06/1999 W202 C230K Oil Consumption

[DITTRICH]

For the first time ever (2m ago) I had to add around 0.2 litres of oil to an engine that had probably never before "used" oil. 2m later the light came on again briefly yesterday. When the light first came on the car had done 120k miles and the last service ("A") before that was at 108k miles. It is now on 122k miles and at the garage for a "B" as we speak. I can't say for sure if it "used" oil before since the oil light has never come on before. I know that the consumption is gradual because at first it just flicked on and off depending on whether the car was level or not. Also, in August last year (just after the 108k service) I did spend around 10 days going up and down mountains in Norway with 4 people in the car. Finally, most of my driving is now in London in heavy traffic.
I asked the garage to check for signs of oil leaks and peek at the coolant.
I'm kind of hoping that maybe it was slightly underfilled last time but who knows? My annual Russian pilgrimage beckons (6k miles at least).
Any thoughts gratefully received.
Les

 

[stevesey]

The "light" level is below min on the dipstick, so I'd have expected you to be able to add about 1L before getting to the top of the dipstick markings. Did you just add oil until the light went out, or check the dipstick?

Sounds like your oil consumption has gradually increased to the point where it's using more than 1L or so between services and this is the first time you noticed as it's just gone far enough to turn the light on.

Make more regular checks of the dipstick just to make sure it's gradual consumption - 1L every 12K miles is nothing to worry about.

 

[Shude]

My c230k uses about 1l of oil every 3k miles and apparently that's not far off "normal" either. I've not worried about it, it just means it needs a top-up halfway between services.

 

[DITTRICH]

@stevesey,

I'm sort of resigned to having to monitor this and your opinion makes sense. To confirm, I just added enough to make the light go out. It was halfway through a trip and the engine was hot and I was paranoid about overfilling it. Good to know the difference between min and max is 1.0 litre.

@shude

Thanks for the reassurance. 1.0 litre per 3,000 miles!

Les

 

[Shude]

Thanks for the reassurance. 1.0 litre per 3,000 miles!

The oil used to be at min in time for the next service so I never noticed . Then over a few years (and miles) the light would come on near service time and I'd top it up with half a litre (no point in totally filling it days before a service IMHO) and now it needs a top-up halfway between services (probably closer to 4.5k-5k for 1 litre). I'm still not that worried about it - there are other parts of my car that need more attention right now!

 

[Adam230K]

My C230K hasn't used a drop of oil between service intervals since i've bought it. The dipstick is always maxed. You might have a leak, or it might be because its done a fair few miles.

 

[Shude]

You might have a leak, or it might be because its done a fair few miles.

Well really that's the same thing. My car probably has a small oil leak somewhere and it'll have done 200k in a couple of months!

 

[Adam230K]

Well really that's the same thing. My car probably has a small oil leak somewhere and it'll have done 200k in a couple of months!

Well i'm sure you can have a high mileage engine without any oil leaks right?

Mines just gone over the 90k mark

 

[Shude]

Well i'm sure you can have a high mileage engine without any oil leaks right?

Might depend on what you define as "high"

Mines just gone over the 90k mark

Not even trying!

What I meant was that as the mileage goes up the seals etc will start to leak, in addition to another small leak that I think my engine's developed.

Can't be too bad, I get about 30mpg (not petrol, oil! ).

 

[renault12ts]

Hope I am not preaching to the converted. Don't rely on the light to tell you when to add oil. Check with the dip stick reasonably regularly. Imagine what could happen if the light fails!!

 

[DITTRICH]

@renault12ts

Obviously, I'm going to check now and again in order to understand the rate of usage!
My engine is relatively young at 122k and I assume that it ought to last well over 200k.
What I can say is that assuming it was filled to max at every service, it has never until now burned it's way through 1.0 litre over 10k - 15k miles (variable ASSYST).

@Adam230k

Thanks for the helpful comments. I'm assuming age here. Actually, the light came on just around the time it was due for a service but for various reasons didn't get to the garage until 2k later.

Footnote
The garage didn't find any evidence of an oil leak but while they were trying to change the gearbox ATF they claim a bolt sheared and they have to wait to tomorrow to get another one. I'm getting a "B" service minus spark plugs, 2x front tires, brake fluid change, coolant change, ATF change (50k since last done)...big bucks! but last year it only had an "A" service in August.