claudef

I have an 2010 E350 that now has 70k miles. It is due for an oil change in about 2k miles. I decided to check out the oil level this week end and was amazing that half of the oil was gone.

The car does not smoke or smell. No oil mark on the ground. Could this excessive oil consumption be a result of this bulletin LI03.10-P-052286 (Knocking noise from crank assembly, noise from the engine) Noise caused by scuffed, damaged cylinders resulting from scratching cylinder walls by the pistons oil scraper ring?

I hear knocking when engine is cold (almost like a diesel noise). Dealer, as usual, is deaf

Thank you

mnje350

When you say half the oil was gone do you mean that the level on the dip stick was at half, or when you drained the oil, only 4 quarts came out. I would think that all kinds of warnings would have gone off if half of your oil was gone.

Half down on the dip stick would be normal to me.

Arrie

There is no way knowing how much your oil level went down if you did not check it right after your last oil change. I check mine every time I fill up the tank and mine does use just a little bit of oil, perhaps 1/16" on the dip stick in 5000 miles after the dealer oil change. Often the dip stick does not show all the way full either after their oil change. It usually is about 1/8" down from the full mark right after the change.


After my own oil change between the dealer changes I don't loose any oil at all. This I believe is because I use 0W-40 oil and the dealer by their paper work use 5W-40 oil. Why this would make the difference I don't know.

claudef

Thank you for your reply. Oil was half down on the dip stick

claudef

I will check it right after the dealer changes the oil. I never checked in the past, assuming it would be full after an oil change. Thank you

jonUF02

Oil dip stick marks only measure the last quart of oil, not the entire capacity. If it's half-way between the marks, then that is normal operating range. Anywhere between the marks is fine. Usually when below the bottom mark (1 quart low) the car will give a warning.


These are general comments for all vehicles I have ever owned. I have never checked oil in my E550 yet. I thought they didn't even have a dip stick in these new MB?

Johnny Rad

Thanks for the common sense reminders and wisdom! Now I just have to remember to check the oil level after my next oil change. In all honesty, I give myself a less than 50:50 chance, argh! However, now I won't jump to any potentially false conclusions if my dipstick reads "low-ish."

fosterelli

There is a process to conduct an Oil Consumption Test. If you want to do it, talk to your dealer. They fill the engine with an exact amount of oil & change the filter; they'll have you drive X,XXX amount of miles, and then measure the remaining oil as precisely as possible. All manufacturers have written procedures for oil consumption tests (for dealers to use when excessive oil consumption is suspected).

mnje350

I think that I have checked the oil level once maybe twice since I have owned the car. Just checked both tonight. about 5k miles since last change. Right in the middle of the marks. Where I would expect the level to be. I think you have nothing to worry about.