c180 oil level...

[stuarth]

You aren't going to believe the stupidity of this question..
I have a 2011 c180 diesel. I want to check the oil level. There is a red handled dipstick near the bulkhead in the engine bay but I cannot remove it. I also don't see any menu item which has an oil sensor level.
Am I stupid or about to break something by pulling too hard? I am doing this with the engine cold if that makes any difference.

 

[tdh-syorks]

I've just had a quick look at the engine and id say the red dipstick is what you need to check.
Does it twist then pull??

 

[stuarth]

Tried twisting, unscrewing, pushing in first...it won't pull out at all. Curious it has a dipstick at all these days.

 

[tdh-syorks]

Yeah, tbh im not sure then.
Must be on the menu somewhere

 

[stwat]

Ther red ones near the bulkhead are for the auto gearbox. There is a black plastic clip at the bottom that you need to release before you can pull it out.

 

[stuarth]

There is nothing on the menu for this and the book says to take out the dipstick. I was a bit curious as to why the dipstick is red since they tend to be black or yellow for oil (not sure if this is a standard though). If there is a black clip then it is certainly well hidden in the depths of the engine. This is probably blindingly obvious but not when I open the lid...
I shall call the garage tomorrow

 

[Uncle Fester]

Is your car an auto or manual?

Can you fill some details onm your user cp, as it helps the techy guys to know exactly which model they are looking at

 

[stuarth]

It is automatic. C180 cdi June 2011

 

[Uncle Fester]

Then I'd say that the dipsitck with the red top is for your transmission fluid, and there will be a section within the vehicle display settings to check engine oil level, there is on most CDi's as far as I know.

 

[stuarth]

Here is the online manual C-Class - Interactive Owner's Manual [Overview | Bonnet] And no, there is certainly no dipstick there and nothing in the menu system unless it is some secret combination. In any event the handbook says to use the dipstick but I have spent an hour looking for it to no avail

 

[ExW205and204]

I'm confused.

I thought the C180 was petrol only.

With the C200 the smallest CDI?

 

[stuarth]

There is a c180,c200 and c220cdi - same displacement (2.2 litres) but different power output and therefore different tax bands. The engines are physically identical but there is no dipstick unless they forgot to fit it on mine. Iguess it could be hidden underneath the engine cover but this is not what the manual says as you can see

 

[stuarth]

Indeed the dipstick at the rear LEFT side of the engine (not RIGHT as in the manual) is the oil dipstick and they had to pull really hard to get it out. It is now removeable relatively easily. I had assumed it was for the transmission and also that it was locked in position in some way - neither is true