Tom in Austin

Can someone who's done it confirm the number in the manual, an oil change with filter requires 8.5 quarts.

For a 2016 S550 with the standard M278 / 4.7L engine.

Thanks

2012 merc amg

I thought it was 8.9 quarts. At least you have a dipstick so you can double check it. My 2018 has no stick and according to the onscreen gauge after putting in 8.9 quarts its right up on max and sometimes turns red and says overfill on rare occasions. Strange. I really wish MB had not done away with the dipstick, for that matter too a trans dipstick, it had been that way a long time and I'm sure not much fluid evaporates outta the cars with the trans sticks that have a good o ring seal on the dipstick.

konigstiger

And service sheet shows 278.929 = 8.0

Tom in Austin

Ah, 8 liters = 8.45 quarts

Last time my Indy double-checked it using xentry when I had the car in for something else. Maybe it's just me, I have a hard time reading the dipstick, the entire end is covered in oil well above the red thing.

Thanks!

AMG__POWER

I use the liquimoly kit from fcp euro, it is 8.5 quarts I believe, I add 2 cans ceratec as well.

Nice Ride

You need to thoroughly dry the end, insert, remove and look closely with a light if needed and turn the stick slowly, you will clearly see shiny area where oil mark stops. NOTE: most of the time when removing the dipstick, you fill find it dry as a bone. This is normal I found out due to the vacuum in the engine causing oil to be sucked out of the stick. Remove / insert all good to take a reading. Some people have taken this 1st reading and ended up overfilling oil.

Tom in Austin

Just to close this up ... my guy put in exactly 8.5 qts today and car was down a half when I got it home and checked the dipstick ... so at least for my car, the correct number is 9.0.

jcat

8.5 plus filter volume would probably be about 9.

Tom in Austin

Again, the manual says 8.5 quarts with a filter change ...

As I think about it, my Honda's transmission is supposed to take 3.0 qts for "drain and refill" per the manual and it actually needs 3.5 to show correct (full) level. Maybe mfgs are a little on the low side generally?

2012 merc amg

The dealer I go to up north where I know the long time mechanic says he always puts in 83/4 quarts to be safe but told me to put it exactly on full it’s 8.9 quarts.

ebceksl

I have changed the oil in my M278 several times. I drain the oil via the plug in the oil pan, and then fill up with 8 liters. Then the oil level will be perfect when I measure the oil level when the engine is cold.

steinjr

Only change the oil when the car tells me to. Don't quote me... but I believe the car calculates how often it is started, how far it is driven, and how long since the last maintenance reminder reset and uses an algorithm to determine when the next service is required.

2012 merc amg

I thought it was just every 10K miles or 1 year whichever comes first. I know I had a chevy that worked on some kind algorithm depending on how hard the car was driven and conditions to trip the oil change due light so I know there are some cars that have this type of system, so maybe although I never noticed that on the MB, just seems like miles or time, which yes someone that drives like 2K miles per year or less they probably don't need an oil change every year although the darn reminder is gonna stay on all the time after a year of not changing the oil.

jcat

realistically the only way to know for sure is to have the oil analyzed.

These cars hold more oil than normal, which makes an increased interval less risky. That said, with these DI turbocharged engines 10k still makes me a little iffy at least with the way and conditions in which I drive. On the old N/A v8's, sure. I'd probably do 7500 honestly. But that's just me.

2012 merc amg

Ya, I go 10K miles, with the quality of todays synthetic mobil 1, the good fleece filters, and like you said the nearly 9 quart capacity I don't worry.