HI Oil Warning Light on C220CDI

[AlexParx]

Hi

I bought a 2000 model C-Class 220CDI 2 weeks ago. The car had just been serviced. After about 8-10 miles the HI oil warning light comes on. The light tends to stay on for a few minutes then goes away. I've checked the oil using the dipstick and the level is approx 2-4 mm above max.

I've noticed that in general the light seems to come on after the engine has warmed up and when driving the car downhill! and it seems to go away again when the car has gone uphill! Also it may come on more when the car is going at about 70mph on the motorway?

I've read in the manual that the oil needs to be reduced. Am I causing any damage to the car whilst driving it still?

Thanks

 

[robbi-wan]

Hi Alex,
I cannot remember the exact reason (oil seals i think) but too much oil is nearly as bad as not enough!
I would take the car back and tell them to sort it out, stamp my feet if necessary......
BTW - howcome you've got a dipstick and i have'nt
rob

 

[mark999]

Dealers always tend to overfill oil. I did it once on my V220Cdi. When checking the oil the engine needs to be at full operating temperature. (As we all know the CDi engines take a good few miles to warm up.)
if you chek the oil when not fully warm it will under read the level.

I suggest you ask your dealer to suck some oil out

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Very easy to overfill modern mercs. I think the only sure way is to measure the fill quantity (mine is 7.5l) when replacing the oil and be very careful when topping up, no more than a quarter of a litre at a time.

 

[tonks]

You can interrogate the actual volume of oil (in litres) and compare this with the recommended volume in the handbook. If it is only a couple of hundred mil over the limit I wouldn't worry too much. To get the oil volume in a W203, turn ignition on first click and scroll through menu to display mileage. Then press reset button three times in quick succession. This will reveal a new display with engine number amongst other things. Scroll through menu until you get "oil level". Then turn ignition key up to ii (just before starter engagement). The computer should then measure oil and give the volume in litres. My manual says I should have 6.5l max (CDi220) but check your own manual to be sure.

Tonks

 

[clive williams]

Hi

I bought a 2000 model C-Class 220CDI 2 weeks ago. The car had just been serviced. After about 8-10 miles the HI oil warning light comes on. The light tends to stay on for a few minutes then goes away. I've checked the oil using the dipstick and the level is approx 2-4 mm above max.

I've noticed that in general the light seems to come on after the engine has warmed up and when driving the car downhill! and it seems to go away again when the car has gone uphill! Also it may come on more when the car is going at about 70mph on the motorway?

I've read in the manual that the oil needs to be reduced. Am I causing any damage to the car whilst driving it still?

Thanks

When did you check the dipstick? I've found that unless you check it after its been standing for some time - 5 mins is suggested but I think that is too short - the reading on the dipstick will be too low. Check it first thing in the morning before you start off, you might not even need to clean the dipstick.

In general when I'm doing an oil change I put in the prescribed amount of oil and that does until the next service. Its all too easy for garages to overfill because they dispense from a central source into one litre jugs and a 'little bit over' is a lot when multiplied by the number of jugs filled

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[television]

If the car is a 202 there are some faulty oil sensors around, these give implausable readings when the water temp reaches 60 -70c.
the sensors are dated, this accures up to date 00W51.

Malcolm

 

[Rory]

You can interrogate the actual volume of oil (in litres) and compare this with the recommended volume in the handbook. If it is only a couple of hundred mil over the limit I wouldn't worry too much. To get the oil volume in a W203, turn ignition on first click and scroll through menu to display mileage. Then press reset button three times in quick succession. This will reveal a new display with engine number amongst other things. Scroll through menu until you get "oil level". Then turn ignition key up to ii (just before starter engagement). The computer should then measure oil and give the volume in litres. My manual says I should have 6.5l max (CDi220) but check your own manual to be sure.

Tonks

I do that too, and my C270CDi should hold 6.5L. I supplied my own oil for the last service and they used 6.5L of it.
However, the display has never (even when I first got the car) shown more that 6.2L. It went down to 5.4L but still said OK, and never asked for more oil. I wonder how accurate the measurement is - what level does yours display?

 

[tonks]

After a service, my display was 7.5l and the high oil level warning kept being activated. I subsequently asked them to drain 1 litre of oil and the reading is now 6.5l. It does depend on leaving the car standing for a while before you check though, otherwise it can under read the volume by 1 litre or more.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I had a similar problem with my car from new. The oil level sensor was faulty and it took ages to get sorted. I did eventually find out that they were a known fault item on cdi engines so dont assume there is actually a problem with the oil level at all. Garage wanted to charge me €400 but it was under warranty so I refused to pay it.

 

[television]

I had a similar problem with my car from new. The oil level sensor was faulty and it took ages to get sorted. I did eventually find out that they were a known fault item on cdi engines so dont assume there is actually a problem with the oil level at all. Garage wanted to charge me €400 but it was under warranty so I refused to pay it.

I told them about this mod in thread 7 you can lead a horse to water, but you cant make it drink.

Malcolm

 

[tonks]

Olafmaxwell,

I notice you're in Cork. Where do you get your merc serviced. Anywhere recommended? It's a nightmare here in Limerick. Ended up taking a ferry to Wales to Stuttgard Garages, Pontypridd (an indy merc specialist).

