T-Roll

My 2001 W210 has 128,000 miles on it and had the oil changed about 3,500 miles ago. To my knowledge a normal amount of oil was put in and no warning lights came on after the oil change.

Then a few days ago at normal highway speeds (after about 8 min of driving) the "Reduce Oil Level!" warning light came on in the message panel. I checked the oil via the electronic method using the steering wheel buttons and it confirmed the same message. But when I checked the oil level manually it was fine. Also, this morning I drove it for 15 minutes while running two different errands (stopping, parking, starting it again and driving to the next errand) and it didn't turn on until after I left the second place.

I'll be taking my car in either way for this and a few other needed fixes but I was wondering...what do you think could be causing this? A false-positive with the sensor? Because I don't know how the oil level could rise over 3,500 miles of driving...i.e. if it were filled too high when I last had it changed, the warning light would have come on then to tell me the oil was too high. The fact it is coming on now suggests to me that the sensor could be screwy.

Please offer your feedback...thank you.

ruBENZ

I had a similar issue a while back. The dipstick read fine, but the low oil message appeared. I poured four ounces of oil through the dipstick tube, and viola: no more message. Worth a try. Good luck.

Bellefonte

How do you check via the steering wheel?

AMG_Drvr

It's on the same screen as all your maintenance info...i.e. how many miles til your next service etc. I'll have to go out and double-check the exact button and clicks.

T-Roll

ruBENZ, the warning light is saying I have too much oil...I don't want to add any.

snooozie

Maybe you hve too much oil Is the level on the dipstick go all the way over the red plastic thingy?

ruBENZ

My bad. Hadn't had my coffee yet. I have heard of sucking it out through the dipstick tube with the appropriate apparatus (check with your local auto parts shop) or just loosen the oil drain plug and drop a few ounces. In either case, if you remove too much (low oil message), replace a few ounces at a time via dipstick tube until you achieve the proper level. A bit ghetto approach, but effective.