Mercedes Benz C Class - reduce oil level warning on the dash

[Newbie2023]

Hello Folks,

As my username suggests, I am new to the Merc club.

I bought my Mecedes benz C class, automatic, petrol, sports version, 2018 reg less than a week ago from an online car dealership. I really liked the car so far. However, on two occasions, I had "Reduce oil Level" warning on the dash - once on the motorway and today on an A road. The warning goes away when I switch off the engine and restart it.

Please could you advise, based on your experience,
a) what could be the reason behind this message - which immediately disappears after the restart
b) how has your experience been with the C class in general?

Thanks in advance,
Sumit.

 

[markjay]

Welcome.

Diesel engines, in particular, are susceptible to engine damage resulting from over filling with engine oil, which is why the oil level warning is in place.

Check the oil level (should be available as an electronic check from the instrument cluster), and unless the level is low, try syphoning out about half a litre of engine oil.

The issue is that some garages tend to fill up with cold engine oil to the max, and when the oil gets hot it expands and that's when you get the warning.

Of, course, the oil level sensor might be faulty, but this is less likely.

 

[Newbie2023]

Welcome.

Diesel engines, in particular, are susceptible to engine damage resulting from over filling with engine oil, which is why the oil level warning is in place.

Check the oil level (should be available as an electronic check from the instrument cluster), and unless the level is low, try syphoning out about half a litre of engine oil.

The issue is that some garages tend to fill up with cold engine oil to the max, and when the oil gets hot it expands and that's when you get the warning.

Of, course, the oil level sensor might be faulty, but this is less likely.

Many thanks - what are the chances that the engine may have been impacted?

 

[Newbie2023]

Welcome.

Diesel engines, in particular, are susceptible to engine damage resulting from over filling with engine oil, which is why the oil level warning is in place.

Check the oil level (should be available as an electronic check from the instrument cluster), and unless the level is low, try syphoning out about half a litre of engine oil.

The issue is that some garages tend to fill up with cold engine oil to the max, and when the oil gets hot it expands and that's when you get the warning.

Of, course, the oil level sensor might be faulty, but this is less likely.

Many thanks - what are the chances that the engine may have been impacted?

 

[markjay]

Many thanks - what are the chances that the engine may have been impacted?

None, the risk is that the engine starts burning engine oil instead of Diesel oil and goes into 'runaway' mod, but if this has not happened then no damage has occured yet.

Also, the sensor is over sensitive - so an occasional alert will be no where near any damage level.

 

[Newbie2023]

None, the risk is that the engine starts burning engine oil instead of Diesel oil and goes into 'runaway' mod, but if this has not happened then no damage has occured yet.

Also, the sensor is over sensitive - so an occasional alert will be no where near any damage level.

Thank you once again.

 

[whitenemesis]

None, the risk is that the engine starts burning engine oil instead of Diesel oil and goes into 'runaway' mod, but if this has not happened then no damage has occured yet.

The OP has a petrol engine

 

[markjay]

With a petrol engine, the worst that can happen from overfilling with engine oil is a broken cam cover seal causing an oil leak.

 

[whitenemesis]

With a petrol engine, the worst that can happen from overfilling with engine oil is a broken cam cover seal causing an oil leak.

A poisoned catalytic converter?
Oiled spark plugs?

 

[MarcusRomer]

Hi,

I have a C200 W205 Petrol, every so often the instrument cluster displaying the oil level says its 3/4 full, however, other times its displays a full level. I keep the car on a level.

The main problem is that my car does not have a dip stick to manually check it. Is there a fault with the sensor or is it a little glitch. The oil was checked by MB in February this year.

Is there any other way I can check the level?

 

[sautah]

It’s most likely been overfilled when it was last serviced. Solution is to remove some oil and check levels correctly.

 

[BTB 500]

Hi,

I have a C200 W205 Petrol, every so often the instrument cluster displaying the oil level says its 3/4 full, however, other times its displays a full level. I keep the car on a level.

The main problem is that my car does not have a dip stick to manually check it. Is there a fault with the sensor or is it a little glitch. The oil was checked by MB in February this year.

Is there any other way I can check the level?

You need to check after the engine has been off for about 10 minutes, but even then the level will still vary slightly depending on how hot it is. I wouldn't worry about it - it will warn you if it ever needs oil adding between services.

 

[Petrol Pete]

OP , suck a litre out of the engine and see what the next message on the dashboard says .

 

[BTB 500]

The OP hasn't accessed this site since February of last year - I assume he's sorted by now!