SL/R230: Malfunction message "reduce oil level"?
05-17-2015, 07:31 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Malfunction message "reduce oil level"?
Went out today for a drive...80 degree weather, sunny. After about 15 miles on a limited access highway averaging 75-80 mph I get a red malfunction message that says "reduce oil level". It stayed on for only about 30 seconds, then went off. I continued another 5 miles to my destination. The malfunction was listed in the dash display, but cleared when I shut the car off and restarted. I checked the oil level and it said reduce oil level. I'm not sure that the car was parked on a level spot when I checked it. The car was parked for a couple of hours, drove back home... no malfunction. When parked in the garage on the level, I again checked the oil level..." oil level ok". Any advice for a new owner?
05-18-2015, 12:40 AM
#2
Super Member
the oil when hot is going to read different. You likely are overfilled by about 1/2 quart. I am experiencing the exact same problem right now. Overfilled oil is just about as dangerous as underfilled. It is pretty easy on these to accidentally overfill 1/2 quart. The best way to check the oil is to get the actual dipstick, which you can find on amazon.
05-18-2015, 10:30 AM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the info. I'm a little confused about this since the oil was changed at the MB dealer when I bought the car. It's been driven 683 miles since the oil change with no malfunction message. Why now? When I checked it in my garage, I had just returned home and the engine was hot. We'll see...
05-18-2015, 03:40 PM
#4
Super Member
Car vs. STAR
Here's another data point:
When I check my car using the instrument panel for oil level, it says no problem.
When I checked it using the Star DAS, it said it is too high. I'm guessing the computer is more precise than the car (consumer vs. tech). You could ask your dealer to hook it up to the DAS and it will tell them if it is in spec.
It may also be that your level sensor varies the result based on temperature, and that is why you see a high reading now. Just a stab at why it now shows level too high.
When I check my car using the instrument panel for oil level, it says no problem.
When I checked it using the Star DAS, it said it is too high. I'm guessing the computer is more precise than the car (consumer vs. tech). You could ask your dealer to hook it up to the DAS and it will tell them if it is in spec.
It may also be that your level sensor varies the result based on temperature, and that is why you see a high reading now. Just a stab at why it now shows level too high.
05-18-2015, 04:58 PM
#5
Super Member
Mine has been in for 3,500 miles and is just now popping up the message. From now on I think I am going to do my own oil changes and use the Mercedes oil dipstick (about $15) to check it and then confirm this with DAS.
There are many stories of dealers siphoning out oil on these cars instead of draining the oil, which is the incorrect way to do it. Mercedes released a service notice clarifying this, but I'd guess most dealers ignore it as it is more profitable/faster/easier to do it the siphon way.
On the 63 cars it is ok to siphon the oil out, on the 55 cars it is not as there are 2 oil sumps and the only way to get all the oil out is to take out both drain plugs. You will leave in almost a quart of oil if you only siphon out of the 1 sump. You also need to replace the drain plugs with new ones as the crush washers on them are one time use (they are less than $2 each).
There are many stories of dealers siphoning out oil on these cars instead of draining the oil, which is the incorrect way to do it. Mercedes released a service notice clarifying this, but I'd guess most dealers ignore it as it is more profitable/faster/easier to do it the siphon way.
On the 63 cars it is ok to siphon the oil out, on the 55 cars it is not as there are 2 oil sumps and the only way to get all the oil out is to take out both drain plugs. You will leave in almost a quart of oil if you only siphon out of the 1 sump. You also need to replace the drain plugs with new ones as the crush washers on them are one time use (they are less than $2 each).
