I guess you don't know the answer to the question AZ asked three times? Or are you just so ticked he's pissed off at a D/C dealer that you won't answer just to spite him?

AZ...
I did find this bit of advice:
"The 3.2 liter engine uses 8.5 US quarts. It is recommended that only 8 quarts be added initially. Run the engine and check the level. The oil canister/filter can hold about a quart of oil so the level will drop after the oil is circulated for the first time. Add oil as needed." slk32.com

Perhaps the 'grease monkey' put in stated capacity of 8.5, then ran it and saw it drop, so added some more? So know you're reading the 'more'??? Did you try taking a reading with the engine running (as suggested @ slk32.com)??


SeaXFire posted some horrible potentials... eek!

Good luck!

 

David Burns, I'm not on AZ's payroll or this forum's payroll.I don't have to answer any post.I help out on here because I like to not because I have to.

 

well...i appreciate all of your assistance and input...we need an inside tech.

thanks!

 

I have read all the posts twice, and in AZ's defense, what seems to be missing in everyone's comments is the fact that he took a 700 mile trip this weekend at highway speeds. If overfilling can cause problems as listed in the manual, that many miles at high speed may have caused some damage. And it can surely **** you off to have a new vehicle damaged by dealer negligence (aka "being bobbyfied")

I can understand his frustration.

Now my question to AZ, and please don't take this personally. The last thing I do before leaving on any long road trip is check all the fluids/tire pressures in the car. With the troubles you have had in the past with your dealer, and all the posts here stating that the dealers may screw up the oil change, why didn't you check the oil level before you left your house?

I am scheduled for my first oil change this week, and from what I have read here I don't think I will leave the dealer's lot before I double check the oil level.....

Now let us know what the dealer has to say.

 

jsisbella...

Thanks for your input and trying to understand what I was saying.

To answer your questions...

The oil service was just done last week and no visible leaks on the garage floor. Also, before I took delivery of the car last week the first thing I did was to check the oil and the FSS. Remember my silly post about the dealer not resetting it? As for the oil, it was reading just a tad on the high side, thought no problem... in hindsight I should have waited a little longer before checking the oil. Tires and other things are checked weekly and were done the day before.

Hope that answers your questions.

Boy I never thought asking a question on this board would stir up the pot this much... Sorry I even mentioned it now....

 

AZ:

Let the pot stir. We all have to know what to look out for....

What I don't understand is: If you checked the oil before you left, and it was only a "tad" high, how did it go to +1 quart (3/4" over full)? As a general rule of physics, liquids will expand as the temperature rises, but I would think it is impossible for engine oil level to go up a quart?!?!? Or does the dipstick level just take some time to settle with fresh oil in the crankcase?

But if that is the case, is checking the oil level at the dealership right after my oil change a waste of time? I wonder how long it takes for the oil level to settle out for an accurate reading? I think I will take a short ride and then check it.....

 

jsisabella,

That's all I can think of... I didn't give the oil enought time to settle in before I checked it.

 

Fair enough. It seemed like a pretty straightforward question for which I'd have thought a "crossfiretech" would be able to give a fairly straightforward answer. I figure if there was some misconception about what having too much oil in a Crossfire crank would do (>I< don't know, and hoped to hear some straight facts rather than nonsense like 'it'll just run cooler'), a "tech" chiming in with the facts would have gone a long way towards smoothing and toning down the whole thread.

c'est la vie...

 

AZ & All:

Here is how my dealer (Greenwood Market Motors in Youngstown, Ohio) handles service, and I am very happy about it.

My car is assigned to a specific service advisor, and she works with the same 4 service techs. They are using the "team" concept. This way, I am always dealing with the same people, which is a nice touch.

I made my appointment last week, and Sheryl called today to verify both the appointment time and the work to be done. I am still getting some wind noise around both windows, I need the TPM monitors reset since I had my summer tires & wheels put back on, and a first oil/filter change. I casually mentioned that I had heard there was some problems in the manuals about the correct amount of oil required during a change. She was aware of the bad info (6.5 qts) and aware of the correct info (8.5 qts) and the proper oil required. She also asked me to bring in the coupon for the free first oil change. She also wanted me to be aware that future oil changes for the Crossfire would cost about $70.00. Finally,she also aked if I would be needing a car during the service.

