Need help to solve oil level problem.
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From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
Need help to solve oil level problem.
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.
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.
Thread Starter
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From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
Originally Posted by pgeller
I always use 8 quarts of oil and a pint of BG Doc. The dipstick reads about halfway with those amounts.
pg
pg
Thread Starter
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From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
Originally Posted by 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.
But I don't get oil level even above Min level.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
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?
Last edited by DanD.; Oct 31, 2018 at 02:29 PM.
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Ottawa ON Canada
2015 ML350 Bluetec
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...
Last edited by Koenig1; Oct 31, 2018 at 06:39 PM.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
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?
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?
Super Member
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From: Southern Illinois
, 2023 BMW X4, 1991 190E
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"
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From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
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.
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.
Last edited by HAILERS2; Nov 1, 2018 at 11:29 AM. Reason: spelling error
Junior Member
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2013 ML350 Base
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.
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.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
Originally Posted by 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.
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.
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?
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 72
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2013 ML350 Base
DanD. Thanks for the reply. The length of the oil dipstick tube seems so much longer than the actual dipstick. My dipstick measures approx. 20.5 inches from top to bottom.
For those of you NOT having this problem, could you measure the dipstick in your ml350 and post ithe measurement please.
Thanks much.
For those of you NOT having this problem, could you measure the dipstick in your ml350 and post ithe measurement please.
Thanks much.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2017
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From: Montreal/Cape Coral FL
2012 X6 35i Sport, 2013 ML 350 BT, 2019 4Runner TRD Pro, 2020 CRV-AWD
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
Wow, that didn't sound right LOL
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 323
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From: Ottawa ON Canada
2015 ML350 Bluetec
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
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 2
2013 ML350 Base
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
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
Thread Starter
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From: NW
2018 GLC 4MATIC
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.
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,234
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From: Montreal/Cape Coral FL
2012 X6 35i Sport, 2013 ML 350 BT, 2019 4Runner TRD Pro, 2020 CRV-AWD
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.
