil can symbol automatic check. When I go to do it while I'm driving, it says "Not when engine on." Ok. So I park, turn off the ignition, but don't remove the key (still in position I or II, whichever is closest to actually starting the engine). I try the oil auto check again, and it says, "Engine must be on."
Huh ?
Ok, I give, how the heck do I check the engine oil level. Short of getting under the hood with a rag and yanking the dipstick. Which is what I feel like (dipstick) for not being able to figure this thing out.
Thanks,
EDJ
Huh ?
Ok, I give, how the heck do I check the engine oil level. Short of getting under the hood with a rag and yanking the dipstick. Which is what I feel like (dipstick) for not being able to figure this thing out.
Thanks,
EDJ
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
E-500
Joe:
I was scratching my head over this yesterday. On my car (not sure if it is ok or not)...if you check on menu while engine on it tells you that you can't check with engine on. If I turn the engine off and check right away I get a very quick flash of "engine oil level ok" then it goes quickly to the "engine must be on". You have to be fast to see it.
Not a lot of bright thinking involved with this programming. I did not check the manual so don't know if mine is doing what it is supposed to. Check and see if yours does the same.
Maybe it shows up on the rear fog light somewhere.
Ed
I was scratching my head over this yesterday. On my car (not sure if it is ok or not)...if you check on menu while engine on it tells you that you can't check with engine on. If I turn the engine off and check right away I get a very quick flash of "engine oil level ok" then it goes quickly to the "engine must be on". You have to be fast to see it.
Not a lot of bright thinking involved with this programming. I did not check the manual so don't know if mine is doing what it is supposed to. Check and see if yours does the same.
Maybe it shows up on the rear fog light somewhere.
Ed
Last edited by etenn; Dec 4, 2002 at 10:18 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: NC
'03 Mercedes E320
I had this system on a '98 E320 V6 and an '01 C320 and the new E320 works exactly the same: when the engine has been off for some period of time to allow oil to settle into the crankcase (15 minutes, I believe--or you get a cryptic message to wait), turn on the ignition but not the engine to get the multifunction display, page to oil check, and you'll get a "checking now" after a few seconds, then an"oil level OK". The array of possible messages is listed in the manual.
It has always worked for me, all 3 cars, but I never specifically tried it after leaving the key in. I just do it periodically at first start in the morning. It will also sense low or high oil levels while driving and give you a warning. On the '98 just after a service, I got the high level warning, the dealer sent a mechanic to the house, took some out and they learned the new V6 was very sensitive to overfills.
BTW--there's no dipstick. The dipstick tube is capped for dealer use only. That went away on the C320, too. They said the system does the job of reporting, and the dipstick and check process introduce microscopic dirt into the system, same logic as the transmission dipstick disappearance some time ago. I believe my '98 E320 did not have transmission dipstick, but did have an oil dipstick. The FSS checks for impurities with a piezzo (sp?) sensor of some type and calculates dirt as well as cycles and operating temps
It has always worked for me, all 3 cars, but I never specifically tried it after leaving the key in. I just do it periodically at first start in the morning. It will also sense low or high oil levels while driving and give you a warning. On the '98 just after a service, I got the high level warning, the dealer sent a mechanic to the house, took some out and they learned the new V6 was very sensitive to overfills.
BTW--there's no dipstick. The dipstick tube is capped for dealer use only. That went away on the C320, too. They said the system does the job of reporting, and the dipstick and check process introduce microscopic dirt into the system, same logic as the transmission dipstick disappearance some time ago. I believe my '98 E320 did not have transmission dipstick, but did have an oil dipstick. The FSS checks for impurities with a piezzo (sp?) sensor of some type and calculates dirt as well as cycles and operating temps
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 280
Likes: 12
From: Fort Myers, FL
'23 EQE 350 4MATIC
Originally posted by jim256
I had this system on a '98 E320 V6 and an '01 C320 and the new E320 works exactly the same: when the engine has been off for some period of time to allow oil to settle into the crankcase (15 minutes, I believe--or you get a cryptic message to wait), turn on the ignition but not the engine to get the multifunction display, page to oil check, and you'll get a "checking now" after a few seconds, then an"oil level OK". The array of possible messages is listed in the manual.
