DanD.

Hi All,
A few days ago I have pulled dipstick out and was surprised to see the oil level almost close to Min. Which is very strange.

Good thing it was time to change the oil, I have used vacuum pump and got about 7.5L of oil, which can't be a Min level if 8 L should be a Max level.

Feel 7.5L new fresh oil in and called it a day. This morning I pulled a dipstick and level was just above Min (attached) looks strange because bottom and top part of the stick has oil marks, nothin in between.
so added remaining .5L of oil and made a very shirt trip, came back left the car sit for about 30 mins and checked the oil, level is below Min.

I just don't get it, what is going on with dipstick ? Why it can't measure oil level right?
Do I need to add an extra .5-1L of oil?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

pgeller

vinceC

That behavior is typical for the 276 engine. I first pull the dipstick, clean it, them reinsert. Let it sit 5-10 seconds then pull it and check the reading.

DanD.

Ok, all that is about 8L in total. Oil capacity by manual is 8L.

DanD.

I do almost the same, plus Im also turning it a few laps.
But I don't get oil level even above Min level.

DanD.

This morning I pulled the dipstick, oil level was way above Max, cleaned it and put it back for a few seconds. When I pulled it back level just lover mid level than clean area and Max mark also has some oil. Is this the right reading?

peter2772000

Anywhere between the two arrows, Dan!

Koenig1

OK.. I think I can explain MB's dipstick, at least on my old GLK. MB has an Oring seal at the top of the dipstick. It actually provides a vacuum to the oil pan. Until you release the dipstick(vacuum), you will not find a proper oil level. I believe the Oring is to create the best emissions from the crankcase. Anyway, pull your dipstick and wipe off, then reset and do it again. Hopefully, that will give you a more positive result! If then oil is cold, it will take more time to register properly...

DanD.

thank you all, I feel better now

Should I try to get the lever higher (closer) to Max? it will give the engine more oil to observe the heat and more oil for lubrication, another thought more oil can create more pressure and develop some leaks.

Thoughts?

vinceC

Koenig1 is correct. Do not overfill. If you filled with the amount specified in the owner's manual, check your level as described and consider that normal.

Isawelvis

Best way to check the oil, is in the morning when it has had all night to drain. Just remove the dip stick and see what it reads. If you have a garage, you can pull the dip stick out at night(of course leave the hood open so you don't forget) and insert the dip stick and check the oil., in the morning. I have the Mercedes dealer change my oil, and it seems it read above the max line even though the bill says 7.5 qts. Like mentioned above "anywhere between the two arrows"

HAILERS2

Samd as Koenig 1 stated. I first saw this 'problem' on a SL550 and later on the ML350 Bluetec. I probably overdo it, but I remove the dipstick and also remove the oil filler cap, then check the oil level.

Scared the heck out of me when I drove to CA from TX and checked the oil for the first time. Eeeeek! no oil on the dipstick 'the cars ruined' oh me oh my. Then I learned what Koenig 1 stated by trial and error.

DanD.

Last night pulled dipstick out and left it over night, this morning put stick back in and pulled it out. It was just in the middle, easy and clean reading.

Eric@wages

Hello there.

I did my first oil change on the 2013 ML350 base (3.5 L V6)

Believe it or not I pulled 11 US Qts out of that engine. (who ever change the oil before must of had the same problem and kept on adding oil) I couldn't believe it.
I changed the oil plug washer, oil filter and o'ring and used Liqui Molly 5W-40. I put exactly 7 qts. started the engine, let the oil drip back into the pan, pull the dip stick and it was completely dry. Strange I thought. Rechecked the manual and forums, and this model calls for 7.4 us US quarts of oil. So the dip stick should be reading something. Added another .5 qts, nothing. Added another .5 qts and nothing. I am now running with 8.0 qts and I still cant get an oil reading.

Could it be that the dip stick is too short to actually penetrate the oil tube and get to the base of the oil pan to get an accurate reading? I am truly dumb-founded.

not sure what to do or think about this one. Any help is greatly appreciated.

DanD.

Yes, I was so angry, simple thing and I couldn't get it right.
What I found, pull dip stick out and leave it out over night, in the morning put it back in and pull out. Is the best way to get oil level reading.

If you used right amount by the book you shouldn't worry now, but how would you know if you have right level later?

Eric@wages

peter2772000

I remember DanD posting about this issue a while back, but I personally never experienced this problem. I'm back home tomorrow, will try to remember to measure my stick and post my results.

Wow, that didn't sound right LOL

Eric@wages

LOL!! Thanks Very Much Peter.

Yeah, I've been changing oil on all my cars for years. This is definitely a new one for me.

Thanks

Koenig1

Peter, don't want to be the bone here but.... Eric's is a gasser... yours a Diesel... not sure if the dipsticks are common length? Eric needs to find a gasser to measure correctly, perhaps a visit to a stealership and pull one from the lot to get correct length. GL

Eric@wages

Hi guys and gals. Again immense thanks for the help.

I called both of my stealerships here in Vegas and ask for help. First the parts dept. which offer me to sell me the dip stick for $104.00 and had no way of verifying the length of the dipstick, and then their respective service dept. which basically blew me off. So with the right part number on hand I did a brief search on google and found it for $39.00 at MB of San Francisco. Also the parts guy was able to give a measurement. He said the computer showed it measures about 635mm which is roughly 25 inches. Just to be sure, I have him my vin number just in case. If this is correct, I may have found my problem. I am 4.5 inches short. So I order the dipstick.

I will advise once the part gets here.

Also since I am running 8qts of oil right, I will be sucking what is needed to make 7.4qts.

Thanks again all.
Eric

DanD.

Hi Eric,
Its very good you got your answer.

Before you pull "extra" oil out, check the manual for your engine their is value which you can go over, for diesels its 600ml.

Eric@wages

Will do Dand.

Again many thanks.

Eric

peter2772000

LOL, I didn't realize that. But the fact that DanD had the same problem had me assuming that Eric also had a BT. Dan has had the exact same issue with his diesel.

Eric@wages

BTW. The part number 276-010-22-72 is the dipstick and according to the San Fran website, it is good for the 4Matic and the Base ML.

Eric@wages

Thanks to all that chimed on my post.