In my opinion, this is how it should work. Know what you are doing, keep the customer informed, and do the job in a courteous and timely manner.

Good rules for any business......

 

:shock: Great Customer Service!! :!:

If only they were all that way. You better not ever move!!! :wink:

 

Well cars have oil pans for a reason, to keep excess oil from spilling out of the engine. I really can't imagine anything GOING WRONG with even a quart of extra oil. The only time something could go wrong is if you take a turn at 3Gs and a bit of the oil spills out. It MAY catch on fire if it hits a part of the engine that is above motor oil's flash point (450F+- depending on the oil brand). And yes, your engine probably is running cooler and you're probably experiencing slightly better gas mileage and less engine wear. Oil is a lubricant and a coolant. It prevents damage. More oil won't create more wear. It MAY spill out if there's too much, if you hit a turn harder than an F-16 in flight, but I doubt you're doing that, and I doubt the oil pan in a Mercedes engine is so poorly designed as to allow any oil at all to spill out unless it's bubbling over the top.

If you want to go in and hold these people accountable, then do it. Ask them what damage it could have caused. We're all telling you that it didn't and you don't need to worry.

 

There's only one thing wrong with your statement.... Facts! All modern engines have non-vented/closed crankcases. If the engine is over serviced it can build up too much crankcase pressure and blow seals... Usually a rear or front main (Crankshaft) seal. And that I would call damage! :?

 

You got me there.

 

Not only that but friction from the crank splashing around in the oil can eventually cause it to froth up. Typically the guys on the road course add half a quart of oil to the oil pan before heading out. When cornering at high rates of speeds on a road course sweeper, can, and has been known to starve the oil pump of oil.

Happened in my last car. Cost me a motor. I doubt this did any damage to your motor. You'd need more than half a quart to do any real damage.

 

I believed the problem is DC. I had my first oil change today and after my CF is serviced, I realized that they only put 6 quarts of oil. The service manager showed me their brand new Crossfire service manual which showed 6 quarts. I showed him my owners manual showing 8.5 quarts.

He then brought the CF back to the shop and when he came back he told me that they talked to the tech support who told them that the CF requires 7 quarts.

He then pulled the dipstick and showed me the oil level which is a quarter short from the top level. He said that tonight it will rise up to the top level.

I reviewed the old posts here and everybody seemed to agree it's 8.5 quarts. This may be one of the things you need to be weary of in your first oil change.

I think DC is looking for a class action lawsuit from this if one day this case will cause accidents, the fact that their manual under serviced Crossfires by putting 6 quarts of oil.

 

AZ:

So what was the outcome of your visit to the dealer?????

 

I took it in yesterday after work (hasn't been driven since the trip)... they're working on it now. The oil level was still high, but when I showed the service writer the "HI" indicator it read "OK"... it never fails. ops:

They are also working on the wind noise and brake squeal from the GreenStuff brake pads I had them install for me.

I'm just sitting on pins and needles right now.

We'll see how things turn out... (I've calmed down about the over serviced oil... but it still amazes me, how difficult an oil change could be for a dealership... oh well.

I did decide to take advantage of the loaner car option this time in. A rental car company picked me up and put me in a 4 cyl PT Cruiser.

Will update later.

 

Engine was cold - level would be a bit lower - probably just enough to keep it in the OK range...

 

That's what I thought before taking it in... the dealership is maybe 4 miles from home. Took the long way around, a couple of extra miles.... :wink:

 

Actually the oil level will show its highest when the car has been sitting for a few hours. That way it has had time to run down from the head to the bottom of the pan. Has nothing to do with it being hot or cold.

Hot will only thin it out, cold its a little thicker. When it is all at the bottom of the pan, it don't matter.