oil level question

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Mar 21, 2011 | 07:54 PM

dnk

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 3

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From: cartersville, ga, usa

2006 E320 CDI

oil level question

hello:

i drive a 2006 e320 cdi. i have a question about the proper oil level in the car and i'm hoping someone can give me some guidance.

the owner's manual reports the car holds 8 quarts of oil with a filter change. the service menu reported i had 6.9 quarts of oil in the sump. the normal oil level check report this as "oil level ok."

almost a quart low didn't seem ok to me, so i added about a half-quart and re-checked. the service menu now reports 7.3 quarts, but the normal oil level check report says the car is now overfull.

so - if i'm interpreting these correctly, i'm either over-full, or not, depending. anyone have any idea what's causing the apparent discrepancy?

thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

mark

Mar 21, 2011 | 08:31 PM

sebtdi

Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 41

Likes: 1

2005 E320 CDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnk

Same issues..Get a dipstick!

Mar 22, 2011 | 08:15 AM

isstay

Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 430

Likes: 6

From: USA, EU

06 E320 CDI (GONE), 14 Jeep GC EcoDiesel, 01 Disco II (GONE), 09 BMW X3 3.0 Si Xdrive

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnk

3.2 Inline engine takes 8 quarts or 7.5 liters of oil and w/engine off will give you info about oil level that say it is ok. If you enter service menu and start the engine then you will see actual reading - how many quarts are in the sump and this level is also ok because reads only the oil in the sump, but you have oil circulating the engine. My car will not give me actual oil level in quarts if I am into the service menu but the engine is not running and then the oil level vary deppend on engine speed.
Did you get 6.9 quarts reading when engine was running? If you did then you are ok and now you will have to evacuate that extra half quart to prevent engine damages.

Mar 22, 2011 | 11:15 AM

dnk

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

From: cartersville, ga, usa

2006 E320 CDI

no, i can check the sump level in the service menu on my car without the engine running. key is on (in the running position) but starter has not been activated.

Mar 23, 2011 | 01:35 PM

isstay

Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 430

Likes: 6

From: USA, EU

06 E320 CDI (GONE), 14 Jeep GC EcoDiesel, 01 Disco II (GONE), 09 BMW X3 3.0 Si Xdrive

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnk

no, i can check the sump level in the service menu on my car without the engine running. key is on (in the running position) but starter has not been activated.

my car say 7.3 quarts if I check oil levels like you did, but there should be some oil in oil filter and oil heat exchanger (oil from oil cooler drains into the sump after you unscrew the oil filter and allow some air into the system), I am not sure how much oil the cooler holds but the total is getting close to 8 quarts.

Mar 23, 2011 | 03:52 PM

dnk

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

From: cartersville, ga, usa

2006 E320 CDI

guess that makes sense. i'd looked at the oil filter housing and tried to estimate how much it might hold, but didn't think about the oil <> glycol cooler. thanks for your advice!

m.

Mar 23, 2011 | 03:57 PM

sebtdi

Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 41

Likes: 1

2005 E320 CDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnk

guess that makes sense. i'd looked at the oil filter housing and tried to estimate how much it might hold, but didn't think about the oil <> glycol cooler. thanks for your advice!

m.

I wonder if a shop dipstick can be purchased from the dealer? I don't trust these oil level sensors - I 'm just too old fashion

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Mar 23, 2011 | 04:15 PM

sebtdi

Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 41

Likes: 1

2005 E320 CDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musikmann

Dealers sell them and you can find on ebay and other online suppliers. The sensors are nice but there is no substitute for the old method.

I called the dealer and they don't have them for the CDI diesel - only the newest cars. shop tool only and it's like $200

Where did you find it on Ebay?

Mar 23, 2011 | 05:13 PM

#10

Clinton Horn

Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 413

Likes: 3

2003 E320

I dont know if they have a diesel specific shop tool but you can find oil and tranny dipsticks here. Note: These are SHOP tools and cannot be left in the block.
www.baumtools.com

Mar 23, 2011 | 06:07 PM

#11

Musikmann

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 1,627

Likes: 5

From: West Virginia

2001 E320 RWD - Brilliant Silver/Ash: 100,000+

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebtdi

I called the dealer and they don't have them for the CDI diesel - only the newest cars. shop tool only and it's like $200. Where did you find it on Ebay?

Heck forget what I said. I read your post too quickly and thought you were asking about a transmission "dipstick tool". Some of us W210 owners have found those on ebay. My bad...

Last edited by Musikmann; Mar 23, 2011 at 06:10 PM.

