C43 Oil usage

[timk]

More questions from a newbie:-

Picked up my C43 yesterday and noticed an oil light blink at me briefly and then go out - I topped it up with some 0W-30 at the next service station, but the oil seems to stay halfway up the dipstick and hasn't got near the max mark - can't see a leak but the car has a plastic undertray so this would hide it I guess. Given I've put nearly a litre in since yesterday and the oil level is still hovering midway between min and max on the dipstick, there must be something up? Anyone experienced oil leaks on a C43??

Car sounds fine and not noisy, apart from the expected V8 roar

Any ideas?

 

[bigtee]

Big engines take more oil stick some more in!

Whip off the tray and see if you have a leak may get it pressure washed off.

Ideally change the oil and filter or service it use the same oil.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Mine takes 8 Litres for some stupid reason where as the 3.2 version takes less.

If the warning light was already on, 1 more litre isnt going to make that much difference, make sure that it is deffo not leaking and then add some more.

 

[timk]

Big engines take more oil stick some more in!

Whip off the tray and see if you have a leak may get it pressure washed off.

Ideally change the oil and filter or service it use the same oil.

I thought there was usually 1 litre between min and max marks, it was just over min when I topped it up so would expect it to have risen further...

Will be getting it looked at in the next couple of days anyway - until then I am compulsively checking the dipstick....

Does 0W 30 sound right for a C43? Its been run on Mobil 1 all of its life but I had to put Castrol edge in it yesterday as that's all I could get on the M4...

 

[wemorgan]

I would imagine that a 10W-40 would be more appropriate for that older generation engine.

Does the handbook give an oil specification that it needs to meet? eg. 229.1

 

[Will]

Many older cars used to take about a litre between min-max, I am fairly certain that your C43 will take quite a bit more, realistically 2 litres between the min-max marks would be what I'd expect.

Just top it up to the correct level and monitor it, it may have a minor leak or could be that whoever changed the oil last time didn't top to the correct level. Don't worry, but keep an eye on it

Will

 

[Gridlock]

Mine was leaking around the oil cooler (front right in the engine bay) but a seal change solved it.

1 litre is nothing - even my 2.8 golf takes 2l from min to max.

 

[lynall]

Mines 2 litres min to max, i run 10/40 in mine bearing in mind its on 109k, pretty bullet proof engines though.



Lynall

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
The correct oil for a C43 AMG, supplied by MB and used in there servicing for the C43 is MOBIL 1 0W-40 (fully synthetic), this i believe is the same for all normally aspirated M113 V8 engines.

 

[lynall]

Havent mb stopped using mobil one now?



Lynall

 

[andy27168]

Yes they have but apparently they still have to supply for the older AMG models with MOBIL1 why i don,t know, i asked this question myself recently, but as the older AMG vehicles will get seen less in the dealers the demand will get less till the point where it won,t be available.
I recently had a friend he put his 43 in for a service and MOBIL 1 was used, wether this is just this dealer not sure i have read other posts saying similar statements.

 

[Will]

Remember, there's nothing to stop you supplying your own oil (so long as it's correct for the application of course!)

In fact, Costco sell Mobil 1 OW-40 for £19.99 + VAT per 4L, so probably considerably cheaper than what the main dealers would charge for oil.

Will

 

[Adam230K]

Remember, there's nothing to stop you supplying your own oil (so long as it's correct for the application of course!)

In fact, Costco sell Mobil 1 OW-40 for £19.99 + VAT per 4L, so probably considerably cheaper than what the main dealers would charge for oil.

Will

I'm so glad you told me that! I had no idea they did it that cheap!

 

[LTD]

Hi,
The correct oil for a C43 AMG, supplied by MB and used in there servicing for the C43 is MOBIL 1 0W-40 (fully synthetic), this i believe is the same for all normally aspirated M113 V8 engines.

My S500 has a M113 engine and was MB serviced before I got it a few months ago.

They used Castrol 0w30 according to the service book.

 

[grober]

One thing to check as a priority on these engines is the condition of the crankshaft "harmonic damper" - a fancy name for the front crank composite pulley. They can come apart at speed leading to major front timing case/sump damage. Yours may well have been replaced but some slip through the net! I wonder if its your front crankseal thats leaking- quite common and a good opportunity to check that pulley at the same time?

 

[stevesey]

I assume the M113 V8s suffer for the same oil cooler and filter seal leaks that the M112 V6 does.

There were no driveway drips off mine, but a fair amount of weeping from under the filter housing. Replaced the oil cooler seals first, no difference, got hold of a big socket for the oil filter one and did that. Result was that the oil consumption has halved.

I know several C240 owners here have replaced the oil filter seal - although I don't think it can be that common a failure as when I spoke to Olly about the socket size needed be said he couldn't remember the last time he'd done one.

 

[andy27168]

My S500 has a M113 engine and was MB serviced before I got it a few months ago.

They used Castrol 0w30 according to the service book.

I should of stated it was only the AMG versions that were specifcally mentioned regarding continued use of MOBIL 1 , sorry.

 

[andy27168]

Of the 2-3 C43's that i have been familiar with seemed to have had their rocker covers gasket/seals replaced, including mine though mine was only a small weep on the RH cover.

 

[timk]

loads of useful replies there

I dropped into WDM Merc in Perry Bar on sat and although they were closing they did look at it briefly on the ramp and looks like the oil cooler seal is weeping for sure; there may be a rocker cover leak but it needs further inspection. More worrying is the steering rack - the damper is leaking and looks like it needs a bit of work to get it right... I thought Mercs were just a bit vague steering wise, and coming from Boxsters anything would feel less precise, but no, my steering is a bit shagged!!

Still hasn't wiped the smile off my face though, loving the car.

 

[andy27168]

loads of useful replies there

I dropped into WDM Merc in Perry Bar on sat and although they were closing they did look at it briefly on the ramp and looks like the oil cooler seal is weeping for sure; there may be a rocker cover leak but it needs further inspection. More worrying is the steering rack - the damper is leaking and looks like it needs a bit of work to get it right... I thought Mercs were just a bit vague steering wise, and coming from Boxsters anything would feel less precise, but no, my steering is a bit shagged!!

Still hasn't wiped the smile off my face though, loving the car.

The C43 has no steering rack, it has a steering box, the steering damper is approx. £25-30, and if you can undue one nut and bolt and one nut they are ridiculously easy to change for a DIY mechanic, rocker cover gaskets are approx. £10 each from MB, these are reasonably easy to do too though it will require the removal of the air cleaner, and unbolting the coils which are fitted too the rocker covers.