It has always worked for me, all 3 cars, but I never specifically tried it after leaving the key in. I just do it periodically at first start in the morning. It will also sense low or high oil levels while driving and give you a warning. On the '98 just after a service, I got the high level warning, the dealer sent a mechanic to the house, took some out and they learned the new V6 was very sensitive to overfills.
BTW--there's no dipstick. The dipstick tube is capped for dealer use only. That went away on the C320, too. They said the system does the job of reporting, and the dipstick and check process introduce microscopic dirt into the system, same logic as the transmission dipstick disappearance some time ago. I believe my '98 E320 did not have transmission dipstick, but did have an oil dipstick. The FSS checks for impurities with a piezzo (sp?) sensor of some type and calculates dirt as well as cycles and operating temps
I had this system on a '98 E320 V6 and an '01 C320 and the new E320 works exactly the same: when the engine has been off for some period of time to allow oil to settle into the crankcase (15 minutes, I believe--or you get a cryptic message to wait), turn on the ignition but not the engine to get the multifunction display, page to oil check, and you'll get a "checking now" after a few seconds, then an"oil level OK". The array of possible messages is listed in the manual.
It has always worked for me, all 3 cars, but I never specifically tried it after leaving the key in. I just do it periodically at first start in the morning. It will also sense low or high oil levels while driving and give you a warning. On the '98 just after a service, I got the high level warning, the dealer sent a mechanic to the house, took some out and they learned the new V6 was very sensitive to overfills.
BTW--there's no dipstick. The dipstick tube is capped for dealer use only. That went away on the C320, too. They said the system does the job of reporting, and the dipstick and check process introduce microscopic dirt into the system, same logic as the transmission dipstick disappearance some time ago. I believe my '98 E320 did not have transmission dipstick, but did have an oil dipstick. The FSS checks for impurities with a piezzo (sp?) sensor of some type and calculates dirt as well as cycles and operating temps
Excellent info! Thanks ... saves me time from reading the manual!
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: Orlando, FL
2008 E350
I had this system on a '98 E320 V6 and an '01 C320 and the new E320 works exactly the same: when the engine has been off for some period of time to allow oil to settle into the crankcase (15 minutes, I believe--or you get a cryptic message to wait), turn on the ignition but not the engine to get the multifunction display, page to oil check, and you'll get a "checking now" after a few seconds, then an"oil level OK". The array of possible messages is listed in the manual.
It has always worked for me, all 3 cars, but I never specifically tried it after leaving the key in. I just do it periodically at first start in the morning. It will also sense low or high oil levels while driving and give you a warning. On the '98 just after a service, I got the high level warning, the dealer sent a mechanic to the house, took some out and they learned the new V6 was very sensitive to overfills.
BTW--there's no dipstick. The dipstick tube is capped for dealer use only. That went away on the C320, too. They said the system does the job of reporting, and the dipstick and check process introduce microscopic dirt into the system, same logic as the transmission dipstick disappearance some time ago. I believe my '98 E320 did not have transmission dipstick, but did have an oil dipstick. The FSS checks for impurities with a piezzo (sp?) sensor of some type and calculates dirt as well as cycles and operating temps
It has always worked for me, all 3 cars, but I never specifically tried it after leaving the key in. I just do it periodically at first start in the morning. It will also sense low or high oil levels while driving and give you a warning. On the '98 just after a service, I got the high level warning, the dealer sent a mechanic to the house, took some out and they learned the new V6 was very sensitive to overfills.
BTW--there's no dipstick. The dipstick tube is capped for dealer use only. That went away on the C320, too. They said the system does the job of reporting, and the dipstick and check process introduce microscopic dirt into the system, same logic as the transmission dipstick disappearance some time ago. I believe my '98 E320 did not have transmission dipstick, but did have an oil dipstick. The FSS checks for impurities with a piezzo (sp?) sensor of some type and calculates dirt as well as cycles and operating temps
Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,499
Likes: 335
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I had the menu-based system on my '03 C240 but I can't find the menu on my '08 E350. The manual only shows checking the oil with the dipstick. Does anyone know if they discontinued the menu oil check on the new 350 engines? Also, can I expect a warning if the oil level gets too low? Or do I have to periodically check the oil level with the dipstick like I did back in the old days?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
