Difficulty

Very easy

Steps

5

Time Required

                          2 - 3 minutes

Sections

1

  • How to check the oil level in your Mercedes W123
  • 5 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              How to check the oil level in your Mercedes W123
  • Oil level is checked using the engine oil dip stick. It is located on the right side of the engine when facing it from the front of the car.
  • The W123 used in this guide is a diesel car so the dip stick is located near the large secondary fuel filter and the injector hard lines. The items around your dip stick may look different.

Oil level is checked using the engine oil dip stick. It is located on the right side of the engine when facing it from the front of the car.

The W123 used in this guide is a diesel car so the dip stick is located near the large secondary fuel filter and the injector hard lines. The items around your dip stick may look different.

1024

Step 2

  • Pull the dipstick up and out towards the hood of the car.
  • Have a shop rag ready to catch any drips from the tip of the dip stick as it comes out of the tube it resides in

Pull the dipstick up and out towards the hood of the car.

Have a shop rag ready to catch any drips from the tip of the dip stick as it comes out of the tube it resides in

Step 3

  • The dip stick will come out with oil covering the tip. On a diesel engine it is normal for the oil to be dark black; the oil is designed to hold the diesel soot in suspension. If this were a gas engine it would definitely be time to change the oil just by the visual appearance of it! On a diesel you’ll have to go more by age or mileage.
  • The oil level should fall somewhere between the notches on the tip of the stick. The notches mean:
  • Low - add oil
  • Full
  • If oil is at or below the Low notch add oil slowly, checking the level occasionally, until it reaches the Full notch.
  • Never overfill your engine with oil! Especially on a diesel. It can be pulled in to the cylinders and it could lead to a run-away engine.

The dip stick will come out with oil covering the tip. On a diesel engine it is normal for the oil to be dark black; the oil is designed to hold the diesel soot in suspension. If this were a gas engine it would definitely be time to change the oil just by the visual appearance of it! On a diesel you’ll have to go more by age or mileage.

The oil level should fall somewhere between the notches on the tip of the stick. The notches mean:

Low - add oil

Full

If oil is at or below the Low notch add oil slowly, checking the level occasionally, until it reaches the Full notch.

Never overfill your engine with oil! Especially on a diesel. It can be pulled in to the cylinders and it could lead to a run-away engine.

Step 4

  • Wipe the dipstick clean with a shop towel or other clean rag
  • To be sure of the oil level check it a second time after wiping it clean as outlined in steps 2 and 3.

Wipe the dipstick clean with a shop towel or other clean rag

To be sure of the oil level check it a second time after wiping it clean as outlined in steps 2 and 3.

Step 5

  • Return the dipstick to the tube when completed and be sure to push it all the way in until it seats properly in the tip of the tube.

Return the dipstick to the tube when completed and be sure to push it all the way in until it seats properly in the tip of the tube.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    Nicolas Siemsen

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