Add oil message....something wrong?

drug delivery · 10-31-2009, 09:50 PM

I've had my C55 about a year with about 13K miles on it since purchase. Just about the time the Service A was due I got a message to add a quart of oil. I thought nothing of it since it was basically time to change the oil. Service A was performed by dealer and now about 4000 miles later I get the add oil message again. It tells me to add 1.5 quarts. I can't believe this car should normally burn through that much oil in 4000 miles. The car runs fine. I never smell oil or see smoke out the back.

Is this a sign of trouble to come or should I look the other way and just keep adding oil when it tells me to and change it when Mercedes says so?

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loudandheard · 10-31-2009, 10:10 PM

No, nothing is wrong. I use to have this happen when it was time for my oil change. If you do the onboard oil check through the lcd, it will tell you how much oil you need to add. My c32 burns a bit of oil or I may not have added enough oil when I did the oil change. You can always add some in. Use Mobile 1 synthetic w0-40 I think, double check to make sure.

drug delivery · 10-31-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loudandheard

Use Mobile 1 synthetic w0-40 I think, double check to make sure.

It's w0-40 although Winter is approaching up here so a bit thicker weight will be called for. Thanks.

ScottW911 · 10-31-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drug delivery

]... so a bit thicker weight will be called for. Thanks.

This is the only (originally) approved oil for our rides. The w0-40 should be adequate for all seasons.

Dingleberry · 11-01-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drug delivery

It's w0-40 although Winter is approaching up here so a bit thicker weight will be called for. Thanks.

You have it completely backwards. you want LIGHTER oil in the winter, and thicker oil in the summer... Although 0w-40 is fine for most conditions.

Phil C55 · 11-01-2009, 09:23 AM

Beleive it or not, most manufacturers don't consider a motor having a consumption problem until it uses a quart every 600 miles. Most of us are accustomed to cars not needing any oil between changes, but there are some motors that use some oil and it isn't always a sign of trouble. A quart every 600 sounds ridiculous to me, but I have read this.

Yeah, 0-W40 Mobil 1 is what should be used year round.

JG26_Irish · 11-01-2009, 11:37 AM

A small amount of oil consumption, especially toward the end of the longish MB service schedule is nothing to loose sleep over. Especially if you drive the car hard. Still, the following has been my experience with a variety of vehicles.

Porsche 944S 2.5L DOHC 4 cyl - 124k mi - Never ever used a drop of oil. Ran on Mobil1 all its life with 3k between changes

C36 AMG 3.6L DOHC 6 cyl - 103k mi - Never ever used a drop of oil. Ran on Mobil1 all its life with 3-4k between changes

C32 AMG V6 Kompressor 3.2L - 62k mi - Never ever used a drop of oil. Ran on Mobil1 all its life with 5k between changes (that is half the recommended MB interval). I am never going to go 10k between oil changes.

Toyota MR2 Turbo 2.0L DOHC 4 cyl - 126k mi - Began using oil after many years of use and abuse. Rate increased to about 0.5 quart/500 mi. Engine failed (siezed), running on Castrol semi-synthetic blend. Oil changed every 3k mi

Honda Prelude SH 2.2L DOHC 4 cyl - 112k mi - Has used oil as long as we have had it at rate of 0.5 qt/500 mi. Running Castrol long milage oil. Many track days and auto-x's. Still ticking

Honda Civic Si 1.6L DOHC 4 cyl - 99k mi - Has used oil as long as we have had it at rate of 0.5 qt/500 mi. Running Castrol long milage oil.

Oldsmobile Cutlass 3.1L V6 - 162k mi - Never uses oil unless the change interval is pushed past 5k mi. Runs like a champ on Penzoil's cheapest 5w30 and still gets 30mpg.

Pattern, the Japanese engines seem to be looser and use more oil, even when no real problem exists. The German engines which I admit were treated to the best synthetic oils at sooner than recommended intervals remained tight and never used oil. The old lo-tech American pushrod V6 in the Olds is also a great example of an engine that performs way better than it deserves to. I have had it for over 6 years and put more than 90k on it and have yet to even change the spark plugs.

I don't know how many miles are on your C55 or how you drive it or maintain it but if it is using any more oil than when you bought it, (a change has occured), ask yourself what is different? Is there oil on the pavement, signifying a leak. Is there smoke on start-up? This would point to valve guide seals. Is one spark plug black and oily while the others look normal? That would point to one cylinder going down. Is compression on all 8 cylinders normal and nearly equal? If all these are OK, then I would just drive it and not worry. If one is out of spec, then dig deeper.

Irish

drug delivery · 11-02-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG26_Irish

I don't know how many miles are on your C55 or how you drive it or maintain it but if it is using any more oil than when you bought it, (a change has occured), ask yourself what is different? Is there oil on the pavement, signifying a leak. Is there smoke on start-up? This would point to valve guide seals. Is one spark plug black and oily while the others look normal? That would point to one cylinder going down. Is compression on all 8 cylinders normal and nearly equal? If all these are OK, then I would just drive it and not worry. If one is out of spec, then dig deeper.

Irish

The car has just a tad over 30,000 miles. I drive it hard but not as hard as my Corvette, which is 2 years older and about the same mileage and it uses zero oil, even when doing high speed track events. I've had the C55 to the drag strip once this year (6 passes), which was after the Service A. The only time i've seen smoke on start up is when I have moved the car out of the garage without letting it idle down first and shutting if off right away. I do this to pull the lawn mower out. Now I just let the car idle down first before pulling out and this issue went away.

If I have to add more by the time the Service B is due then I can have the dealer check it out then, if not sooner.

