Add 1L Oil at next fuel stop

[merc180k]

Hi All,

I've had the above indicator appear again and while this seems to be a 6 monthly thing, this particular one has happened 300 miles from next service. Hesitant to add expensive oil for it to be drained at the end of the month for the service so wondering if I would get away with adding the oil from the Mrs C-Max rather than the stuff normally added to the car.

Any thoughts?

 

[wemorgan]

How much is the oil that needs adding? £10? It's not cheap and I know where you're coming from, but keep it simple and just add the required and correct specification oil and be done with it

You could save some money by buying 4 or 5 litres of the oil and use it over the coming years.

edit: another way of looking at it is that over the 300 miles you'll spend £40 on fuel, so an additional £10 on oil isn't so bad.

 

[renault12ts]

300 miles form your next service. Given the margins for error etc, I would just wait until the service. I doubt that in the next 300 miles your oil would go anywhere near low enough to do any damage.

 

[st4]

Isn't a litre of oil £15. Hardly going to break the bank. Just add it, or get the car serviced 1 month early if you are really bothered about it.

 

[LTD]

Just drive gently until your service if you are planning to leave it.

 

[merc180k]

300 miles form your next service. Given the margins for error etc, I would just wait until the service. I doubt that in the next 300 miles your oil would go anywhere near low enough to do any damage.

I must say I had the same thought but not sure on that one. That's why I'm mulling over the idea of the oil for the C-Max. It's Halfords own brand 5W-30 part synthetic - would this do more damage than good? Never sure with oil what the best or closest match is/should be.

 

[st4]

I must say I had the same thought but not sure on that one. That's why I'm mulling over the idea of the oil for the C-Max. It's Halfords own brand 5W-30 part synthetic - would this do more damage than good? Never sure with oil what the best or closest match is/should be.

I wouldn't take the oil out of theFord. Especially if its Halfords own cheapo stuff. A Merc deserves better.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Why not just get it serviced sooner. No idea how long it will take to cover those 300 miles, but can't be far off.

If you do top it up you may find that the distance to the next service increases. My C-Class has a fixed interval (not sure if that's a C-Class or an AMG thing though).

However Mrs Ds car likes a top up about 3/4 of the way through to the next service, and once done can bump up the miles-to-go quite a lot. More than 1000 miles IIRC.

 

[Spin_bowler]

However Mrs Ds car likes a top up about 3/4 of the way through to the next service, and once done can bump up the miles-to-go quite a lot. More than 1000 miles IIRC.

My S320 used to like a drop of oil and every time I topped it up I got another 500 miles to go until the next service. It saved me a fortune

 

[ricky s]

Why not just get it serviced sooner. No idea how long it will take to cover those 300 miles, but can't be far off.

If you do top it up you may find that the distance to the next service increases. My C-Class has a fixed interval (not sure if that's a C-Class or an AMG thing though).

However Mrs Ds car likes a top up about 3/4 of the way through to the next service, and once done can bump up the miles-to-go quite a lot. More than 1000 miles IIRC.

As Bobby D, 300 miles is nothing, get your car serviced as per its schedule, and don't worry about this outstanding oil issure.

 

[flango]

mmm let me think £10 for oil or 300 miles running on low oil? It's not about the quantity its about the quality, do you really think your engine will be getting protection running a litre short and probably with oil whose molecules are sh*gged?

No brainer top it up or suffer the consequences IMHO

 

[markjay]

Did you check the actual oil level using the dipstick?

Having said that, I did not know that the 180k had an oil level check thingy - my w203 2006 c180k definitely doesn't have it (just the low oil level warning). I though that only the diesel engines had this feature... is yours a w203 or w204?

 

[BaldGuy]

Your lucky!!!! my AMG asks for this every 1000km....... and its normal apparently!!!

 

[wemorgan]

Your lucky!!!! my AMG asks for this every 1000km....... and its normal apparently!!!

^ sounds familiar to a Smart car owner. Difference being the £10 oil makes a material difference to the car's value.

 

[merc180k]

Did you check the actual oil level using the dipstick?

Having said that, I did not know that the 180k had an oil level check thingy - my w203 2006 c180k definitely doesn't have it (just the low oil level warning). I though that only the diesel engines had this feature... is yours a w203 or w204?

W203 and it doesn't have a manual dipstick, only the electronic sensor.

 

[markjay]

W203 and it doesn't have a manual dipstick, only the electronic sensor.

Interesting... that must be something they have introduced on the 2007 models then - as said, my 2006 180k does not have it....

 

[andy_k]

I can't believe some of the advice on this thread.

If your oil is low enough for the sensors to pick it up then top it up or run the car in for it's service 300 miles before it's due.

Why are you risking the health of your car for the sake of a few quid?

Ridiculous

 

[LTD]

It's top up sensors - not a full on 'low oil' warning.

It's the OP's choice after all.

The warning is to top up 1 litre at the next fuel stop - that 'could' be in 300 miles time after all.

 

[andy_k]

It's top up sensors - not a full on 'low oil' warning.

It's the OP's choice after all.

The warning is to top up 1 litre at the next fuel stop - that 'could' be in 300 miles time after all.

it could also be in 10 miles time - why gamble?

 

[LTD]

it could also be in 10 miles time - why gamble?

Fair call but based on that you'd be checking your dipstick every trip (and removing oil at the same time).

It's needing (it thinks) a litre of oil out of what, 5 litres at a change ?

It should be about 10 days to a fortnight usage - it'll be booked in anyway. Or should be ........

I'd just drive gently. If I was planning a trip of a decent length, I'd top up.