How much oil should I have used

[Stulc]

On a V reg C280 auto after about 350-400 miles....when they took oil out (yes the stealer overfilled it!!) it was just touching the max mark on the stick, now it's half way down so I topped it up.

 

[MondeoMan]

That's not the transmission level you're talking about, is it? There's a special procedure for that, check the manual.

 

[Stulc]

Sorry I should have engine oil.

 

[Myros]

it should be

2 litres from min to max on the engine oil dipstick. I fill mine to the top mark on an oil change, and barring once in the Alps when it ate a litre, it never seems to use any amount that can be read on the stick between changes.

 

[Stulc]

So they drink oil then....

 

[Myros]

but only once in a while

it would seem. An ex-MB chap I know says the elctronics must have got themselves into a "burn" phase while I was giving it the "italian job" through the alps. All I know is it used more oil in two days than it has in the four years I've had it, and has me carry 2 litres with me in case it does it again.
You could search here on "OIL" and see what pops up in relation to this question.

 

[Stulc]

Well if it uses oil it uses it.....it's the same then as my last bike (exup) because of the 5 valve head it drank it too. But it must be the merc engine's (or the C280 V6 for that matter) are designed.

 

[dogsbody]

How much oil should I have used.

If the stealer has overfilled the oil, they may well have blown various oil seals. There are specific warnings against overfilling engines, mainly because they cannot breathe properly - remember that when a piston goes down after the firing point, it creates a crankcase pressure. The more oil in the sump the higher the crankcase pressure and more likely the rupture of the oil seal.
I would approach the MD of the stealer concerned and get a full independant report on the condition of the engine, paid for by the stealer. If the oil consumption rates are any different before and after I would have thought that you have a very good case.

 

[Stulc]

It's ok....I had only done 15 "easy" mile's when it came on and I went back right away. basically what happened (I think) the guy said he'd used it for about a week to see everything was ok. Then when I said I'd take it it was put in their workshop to be checked and instead of leaving thing's as they were (if it's not broke dont fix it!!) he topped it up hence "oil high".

But if that light hadn't came on god know's what I might have done, cause I didnt expect to have to check anything paying that kind of money, I expected thing's like that to done while getting pdi'd so to speak.

And apart from that....I deffinately wont be back, I just dont like/trust with anything but I'm sure they know that now.