Top up oil or not?

[Bobby Dazzler]

Right, our ML270 is showing 1100 miles to next B service - booked in for 1 September.

Tomorrow we're heading off on holiday, towing a caravan, and a 410 mile round trip, plus mileage whilst we're away. I'm guessing we'll cover 700-800 miles before the service.

Just checked the oil, and it was just below mid-way between min and max. Topped it up with a litre of fresh Mobil 1, but was reluctant to fill it up to much - as it will bump the miles to next service right up, and I don't want Service Plus to refuse to pay.

What do you reckon - am I safe or not?? Just looking for some reassurance really.

Dieselman - where are you!!??

PS Don't top up by torch light, it now looks like a snail has been under the bonnet!!

 

[Gucci]

Absolutely fine.

 

[Will]

Yep, will be fine.

If it was half way and you've topped it up I can't see a problem at all. Normally the difference between the min and max markings is about a litre anyway!

Have a good holiday

Will

 

[Dieselman]

As others, you will be fine. Have a good trip..

Are we going to catch up with you 'Down Devon Way'...Arrh.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Phew, thanks Gents.

Strange isn't it. If someone else posted it I'd be saying "no problem".

I'm thinking "no problem", but I don't believe myself.

I would normally top it back up to max but don't want to shoot myself in foot re Service Plus.

PS Put some Millers Diesel Sport 4 in as I remember reading good reports. By the time I'm back it should have plenty of opportunity to make a difference. Will post back.

 

[Will]

Phew, thanks Gents.

Strange isn't it. If someone else posted it I'd be saying "no problem".

I'm thinking "no problem", but I don't believe myself.

I would normally top it back up to max but don't want to shoot myself in foot re Service Plus.

PS Put some Millers Diesel Sport 4 in as I remember reading good reports. By the time I'm back it should have plenty of opportunity to make a difference. Will post back.

Crikey BD, if anything it'll be too high!! (only kidding!)

You've put a litre in it, right? Like I said, normally min->max is only about a litre anyway, there ab-sol-utely nothing to worry about

Unless you're ML is smoking like a bonfire or leaking oil all over your drive, you'll still be high on the level when you return.

Check the oil during your holiday if you can't put your mind at rest

And remember to have a good holiday :bannana:

Will

 

[Dieselman]

You've put a litre in it, right? Like I said, normally min->max is only about a litre anyway, there ab-sol-utely nothing to worry about

In 'proper' engines it's more like 2 litres, min-max.

 

[Will]

In 'proper' engines it's more like 2 litres, min-max.

Fair-doos, defeat admitted but I guess he'll be on the max now anyway if it was virtually half full when he topped up? :bannana:

Surely your proper engines come fully equipped like my 190Es with oil temperature guages, oil pressure gauges and level indicators too

And a voltmeter plus a lap timer stopwatch!

Plus a back-to-front gearbox and a 7K+ rev limiter?...

Will

 

[Dieselman]

We don't need any of those distractions, we know they work and will carry on doing so, no need to constantly molly-coddle them..

And I really love your egg lap timer

 

[Will]

We don't need any of those distractions, we know they work and will carry on doing so, no need to constantly molly-coddle them..

And I really love your egg lap timer

That's not an egg timer, it's an optional-extra for those dodgy 210s.

It's a Rust Timer, it ticks away in days allowing you time to book in for warranty remedial rot visits!

At least they got something right, eh! :bannana:



Will

 

[Dieselman]

Ah. Didn't realise it was in days...Doh..!!

 

[Adam230K]

Hey guys can you believe i will service my car 2moro (b service) with a complementary wash&wax from mercedes themselves for £180?? thats bloody cheaper than mercs only!! (sorry i know this is off topic but Bob, seriously, your ML will be fiiiiine, you're not even going to go over the servicing mileage! mine is 500 miles overdue!)

 

[Uberwagon]

In 'proper' engines it's more like 2 litres, min-max.

<Cough> 4 litres <Cough>

If it's between min and max it will be completely hunky dory.

Dave!

 

[Will]

<Cough> 4 litres <Cough>

If it's between min and max it will be completely hunky dory.

Dave!

Is that seriously correct - from the min and max level on the dipstick, the engine takes 4 litres - nearly a gallon!

That really surprised me!

Will

 

[glojo]

As others, you will be fine. Have a good trip..

Are we going to catch up with you 'Down Devon Way'...Arrh.

Yup!!!

Regards
John

 

[grober]

Anything between min and max should be fine. I doubt if Mercedes designed their engine dipsticks without a margin of error such that if the oil level dipped a millimeter below the "min" mark the engine would instantly self destruct. What people don't seem to understand though that max means "no more" and are unaware that too much oil has equal potential to damage an engine. Witness another thread on the forum at the moment. http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=619944#post619944 Provided the oil measurement is made exactly as recommended by the owner's manual and the engine is not using or leaking vast quantities of oil ( in which case you have other problems!) then an oil level of 1/2 way between min and max is the IDEAL in my book.

 

[Uberwagon]

Is that seriously correct - from the min and max level on the dipstick, the engine takes 4 litres - nearly a gallon!

That really surprised me!

Will

Yep, it's only had 1 complete oil drain since i've had it which was after I removed the sump pan and flushed out the oil cooler.

Filled it up completely and just over min I needed to add 4 litres. For a while I thought my car was buring lots of oil as until I measured it presumed (Ahh, presumption, the bed fellow of all cockups) it was 1 litre between min and max.

11 litres from a dry engine, normally only 9 during a regular oil change.

Dave!

 

[columb]

Hey guys can you believe i will service my car 2moro (b service) with a complementary wash&wax from mercedes themselves for £180?? thats bloody cheaper than mercs only!!

How come? Some more details please!

Cheers
Chris

 

[Will]

Yep, it's only had 1 complete oil drain since i've had it which was after I removed the sump pan and flushed out the oil cooler.

Filled it up completely and just over min I needed to add 4 litres. For a while I thought my car was buring lots of oil as until I measured it presumed (Ahh, presumption, the bed fellow of all cockups) it was 1 litre between min and max.

11 litres from a dry engine, normally only 9 during a regular oil change.

Dave!

Do these engines use a lot of oil then? Just seems a rather large range for an acceptable oil level! After all, min to max is all within the accepted range, I'd be concerned if the engine used nearly a gallon of oil between services.

Will

 

[Dieselman]

It's to provide additional oil cooling. The greater the quantity of sump oil the greater the reserve for heat is.