Oil change

[Mark harrop]

I am new to fixing my own car and I know little or next to nothing about it so here is my question, I have a c200 cdi estate 2003 I am trying to service, I have watched all the utube videos and bought a pump (for the oil) and all the filters, having done all the other filters it came to draining the oil I put the pump tube down what I assumed was the dipstick (mine is an electric dipstick so it was just a cap) and I pumped away, no oil end of the pipe was bone dry! Electric dipstick said oil OK, is there any way I can get the oil out from above or do I have to go underneath?

 

[Wighty]

I am new to fixing my own car and I know little or next to nothing about it so here is my question, I have a c200 cdi estate 2003 I am trying to service, I have watched all the utube videos and bought a pump (for the oil) and all the filters, having done all the other filters it came to draining the oil I put the pump tube down what I assumed was the dipstick (mine is an electric dipstick so it was just a cap) and I pumped away, no oil end of the pipe was bone dry! Electric dipstick said oil OK, is there any way I can get the oil out from above or do I have to go underneath?

Pull the tube back out a few mm’s so it doesn’t suction the bottom of the sump ? It helps if the oil is hot .
Make 100% sure you are not in the gearbox dipstick tube

 

[Wighty]

What make pump is it ?

 

[LostKiwi]

If your car has a manual dipstick hole it should be possible to suck the oil out. The tube needs to go into the sump until it goes clunk on the bottom - it feels like it goes in forever).
Don't mistake the gearbox dipstick tube at the back of the engine (usually fitted with a D shaped black cap with a black or red locking tab).

 

[Mark harrop]

According to the Hayes manual the red cap is were the dipstick should be, but when I put the tube down and pump no oil, end of the tube is bone dry.

 

[Mark harrop]

This is the only other thing that looks like a dipstick

 

[LostKiwi]

This is the only other thing that looks like a dipstick View attachment 57874

That's the transmission dipstick tube. Stay well away.

I'm not familiar with that engine but the red stick looks to be correct.

 

[Mark harrop]

That's the transmission dipstick tube. Stay well away.

Thought it was, so it must be the red one.

 

[Mark harrop]

I'm at a loss now, thought I was going mad, surely there should be oil in there or has it been sealed off because its an electric dipstick or do I have no oil in the car, due to a fault electric dipstick?

 

[davidsl500]

What length of tubing are you getting into the engine? Have you tried comparing the length of tubing going in against the engine externally to see if you are going all the way to the bottom of the sump?

 

[Mark harrop]

We have success there must be a baffle on the dipstick as with a really had push it has clicked past it, thank you all

 

[umblecumbuz]

That's the diesel 646 motor you have there. Your car is a pre-facelift C203. The dipstick should register oil level correctly if inserted properly. The electronic reading on the dash display is not as accurate, and you also have to wait - sometimes many minutes - before it will give a reading that approximates to correct.

Guess you by now have a decent reading? How many miles has your car covered?

 

[Mark harrop]

That's the diesel 646 motor you have there. Your car is a pre-facelift C203. The dipstick should register oil level correctly if inserted properly. The electronic reading on the dash display is not as accurate, and you also have to wait - sometimes many minutes - before it will give a reading that approximates to correct.

Guess you by now have a decent reading? How many miles has your car covered?

125 thousand miles

 

[Mark harrop]

125 thousand miles

I also have a problem with it going into limp mode intermittently when you boot it, happens when it's cold or on first start up, turn ignition off and on again and it goes but engine warning light comes on, then goes off after a few days, checked all the pipes for splits, oven cleaner on turbo and actuator, new maf same problem, seems to be quite slow All the time not what I would expect from a large engine, but they may just be slow anyway, the car is in really good order apart from that

 

[Wighty]

125 thousand miles

Eeeeek , that gearbox black cap with the black tab in it is factory fitted , when the gearbox atf and filter are changed a red tab is fitted . Has the gearbox been done ?
Normally recommended these days as every 40k miles

 

[Mark harrop]

I have no idea, it's has full service history with the car, would it have been done then, I have taken the car in for an a and b service since I've owned it and not been impressed as they never even changed pollen filter, hence why I'm now doing it myself. Is it a garage job or something I can attempt.

 

[Wighty]

I have no idea, it's has full service history with the car, would it have been done then, I have taken the car in for an a and b service since I've owned it and not been impressed as they never even changed pollen filter, hence why I'm now doing it myself. Is it a garage job or something I can attempt.

Back when your car was built MB were in the sealed for life servicing phase (sealed for death ) . It later changed to a one off change at 37,500 miles . But most Indys are in the every 40k miles for gearbox servicing .
Probably cost about £200-250 at an MB Indy . It’s an ok diy job on the 5g box , there is plenty in the forum diy section and on The YouTube for the 722.6 gearbox service . The diy cost might be about £80+ for atf, filter,sump gasket .

 

[umblecumbuz]

Limp mode could - possibly - be gearbox-related, but just as easily something else. As Wighty has indicated, you need to change both the Atf and the filter in the gearbox. Quite probably the Atf is past its sell-by date, or is low. Low fluid can cause limp, but equally other gearbox problems would do so.

Does the cruise control still work? Does the kick-down still function normally? If neither, then you may have a gearbox malfuncion.

 

[Mark harrop]

Limp mode could - possibly - be gearbox-related, but just as easily something else. As Wighty has indicated, you need to change both the Atf and the filter in the gearbox. Quite probably the Atf is past its sell-by date, or is low. Low fluid can cause limp, but equally other gearbox problems would do so.

Does the cruise control still work? Does the kick-down still function normally? If neither, then you may have a gearbox malfuncion.

Cruise control works, kick down is intermittent which is when it goes into limp mode and the engine warning light comes on.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Not conclusive info - but in any case you must get your atf level checked at least, and preferably have the fluid and filter renewed.