Tonks

 

[Rory]

After a service, my display was 7.5l and the high oil level warning kept being activated. I subsequently asked them to drain 1 litre of oil and the reading is now 6.5l. It does depend on leaving the car standing for a while before you check though, otherwise it can under read the volume by 1 litre or more.

I've checked mine on several mornings now, after the car's been standing overnight in the same, level, place. The reading has varied from 5.9L to 6.2L.

 

[DSB SL AMG]

guys - old post but just doing an oil change now on my E220CDI W210...have bought my own oil which is 5L + 1L ...so 6L in total...am sure this will show just below Max level on dipstick after reading your posts...but will be fine as i think max fill for 220cdi is 6.2L...

 

[slapper4]

oil level sender on W202 c220CDI - MB part no?

I had a similar problem with my car from new. The oil level sensor was faulty and it took ages to get sorted. I did eventually find out that they were a known fault item on cdi engines so dont assume there is actually a problem with the oil level at all. Garage wanted to charge me €400 but it was under warranty so I refused to pay it.

I need the MB part number to order the correct sender on ebay (dealer too busy to answer phone and too expensive)

Ive tried cvarious MB part dealers and they say it could be one of 3. only an MB expert would know which.??

my model W202 engine 220CDI with a dipstick, and the tiptronic auto box.

like you, it's erratic, fine on the stick, and for most trips, but if i drive fast, fault kicks in, and it warns me "-2.0l" on the dash, which is wrong according to the stick, cold or hot.

as its a messy change i want to do with the oil, i want a new affordable sender in hand when i change my oil shortly,

So, can anyone tell me the MB part number on my car?

 

[whitenemesis]

try A1245420017

 

[BAZZER1]

I need the MB part number to order the correct sender on ebay (dealer too busy to answer phone and too expensive)

Ive tried cvarious MB part dealers and they say it could be one of 3. only an MB expert would know which.??

my model W202 engine 220CDI with a dipstick, and the tiptronic auto box.

like you, it's erratic, fine on the stick, and for most trips, but if i drive fast, fault kicks in, and it warns me "-2.0l" on the dash, which is wrong according to the stick, cold or hot.

as its a messy change i want to do with the oil, i want a new affordable sender in hand when i change my oil shortly,

So, can anyone tell me the MB part number on my car?

I had a similar problem with my W210 E30CDI, took it to Cole at MBS who drained some of the oil out, never had any problems since, advise contacting MBS at Southampton or Startech at Poole before spending any more money.
These guys know what they are doing and I am sure will put you right.
Best regards
BAZZER1

 

[rodisi]

Dealers always tend to overfill oil. I did it once on my V220Cdi. When checking the oil the engine needs to be at full operating temperature. (As we all know the CDi engines take a good few miles to warm up.)
if you chek the oil when not fully warm it will under read the level.

I'm reviving the thread because I did my own oil change recently and knowing that filling the car with oil up to the proper dipstick level gave me this problem once before, I put in oil to about 2mm from the max point. It has gone several hundred km with no problem but last night, driving home on the motorway, the HI oil light came on.

I stopped at a garage and checked the oil and it was just over the max. I think Mark999 is right on the dot about checking the level with the engine at operating temperature. I suppose as everything else, oil expands with temperature. I'm guessing that the problem didn't show the first few hundred km because the weather yesterday was much higher than the days since the oil change. I would say that the fault is with the dipstick design. The MAX indicator should be lower in order to accommodate the expansion in the oil and that should have been taken into consideration. It is ridiculous to expect the level to be checked at the engine operating temperature, when the oil has not settled.

I shall now raise the car and take some oil out and guess at the quantity.

 

[Rory]

I'm reviving the thread because I did my own oil change recently and knowing that filling the car with oil up to the proper dipstick level gave me this problem once before, I put in oil to about 2mm from the max point. .

2mm is neither here nor there - when people talk about leaving it a bit low, they're talking about a decent amount.

There's a chunky quantity between the low and high marks - it's only necessary to keep the oil level somewhere in the middle, 2/3 up if you want to go mad.

It is ridiculous to expect the level to be checked at the engine operating temperature, when the oil has not settled.

It's done like that because it's assumed that typically you'll check the oil after getting fuel. So stop a hot engine for a few mins while re-fueling, then check the oil level.

Hot oil runs back into the sump quickly and the level will be slightly raised due to the oil being hot. So it's close enough - like I said above, the actual level is not that critical as long as you don't over-fill.

 

[rodisi]

2mm is neither here nor there - when people talk about leaving it a bit low, they're talking about a decent amount.

There's a chunky quantity between the low and high marks - it's only necessary to keep the oil level somewhere in the middle, 2/3 up if you want to go mad.

That's why I never had problems before doing the oil change. My oil level was always about half full.

It's done like that because it's assumed that typically you'll check the oil after getting fuel. So stop a hot engine for a few mins while re-fueling, then check the oil level.

That would be an interesting survey. Do you check your oil at home when the engine is cold or when filling up at the petrol station.