How to know if car has been serviced? (oil cap hole???)
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w212 e350
How to know if car has been serviced? (oil cap hole???)
I'm interested in a 2014 e350 wagon that I plan to look at tomorrow. There are no service records on the carfax and the selling dealer has none either. I am wondering if there is a way to tell if the oil has been changed as it should. In other cars/engines I've bough it has been possible to look through the oil cap and see the inside of the cylinder head. If it was dark or gunked up it was obvious it wasn't serviced as it should have been. Is this possible on the 2014 e350, or do you just see plastic when you look inside the oil cap hole?
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I'm interested in a 2014 e350 wagon that I plan to look at tomorrow. There are no service records on the carfax and the selling dealer has none either. I am wondering if there is a way to tell if the oil has been changed as it should. In other cars/engines I've bough it has been possible to look through the oil cap and see the inside of the cylinder head. If it was dark or gunked up it was obvious it wasn't serviced as it should have been. Is this possible on the 2014 e350, or do you just see plastic when you look inside the oil cap hole?
How many miles on it?
Last edited by Arrie; Jan 10, 2020 at 06:51 AM.
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
1. the car has FSS who will show oil life remaining. Usually FSS gives 13,000 miles or 12 months for oil change, so easy to calculate when it was changed
2. car computer keeps records of FSS reset. All it takes is good scanner.
3. Blackstone lab charge $29 for oil test (including shipping) so it doesn't cost much to have actual test. The only issue is few days it takes.
OILS NEVER SUPPOSE TO BE JUDGED BY THEIR LOOKS !
When I am buying used vehicle - I do blowby and acceleration test. Never bought bad engine.
2. car computer keeps records of FSS reset. All it takes is good scanner.
3. Blackstone lab charge $29 for oil test (including shipping) so it doesn't cost much to have actual test. The only issue is few days it takes.
OILS NEVER SUPPOSE TO BE JUDGED BY THEIR LOOKS !
When I am buying used vehicle - I do blowby and acceleration test. Never bought bad engine.
