Hi Scotty,
My 2009 Mercedes E350 takes 8.5 quarts. It is one quart low now but the dipstick seems to indicate that I don't need to add oil till it is two quarts low. Is it best to keep it full or save some money and wait, as it will need a oil change in a few months?
Thanks,
D
You are not saving any money by running low on oil. Change the oil and filter every 5000 miles. Check the oil level at least once a week. Keep it full. If the oil level is dropping, find out why; leaking or burning. Change out your PCV valve.
Oil and oil plus oil filter change is very low cost maintenance. As Doc mentioned above do figure out why the oil level is dropping. And keep it full, a quart or two of oil isn't going to cost much.
Especially compared to a new engine.
Very true.
In an engine with a bigger capacity oil pan like yours, a half quart or quart isn't going to destroy the engine right away if it's that much low. It probably won't even cause noticeable wear for a very long time (engine running rough, etc) if you accidentally drive it that way for the duration of an oil change. Nonetheless, it is still causing unnecessary wear, even if slight. The wear isn't healing like a cut or scrape on your knee does. It's permanent. Drive it consistently that way, and you will eventually have an expensive repair job, because the wear is cumulative.
Neglecting a design defect, almost no oil burning car starts burning oil immediately when they do. It's a cumulative process from neglect or an "it's good enough" attitude from their owners. Oil is cheap, engine teardowns are expensive. Fill up the oil to the right level.
