Displaying "Hi" and "oil can" icon. W461
In my 2011 W461 300CDI in the G Professional layout, the LCD display shows "Hi" in letters and the "oil can" icon quite often.
This happens even when I'm cruising at about 80 kmh (50 mph) at 2500 rpm with the temperature gauge at just over 80.
Any idea what is wrong? Thank you.
Erik
Have you checked the level of the engine oil, as It sounds to me the engine oil level is too high.
If the level is fine, could it be you have one of the earlier engines which had problems with thickening of the oil, which maybe confusing the oil level indicator.
Erik
You should read the engine oil level with engine turned off. If its been running let it settle for minute or so before you check the level. Remove and clean the dip stick with a clean cloth before putting back into the tube and checking the level.
A number of engines built around 2010-11 were recalled by Mercedes to have the sump changed for a larger one, to increase the volume of oil, as engines were suffering with oil sludge.
Were are you, Uk?
With the 300 CDI, does one read the dip stick with the engine running or with the engine off?
Are you talking about checking the auto transmission fluid level or the engine oil level ?
I can't think of any model of G Wagon where you would check the engine oil level via a dipstick with the engine running !
Normal method of checking the engine oil accurately is to ensure the vehicle is on a flat surface and then with the engine off check the dipstick. Depending on the instructions in the owners handbook this would be done either with the engine warm or cold.
Howard, Bigblock,
I'm in Hong Kong. Right hand driver all the same.
I was referring to engine oil.
My other car has a dry sump. I have to run the engine to operating temperature before I sould read the dip stick. Otherwise, I would overfill.
Wasn't aware of the recall. Would you have any info on the recall, such as the VIN range? I wasn't able to find anything by googling.
Does anyone have a legend to all the icon and messages shown on the LCD display? The operators' manual does not appear to cover very much.
Thank you.
error.
erik do you know ericase AKA Tang Shung Ngai he is in hong kong with a G
I HAVE just sent him a load of parts send him a PM
ADRIAN
Alot of mercs don't have a engine oil dipstick any longer. The check is done only by the sensor. There is normally a routine where you can ask it to display the level on the dash.
The Engine Oil level is over full
Please get this checked and drained quickly
The level should be checked thru the dash / wheel.
Does the vehicle so lots of stop starts or short runs?
Gav,
I read the operator's manual carefully again. There are instructions on reading the oil level with the dip stick as well as electronically.
I'll check tonight.
A substantial proportion of the driving is urban. The "Hi" and "oil can" symbols only come up transiently when I'm cruising on the motorway or going up hill.
dip stick seems above "max"
Display says "OK"
How would one siphon off excess engine oil?
Thank you
Please PM me your chassis number and i will do some checks
The Dipstick should have some numbers on the top pull handle i.e. 642 12 or similar
Not unheard of for the incorrect dipstick to be fitted, but if can ascertain that the correct one is installed
And that the level is then correct, then a faulty electronic level sensor is possible giving an incorrect dash reading.
Oil can be drained via the sump plug as normal...
Dip stick 642 33
Correct Dipstick fitted
Full part number on EPC A642 010 33 72
Manual level should be correct
I continued with my investigation over the weekend.
Following the operator's manual, I decided to "siphon" off excess engine oil.
I couldn't thread a tube through the filling-cap neck to hit oil so I did it through the dip stick hole.
I drew out 1 litre of oil. The the dip stick reading changed marginally. I'll be drawing more out next weekend.
Observations:
1) Electronic oil reading indicated "OK" when the engine was cold, first thing in the morning. 2) The "Hi" warning does not appear anymore when cruising. 3) When the electronic oil reading was taken again per the operator's manual, being leaving the engine to cool for a while after running at normal operating temperature, the reading indicated "Hi".
Question:
The engine takes 7 litres of oil. It was at the very least 1 litre over filled i.e. 14%. The last service probably happened in March 2015. How much trouble am I facing?
Thanks.
-
If vehicle is running fine, then I do not think you are looking at any problems; at a worse case scenario you could have been looking at particle filter failure but as no "Christmas" (warning lights) are on, I do not think you should have any related problems.
Don't worry about it. 1 litre more or less won't make any difference at all. The G is designed to operate at steep inclines when the engine oil in the sump will move to one end or the other, raising the level significantly in that part of the engine.
In fact, the newer engines have had their sump quantity increased to help reduce sludge formation, given the extended oil-drain intervals.
I found that the electronic measurement and dipstick measurements on these engines are very finicky. At the last service, I filled my engine to the full mark on the dipstick (with the service-manual quantity of litres). Everything was fine for a day or two, and after some more driving the electronic measurement read 'LO'. I had to add almost 1 more litre, before it was happy. The dipstick is also very hard to read because as it's drawn out of the tube, more oil accumulates on the tip and the reading are therefore a bit variable and depend also on how quickly it's put in and taken out. The difference between the high and low marks should be 1 litre, but it's hard to gauge.
In any case, any decent engineer would design the indicated maximum to be 4 or 5 litres, below the point of probable damage, and if a 1 litre over-fll were that critical. a 'Hi' indication would cause the engine to shut-off not just give a warning.
Did you remove 1 litre with that (50ml) syringe? You must be very patient. Using the dipstick tube is how many people including MB drain the oil but they use a dedicated vacuum pump. Mityvac is one brand if you do you own services.
Pistonhead, I was concerned coz the manual says possible engine and catalytic converter damage.
Arnie, thank you for the detailed analysis. I would have drawn out more if I had a larger engine oil container to hand. 4 to 5 litre tolerance for a 7 litre reservoir is quite a lot.
Roly, in fact it was a 20ml. Gravity took hold when I got the siphon action going after a few syringes.
Thanks.
Overfilling gives more change of burning excess oil and burning oil can leave deposits on the catalytic converters, but modern engine oils have reduced zinc and other additives that can be harmful to these. In any-case, diesel engines already leave plenty of soot deposits on the catalytic converters
I wasn't saying that you can fill the engine to 7 litres +/- 4 or 5 litres, just that once full, you can probably overfill by a good further quantity before engine damage through hydraulic-locking would occur. You don't need to take oil any more oil if the level sensor is happy now.
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Thank you Howard.
It is manufactured in 2011, so shouldn't be that old.
With the 300 CDI, does one read the dip stick with the engine running or with the engine off?
Thank you.