Checking the Oil Level in Mercedes-Benz Vehicles

Your Mercedes-Benz vehicle is a precise and powerful machine, but it’s just like other vehicles in at least one respect. Motor oil is the lifeblood of your engine, and knowing how to check car oil on your own can help you reduce the risks posed by leaks and contamination as you drive around the Rye area.

So, how do you check the oil level in a Mercedes-Benz car or SUV? If you’re in a hurry, you can check your oil level using your electronic oil monitor. If you want to confirm a reading or you’re already under the hood, you can also simply check the dipstick. We’ll cover both methods below!

How to Check Car Oil with Your Gauge Cluster

Many modern vehicles are engineered with electronic oil monitors, and your favorite Mercedes-Benz cars and SUVs are no exception. If you’re seated behind the wheel and your car is on level ground, you can check your oil level quickly and easily:

1. Your oil needs to settle before you can accurately read the level. Turn off the engine and wait 5-10 minutes.
2. Place your key in the ignition and turn it to position two. (If you have push-button start, simply press the start button without holding down the brake.) Your electronics should come on, but the engine should remain off.
3. Use your steering wheel-mounted controls to cycle through menu options until you see “Engine Oil Level — Measuring Now” beneath your instruments.
4. Just wait a few moments to get your result!

Making sense of what the oil monitor tells you shouldn’t be too difficult. If everything’s as it should be, it will read “Engine Oil Level – OK”. If you need more oil, it will list “Engine Oil Level,” alongside the amount that you need to add. If you get a “Measuring Not Possible” result, simply try again in a few moments.  Still having trouble? Check your owner’s manual to find out exactly what you should do next, or schedule Mercedes-Benz oil service with our team.

How to Check Car Oil with Your Dipstick

If you’re the type who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, you might find it even easier to check your oil level with the dipstick. That is, of course, unless you can’t seem to find your Mercedes-Benz oil dipstick’s location! Some of the most recently-produced Mercedes-Benz vehicles don’t have this part, so keep that in mind before you get started. Models that do have dipsticks don’t necessarily have them in the exact same place—but you should be able to find yours near the engine.

If you’re sure that your model does have a dipstick, here’s how you get the job done quickly:

1. Let your engine cool for at least 15-20 minutes, so the oil can settle in the pan. Make sure that your vehicle is parked on level ground.
2. Open the vehicle’s hood and find the dipstick.
3. Don’t read the level just yet. Wipe the dipstick clean with a rag, and reinsert it.
4. When you draw it out once more, check the level. If it falls within the crosshatched area, or between the minimum and maximum lines, you’re good to go.

While you’re under the hood, you might notice corrosion on your car battery. Find out how to remove battery corrosion with our team.

How to Add More Oil to Your Mercedes-Benz

When you’re adding more oil to your Mercedes-Benz, make sure that you’re using an approved product. The oils we use during your scheduled Synthetic Motor Oil Replacement* service are all available at our Greenwich parts department. Check your owner’s manual if you’re unsure of which product to use. Adding fresh oil to your Mercedes-Benz is simple. When your engine is cool, simply locate the oil cap, unscrew it, and use a funnel to pour more oil into the reservoir. Your electronic oil monitor will tell you exactly how much oil you need to add, but you should still work carefully and slowly to avoid overfilling. Add a little bit (0.5 quarts) at a time, and if you feel so inclined, you can check the dipstick or your electronic oil monitor as you go.

Mercedes-Benz Oil Consumption

Mercedes-Benz oil consumption and use rates can vary depending on how you drive, but as long as you stick to the oil replacement schedule laid out in your owner’s manual, your oil level should remain more or less consistent in between changes. If you notice a reduced oil level in your Mercedes-Benz, it may be that you’re dealing with a leak. On the other hand, using low-quality oil or oil filters can actually cause your vehicle to consume oil more quickly than it normally would. (If you’ve recently spent time towing or racing, note that more demanding drives could also cause Mercedes-Benz oil consumption to accelerate.)

If you notice that your vehicle has low oil levels, you’ll want to add more at the earliest opportunity. If you frequently discover that your oil levels are lower than expected, schedule service with our team and let an expert take a look under the hood.

Trust Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich for All of Your Service Needs

Now that you’ve seen how to check the oil level in your car, you can drive more safely on the roads near Stamford and New Canaan. Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich is here to help with all of your service needs, whether you need to schedule service today or you’re interested in learning more about DIY car care!

*Oil and filter change is the base advertised service component. Additional services as determined by your vehicle’s ASSYST Plus system, which calculates service needs based on your driving habits, time, mileage and environmental conditions, may increase service cost.