Quicktwinturbo · 11-02-2009, 08:47 PM

It's normal to burn some oil in our cars..
Do check for some leaks around valve covers..

Tectite.Metal · 11-03-2009, 11:12 AM

Not sure about C55s but I know the C32s don't come with an oil measuring dipstick. So i purchased an aftermarket one and always make sure through that. Good investment!

Sephiroth · 11-03-2009, 02:27 PM

my rear main seal is leaking a bit of oil on my C55 and I've been too cheap/lazy to fix it. so it loses about 1 quart every 6 month or so. you might want to check that out, i hear it's a common problem.

drug delivery · 11-04-2009, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

my rear main seal is leaking a bit of oil on my C55 and I've been too cheap/lazy to fix it. so it loses about 1 quart every 6 month or so. you might want to check that out, i hear it's a common problem.

If I get a chance to get the car on a lift I'll take a look.

I had the right valve cover resealed earlier this year because it was leaking quite badly. It's clean as a whistle right now.

Sephiroth · 11-05-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drug delivery

If I get a chance to get the car on a lift I'll take a look.

I had the right valve cover resealed earlier this year because it was leaking quite badly. It's clean as a whistle right now.

I actually had the same thing done. The rear main seal won't be as easy to change. you'd have to unhook the tranny from your engine to fix.

11-01-2009, 11:37 AM	#7
JG26_Irish Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Ashland, KY USA Posts: 300 Drives: Mercedes C32 AMG 2003	Oil Consumption A small amount of oil consumption, especially toward the end of the longish MB service schedule is nothing to loose sleep over. Especially if you drive the car hard. Still, the following has been my experience with a variety of vehicles. Porsche 944S 2.5L DOHC 4 cyl - 124k mi - Never ever used a drop of oil. Ran on Mobil1 all its life with 3k between changes C36 AMG 3.6L DOHC 6 cyl - 103k mi - Never ever used a drop of oil. Ran on Mobil1 all its life with 3-4k between changes C32 AMG V6 Kompressor 3.2L - 62k mi - Never ever used a drop of oil. Ran on Mobil1 all its life with 5k between changes (that is half the recommended MB interval). I am never going to go 10k between oil changes. Toyota MR2 Turbo 2.0L DOHC 4 cyl - 126k mi - Began using oil after many years of use and abuse. Rate increased to about 0.5 quart/500 mi. Engine failed (siezed), running on Castrol semi-synthetic blend. Oil changed every 3k mi Honda Prelude SH 2.2L DOHC 4 cyl - 112k mi - Has used oil as long as we have had it at rate of 0.5 qt/500 mi. Running Castrol long milage oil. Many track days and auto-x's. Still ticking Honda Civic Si 1.6L DOHC 4 cyl - 99k mi - Has used oil as long as we have had it at rate of 0.5 qt/500 mi. Running Castrol long milage oil. Oldsmobile Cutlass 3.1L V6 - 162k mi - Never uses oil unless the change interval is pushed past 5k mi. Runs like a champ on Penzoil's cheapest 5w30 and still gets 30mpg. Pattern, the Japanese engines seem to be looser and use more oil, even when no real problem exists. The German engines which I admit were treated to the best synthetic oils at sooner than recommended intervals remained tight and never used oil. The old lo-tech American pushrod V6 in the Olds is also a great example of an engine that performs way better than it deserves to. I have had it for over 6 years and put more than 90k on it and have yet to even change the spark plugs. I don't know how many miles are on your C55 or how you drive it or maintain it but if it is using any more oil than when you bought it, (a change has occured), ask yourself what is different? Is there oil on the pavement, signifying a leak. Is there smoke on start-up? This would point to valve guide seals. Is one spark plug black and oily while the others look normal? That would point to one cylinder going down. Is compression on all 8 cylinders normal and nearly equal? If all these are OK, then I would just drive it and not worry. If one is out of spec, then dig deeper. Irish

11-02-2009, 08:47 PM	#9
Quicktwinturbo MBWorld Fanatic! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,150 Drives: C55 AMG, etc..	It's normal to burn some oil in our cars.. Do check for some leaks around valve covers.. __________________ 05 AMG C55 Green Filters Flat Hood emb

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10-31-2009, 10:10 PM	#2
loudandheard Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 303 Drives: c32 AMG	No, nothing is wrong. I use to have this happen when it was time for my oil change. If you do the onboard oil check through the lcd, it will tell you how much oil you need to add. My c32 burns a bit of oil or I may not have added enough oil when I did the oil change. You can always add some in. Use Mobile 1 synthetic w0-40 I think, double check to make sure.

11-01-2009, 09:23 AM	#6
Phil C55 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Middle of IL in a corn field Posts: 50 Drives: 2006 C55 AMG White/Ash	Beleive it or not, most manufacturers don't consider a motor having a consumption problem until it uses a quart every 600 miles. Most of us are accustomed to cars not needing any oil between changes, but there are some motors that use some oil and it isn't always a sign of trouble. A quart every 600 sounds ridiculous to me, but I have read this. Yeah, 0-W40 Mobil 1 is what should be used year round.

11-03-2009, 11:12 AM	#10
Tectite.Metal Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 124 Drives: c32 AMG	Not sure about C55s but I know the C32s don't come with an oil measuring dipstick. So i purchased an aftermarket one and always make sure through that. Good investment!

11-03-2009, 02:27 PM	#11
Sephiroth Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 44 Drives: C55 AMG, 2006 BMW X3	my rear main seal is leaking a bit of oil on my C55 and I've been too cheap/lazy to fix it. so it loses about 1 quart every 6 month or so. you might want to check that out, i hear it's a common problem.

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