Oil level checking - the old fashioned way
 

I stopped by the dealer Saturday to pick up the factory tool dipstick I had ordered for use in physically verifying the oil level in my car's engine.

Nothing like taking something that used to be simple and making it unduly complex. Instead of having a "min" and "max" marking on the dipstick, it actually is graduated in 1mm increments. Why you ask?

Well, you use the dipstick in connection with service procedure BF18.00-P-1000-03l (Oil level check for 113.990 engine). The reading you take of the oil level is then compared to the chart provided, and depending on your measurement you will either need to add or extract oil. Or get lucky and require no action be taken.

Here are the vital stats:

dipstick reading of 167mm - 169mm = Oil level correct
dipstick reading of 129mm - 165mm = Oil level too low
dipstick reading of 171mm 179mm = Oil level too high

The procedure is silent as to the outcome of either a 166mm or 170mm reading. Perhaps it's within the margin of error for the oil level being correct.

Once you know the actual reading (mine was 155mm after I changed the oil and deliberately didn't pour the entire contents of the 9th quart), you can refer to the chart to determine how many liters (in tenths of a liter) is needed to make the oil level correct. My car requires 0.8 liters to bring it up to the "correct" range, so my next purchase is a measuring cup that is calibrated in tenths of liters.

The only part of this that concerns me is that even being down .8 liters, my dash oil level check display states the level is okay. Anyway, I plan to monitor my engine oil level using the precision of the calibrated dipstick, and will now view the dash oil display for what it is - the equivalent of a warning light or "idiot" light that lacks precision but will probably warn you before the oil level becomes catastrophically low.

Cool thanks for the info. How much did they charge for the tool?

guessing since its mercedes, to much

Does the dipstick show much of a difference between being on a level surface or a sloped driveway?

I did the measurement thingy on the console last night and got - "you need to add 1.0 litres to reach MAX".

Have not had any warning lights on this though.

So guess I have the oil changed soon anyways and will wait until then.

is there room to leave the dipstick in the tube with hood shut?

I have had mine for several months now and use it since I do all of my own oil changes. It is an expensive part from the dealer at $106.60:eek: But it's the correct tool for measuring oil levels in our AMG's. The "measuring tool" as MB calls it is 33.5 inches in length. Remove the factory red plug ( see first pic) and insert MB factory measuring tool down oil tube. You cannot close your hood when using it. If you look at my second pic that is as fare as it goes in. The oil fill for our motors is between 137mm and 168mm for a perfect fill. That info was given to me by a MB factory engineer at MB headquarters in Montvale, NJ during AMGfest this year. I go by his words.

Gentleman, of course in doing an oil change it helps to have one of these. Any other way is just uncivilized ;)

please post part number is you have it so i can help my parts guy. thanks

Here it is:

MB part # 120 589 07 21 00

I paid $106.60 and my dealer had to special order it.

I bought the "tool" for my transmission a couple of years back and the price was closer to $70.00. I wonder if they are over charging you in NJ. Maybe the tool for the supercharged models are dearer.

I was told that there is another measuring stick for the trans. I don't have that part# or that tool. I also believe the AMG 5 speed trans. is different from the standard 5 speed trans on the non AMG models.

The funny thing is that you don't need a lift to change the oil on an MB!

I do agree that if you can afford a lift, it's the only way to go.

I had my oil changed at the MB dealership a few weeks ago and just now realized that the RED plug is missing!! I am still not certain if it is the oil plug or Transmission fluid plug but it is missing!! I am going to the dealer tomorrow but my concern is if it could have caused any sort of harm to my car by driving the car for almost a month with out this plug in place..
Need some advice please.

Say you want free oil and filter change so that any airborne contaminates that may have made it in are taken out. I doubt there is any concern but it's worth a punt for some freebies and maybe a more knowledgeable fella will say its bad..

Dipstick Cost
 

I hope you guys are joking. The price of that part in the USA is about $30 USD!

14 years later

epic