Without a doubt, frequent oil change helps preserve and guarantee your engine’s longevity. It ensures that your engine is constantly running on good oil for its smooth functioning and prevents damage to your engine.
Apart from following your Mercedes-Benz service plan to the letter, knowing how to check the oil level in your car is crucial to understanding when to go in for an oil change. While modern Mercedes-Benz cars come equipped with an electronic oil monitor, you can still use the traditional dipstick under the hood to stay informed.
Symptoms of low oil levels
Oil is an essential component of every vehicle since it lubricates, cools, and cleans the engine. However, as your oil depletes over time, your automobile will not perform as well as it should. The following are some of the most prevalent indications of low engine oil:
- Low oil warning light: The oil pressure warning will illuminate to warn you of low oil levels. When the system notices that your oil level is getting low, it notifies the driver by activating the low oil warning light.
- Burning oil smell: The burning smell could have resulted from oil leaks onto your hot engine. When you smell this, you should pull over and allow the engine to cool down before taking a look. Check your oil levels, and if it is low, contact a professional mechanic to take over from there. Driving may cause irreversible and costly engine damage.
- Engine overheating: Low oil levels cause increased friction which results in the engine heating up and consequently overheating. You should always check your oil levels to ensure that it hasn’t gone below the recommended levels else you risk damaging your engine.
- Unusual noises: Apart from causing your engine to overheat, low oil levels can also lead to total engine failure. When your engine starts failing due to low oil levels, you may begin hearing clunking sounds coming from under your hood. This usually results from parts within the engine rubbing against themselves due to poor lubrication. Whenever you hear unusual noise coming from under your hood, you should immediately consult a mechanic to prevent causing irreversible engine damage.
- Reduced performance: Low oil levels affect your overall vehicle performance. You may also notice an increased fuel consumption.
If you notice any of the symptoms discussed above, it is likely an indication that your vehicle is due for an oil change, and you should get it done immediately to avoid causing irreversible engine damage.
How to Check Your Oil Electronically
The electronic oil monitor on your dashboard is the easiest method to check the oil level in your Mercedes-Benz. This is what you must do:
- Turn off the engine and let it cool for 5 to 10
- Check to see if you’re parked on flat ground.
- Your gauges should illuminate, but your engine should remain turned off.
- Using the controls on your driving wheel, navigate through your menu until you get to the feature that checks the oil.
- “Engine Oil Level: Measuring Now” should appear on the screen after a few clicks.
- A reading of “Engine Oil Level OK” indicates that your vehicle is adequately lubricated.
How to Check Your Oil Manually
If you choose to go the manual route, keep in mind that dipsticks aren’t standard on all new Mercedes-Benz models. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t see one when you check under the hood. Simply follow the procedures above to check your car’s oil electrically. Here’s what you’ll need to do if you have a dipstick:
- Make sure you’re parked on level ground and allow plenty of time for your engine to cool. Wait time should be between 15 and 20 minutes.
- Find the dipstick by opening the hood, looking for a brightly colored handle.
- Using a rag, remove the dipstick and clean it. Replacing the dipstick in the sheath is the next step.
- Read the level with the dipstick once again. “Min” and “Max” lines, or a cross-hatched region that serves the same purpose, should be on your dipstick. Your oil level should fall somewhere between these, indicating if your oil is full or depleting towards the minimum.
Momentum Motorworks, Birmingham’s German Auto Specialists
At Momentum Motorworks, we are meticulous 
with our service, even when it comes to something as routine as an oil change. Our professionals will constantly work with you to ensure that you understand precisely what your vehicle needs.
We have consistently helped the drivers of BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Audi with service and repairs in Birmingham, AL. We also welcome drivers from the surrounding areas of Alabaster, Homewood, Helena, Hoover, Mountain Brook, and Vestavia. Give us a call or come in to set up an appointment.