Mar 23, 2011 | 06:21 PM

#12

mtrevelino

Super Member

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 563

Likes: 31

From: The Villages, Florida

2006 E320 CDI

I could not find my receipt or the web site that I ordered mine from, but I found this:
http://www.automotivetools.com/Techn...9/Product.aspx

The part number is M120-0721 which includes our 648 engine. I am also attaching a file that gives you the oil level while using the dipstick.
When I changed the oil and filter in my cdi, I installed 8 quarts of oil. The next morning I checked it with the FSS and the level was at 7.5 quarts. So I assume the oil filter holds approximately 1/2 quart. With the dipstick, it measured 130mm.
Mike T.

Attached Files

Oil Level_Dipstick.pdf (50.0 KB, 1767 views)

Mar 23, 2011 | 06:37 PM

#13

delviacv2

Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 250

Likes: 1

From: NJ

2005 E320 CDI

I changed my oil last night (05 E320 CDI), before I change the oil I let it sit for 15 minutes and checked the level, read 7.2 qts and the other menu read "oil level ok"

Used the suction pump and got all the oil out, went back to the dash and it read ---qts. Then thru the oil filter housing I put in 7 qts, when back to the dash and it read 6.8 qts. I added an other 1/2 of qt. And it read 7.2 same as before the oil change. So I was happy, also the other menu menu says oil level ok.

Last edited by delviacv2; Mar 23, 2011 at 06:45 PM.

Mar 24, 2011 | 12:54 PM

#14

isstay

Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 430

Likes: 6

From: USA, EU

06 E320 CDI (GONE), 14 Jeep GC EcoDiesel, 01 Disco II (GONE), 09 BMW X3 3.0 Si Xdrive

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musikmann

Heck forget what I said. I read your post too quickly and thought you were asking about a transmission "dipstick tool". Some of us W210 owners have found those on ebay. My bad...

This is the trany tool:

http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numbe..._5C1313F8.aspx

look at the second page on the PDF those are the part# for the engine oil tool.

The measuring rod can be found on this site and cost 196.78

http://www.samstagsales.com/mercedes.htm#oil

or the dipstick from here for 40$

http://www.zdmak.com/wbstore/main.as...40-0110&CTMP=1

Quote:

Originally Posted by delviacv2

OM648 or 3.2L CDI needs 8 quarts or 7.5 litres of oil. You should add rest of the oil from 8th bottle.

Attached Files

dipstick.pdf (109.9 KB, 436 views)

Last edited by isstay; Mar 24, 2011 at 01:00 PM.

Mar 24, 2011 | 01:50 PM

#15

delviacv2

Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 250

Likes: 1

From: NJ

2005 E320 CDI

Ok I will add the other half of qt, I was just afraid that it could said, "too much oil take some out"

Quote:

Originally Posted by isstay

Jun 26, 2011 | 01:12 AM

#16

spinn

Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 396

Likes: 1

From: SF Bay Area

2004 E500

I checked my level after receiving a message to add a quart at next refueling.

Went into the FSS menu and before starting it up, the level read 6.1 qts. Once I started it up, it fluctuated between 4.1- 4.7 qts. Is this normal? Do I need to add more?

I just bought the car last month, 2004 E500, and it's not due for service for another 3200 miles.

Jun 26, 2011 | 08:16 AM

#17

edwinwalke

Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 268

Likes: 1

From: Northern Virginia

2006 E320CDI

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnk

no, i can check the sump level in the service menu on my car without the engine running. key is on (in the running position) but starter has not been activated.

I have an 06 E320 CDI just like yours and get the exact same reading from the service menu (6.9 Qts). If I do the normal oil check it will say Oil level OK. I also did a reference check the first time I changed the oil using my Transmission dipstick ( the flexible one you can buy to check the transmission oil level). I drained the engine and added the 8 quarts and then inserted the dipstick and determined exactly how far it had to be inserted to indicate the full mark. Once I determined the reference I marked it for future use.

The service menu check is not for checking the oil level. I found it by accident and enjoy checking the oil that way now that I know what reading is correct. I can also see if it has used any oil with the menu check. The normal way will give you an indication that the oil level is ok and has not fallen below the point that it tells you to add.

You can also start the engine with the service menu oil level indicator and see how much oil is in the sump while the engine is running. If I remember it will show over 5 quarts which means you have about 3 quarts or less in the engine oil circuit and filter.

So far I have not seen the level on the reference menu fall below 6.8 quarts after a oil change interval of over 8,000 miles.