Strange thing happened to my C280

[Cams18]

I bought my C280 last week, it was due to oil change some 700 miles ago. The oil is too dirty, so I decided to change it. I went to an autosupply, I couldn't find any oil filters for my C280, so I thought I'll use the old filter for now and will change oil again in 3 months. I sucked the dirty oil out successfully, I pourred in 4 quarts of Mobil-1 5-20W, (the store didn't have the 0-40w version) Any way, after waiting a few minutes, I checked the oil level, I see nothing, I then started the engine and checked the oil level again, I see nothing there on the dipstick.

This Mobil-1 5-20W must be very light, I assume it did not pass thru the filter since the filter has old heavy oil left sticking on it, that's probably why I don't see the new oil coming down through the filter. I'm going to hunt for the oil filter tomorrow.

My question to you expert is, what would happen if I remove the old filter, will the hidden oil start pourring down on the A/C belts like crazy?

Maybe for precaution, I will put a sheet of plastic over the belts, and will get something to catch the oil at the bottom of the car.

I hope someone can explain to me an easy solution, I want to see the oil on my dipstick beforemoving the car.

Thanks.

Cams18

[marlinspike]

Ummm...only 4 quarts? Granted, I don't know much about the C280, but I've never heard of ANY German car that only takes the 4.5 quarts that the American cars call for. Check the owners manual, I'm guessing it calls for 6.5 quarts or more.

[marlinspike]

Was bored, decided to google it. According to MBUSA it holds 7.4 quarts of oil.

[vince]

marlinspike is right. The filter holds about 1/2 quart. Since Cams 18 does not tell us what year C280 he has, we must read between the lines. Up through 1997 the C280 has the M104 inline six. 1998 and later C280s have the M112 vee six. The oil filter on the M104 is at the left rear of the engine. I am assuming from Cams 18s post that he has a 1998 or later since the oil cannot run onto the belts on the M104. It always helps to give us the info we need!

Also, 5W-20 is the wrong grade! Get 10W-40 if you can't find the 0W-40. 0W-40 is available at many Wal-Mart stores and almost all Autozone stores. Furtermore, use the factory fleece oil filter. It is expensive, but it is designed to work with the synthetic oils and longer oil change intervals.

[Cams18]

It's a is Synthetic oil 5-20W made by Mobil 1, at Wal-mart by the way.

Thanks for your responses. It's good to know that the engine takes much more oils. I did not want to take a change to overload the engine, I put in 4 qt approximately, shouldn't 4.0 qts be enough to go thru the filter?

The filter is on the right hand side, next to the cap where I pour in new oil. It doesn't look like the oil can overflow/spill on the belt looking at the framwork of oil flow.

This morning I tried something else, I warmed up the oil filter chasis with my heat gun, because the car was left cold last night while changing the oil. (I'm in the cold city, upper north Seattle to be exact.) Still no luck seeing the oil at the bottom of the engine.


Cams

[marlinspike]

If you drained out all of the oil, and you only have 4 quarts in there, you shouldn't be running your engine, and definitley don't drive the car. You're oil level is VERY low, and nothing will show on the dipstick since the dipstick will only show down to 2 quarts low, and you're over 3 quarts low.

Also, just because it's Mobil 1 doesn't mean you can run such a thin oil, you should run whatever weight the manual calls for. If the manual calls for 0-40, 5-20 is too thick on start up and too thin on a hot engine, basically giving you no protection. Just go get yourself 8 quarts of the right oil, drain it from the plug on the pan so you know you got it all out (get a filter kit from the dealer first so you have all the washers), and put in the right stuff. I definitley wouldn't be driving this car right now with only 4 quarts of the wrong oil to boot, I don't think you'll even get oil pressure when the engine warms up.

[vince]

Cams 18 - You need to heed what marlinspike and I are telling you. The engine oil capacity of the M112 V6 in your car is 8.5 quarts with the oil filter. Subtract 1/2 to 1 quart for not changing the filter and you have a 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 quart deficit. You need to add that much more oil. No amount of heat gunning is going to fix your problem. The oil IS going through the filter when the engine is running. You don't have enough oil in the car to drive it. The oil may slosh away from the oil pump pickup in a turn, starving the bearings. Longer term, having so little oil in circulation reduces its life (ability to perform up to specs). Furthermore, as I have said earlier, 5W-20 is not acceptable in that engine, under any climatic conditions. You should suck or drain out the 5W-20 and put in the correwct 0W-40 or, if you can't find 0W-40, get 10W-40. I cannot emphasize how important this is. You are gambling with your engine life, big time!

[Don350SDL]

Does this help?:

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OIL IN THE ENGINE. PUT MORE IN.

(Also, 5W20 is too thin, Get 0W40 or 10W40)

Don

[Cams18]

Thanks Don, you're right, and every one is right amount the amount I put in wasn't enough. Now it's clean and ready to roll on the road.

Thanks every one for your replies.

Cams18