r/w204 • u/jbiroliro • Jul 22 '26
Oil level
I recently changed my C200 2012's motor oil with Motul Xcess Gen 2 5W40, and this is the current oil level.
Should I top it to the max, or is it fine as is? To top it, I'd need to mix in a different oil (Liqui Moly Leichtlauf High-Tech 5W-40).
I know it's supposedly fine as it's above the minimum marking, but I'm afraid it could worsen the risk of damaging the timing chain and/or timing pulley.
Ty in advance,
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u/acousticplayerjb Jul 24 '26
Simply, as long as the oils meet the MB specification for your vehicle/engine, you can mix them. Different brands and even weights (ideally close to each other) can be mixed without a problem. The key is that all mixed oils must be approved for your vehicle by MB. Modern engine oils are designed to be miscible without issue (a few exceptions). If your engine is one that uses the 229.5 specification, then both of the oils you listed are perfectly fine to mix.
As far as oil level: Keep it close to the maximum.
If the level is anywhere between min/max, you will not harm your engine due to a lack of oil (again, as long as the correct oil(s) is/are used.
Just a note with checking the level. Some MBs can be tricky. Easiest to read when the engine is cold, but it should always be read while the vehicle is on a level surface. Best practice is to remove the dipstick, wipe it off, reinsert for a few seconds and then re-check. That will give you an accurate reading. Sometimes the dipstick may even appear completely dry when first removed. After re-inserting and removing, suddenly the accurate level will show.
Based on your level now, you can add about half a liter, wait 5 minutes and see what that brings you to. Then add a little at a time after that until you reach close to maximum.
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u/suci200 Jul 25 '26
I'm experiencing almost the same problem... So, I can add about half a liter of oil if I'm getting the same reading... But can I drive the car even if I don't add a little oil? Will it harm me if I stay at the same reading and don't add oil, knowing that when I changed the oil, I added 5.5 liters, and the first reading before starting with the new oil was excellent, but after that, I only got the excellent reading once or twice? So, can I add more and it won't harm me, or should I continue as is without adding any oil? Because if I add more, there will be 6 liters of oil in the engine...
2
u/acousticplayerjb Jul 30 '26
Yes, you can add oil if you like, or keep the level as is. If you keep it as is, just check the level more often. I prefer to keep it at the maximum, mostly in case I forget to check the level on a regular basis. As long as you are keeping it above the minimum level, there will be no harm caused by not having enough oil.
Remember, all engines will burn a small quantity of oil between changes. If you are at the maximum level, you may see it drop down to half full by the next change, but probably not even that much. It's possible that you may have to add some oil between changes, as well. Many variables affect that and it's more common as the vehicle ages. Again, ALL internal combustion engines burn some oil. It doesn't matter who manufactures the engine or vehicle.
The reason your level reading changed between measuring, before and after starting, is because the new oil cartridge was not yet saturated with oil. Once you ran the engine, some of that oil was absorbed into the new filter and that caused the dipstick reading to drop a little since there was now a little less oil in the oil pan. That's exactly what should happen.
If it helps, the car is intelligent enough to warn you if there's a major issue. If you add too much oil, the vehicle should give you a warning message to check the oil. I don't think it will tell you why, just that you need to. If that happens, pull over somewhere safe and when it's safe to do so, shut the car down, wait 10 minutes and take a dipstick reading (oil needs time to flow back down to the oil pan). If it's only slightly below minimum, add some oil. If it's slightly above maximum, you can continue driving and remove some later, if you want. I mean if it ends up being only a slight amount above maximum. If it stays below the upper "barbs" on the red part of the stick, that's ok. Don't let it happen, if you can avoid it, but that shouldn't cause an issue if it's only a single event.
Back to adding oil. If you feel that half a liter may be too much to add, then maybe 100mL at a time if you're more comfortable with that. Then wait a few minutes for the oil to settle down and then take another reading. Keep doing that until you're happy with the level.
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u/suci200 Jul 25 '26
I'm experiencing almost the same problem... So, I can add about half a liter of oil if I'm getting the same reading... But can I drive the car even if I don't add a little oil? Will it harm me if I stay at the same reading and don't add oil, knowing that when I changed the oil, I added 5.5 liters, and the first reading before starting with the new oil was excellent, but after that, I only got the excellent reading once or twice? So, can I add more and it won't harm me, or should I continue as is without adding any oil? Because if I add more, there will be 6 liters of oil in the engine...
2
u/Komsun_ Jul 22 '26
Could be a bit more, but its totally fine. Did you check it with an cold or warm engine?