I recently got the oil changed on my 1999 C280 and now I get a periodic flashing message on my trip odometer. After about 1-5 miles of driving, I'll hear a beep - my trip ododmeter will go away, and a picture of an oil can floating with the word "HI" starts blinking. After a few minutes it goes away and the trip odometer comes back.

I just had the oil changed, is this indicator something I should be worried about?

 

Check the oil via the dip stick. make sure the car is on level ground. If shows on the stick over the full mark. Then you will need to siphon some out or return to the station and have them do it. Make sure the engine has sat for 10 minutes before you check it via the dip stick. Some people stay to check the oil when the engine is cold, say before you start it in the morning. Some say no, run it for awhile and then wait and check it. I follow the second school. I will wait the 10 minutes and then check it. If the dip stick is OK then they could be a problem with the system. Yes you should be worried if too much oil is in the engine. It is always better to have a a little less then too much. You know what the say about excess, applies to motors also. Moderation is the key to life and motors. When I change my oil I try to get the dipstick level just below the max mark on the stick. Less in this case is better. You are safe is the oil level on the stick is between high and low.

Back in the 70's I had a Pontaic GTOl during my muscle car stage, I took it to a station for an oil change. For some reason when I got home I check the oil and they had added almost an extra quart, I took it right back and had the drain and refill the motor.

 

What is needed to "siphon" some of the gas out?

 

Actually they are called oil extractors, Mercedes does this in their dealership, I do it, some people don't. I have no problems with it and it is a lot easier than getting under the car and doing the drain plug thing. Thre are many on the market, www.griotsgarage.com, IMHO sells the best and is the one I have. Believe me it will make your life a lot easier. Also, I have a very, very bad back and walk with a cane, so I can't get under cars and such bending things any longer, so I can still say $50 or so by DIY with the extractor.

When you get on Griots website, do a search for oil extractor. It is about $70 but well worth it. All there products are guaranteed for life also, and I had occassion to return a boar hair brush I had for 15 years, the wooden grip broke. They exchanged it no questions asked and shipped it free. They have IMHO some of the best car care products, along with Mcgueirs.

You get a tank that will hold the entire amount oil in the pan, and a couple of different tubes one connects to the tank and there are two others, just choose the one that fits down the dip stick tube. Cut the end of the tube at an angle, People tell me this keeps it from getting hung up on the oil pump or whatever. I have had mine for 6 years and two cars. You pump the handle 5 or 6 times to establish vacuum and that is it, the oil is sucked into the container. Most of the time you have no need to prime the pump again like on some other of these type of products. If you are a DIY it is a worhwhile investement. Also, as I said this is the way Mercedes does it. One tip, before you put in the last quart. check the oil level. If the oil level is close to the bottom add a 1/2 quart of the last bottle. replace the cap on the cam cover and start the engine. The oil light should off. When is does, wait a few minutes and recheck the oil level and as I said I keep it just below the full mark. Start the engine again and recheck the oil level as I descripted. If the oil light doesn't go off in a couple of seconds stop the engine immediately and wait the ten minutes and recheck the level. But my 99 C280 has never used any oil and the oil level is always the same. As information I change my oil every 5K miles, I from the oil school and get nervous with these 10K mile oil changes.

 

Thanx for the input, I will try the oil extractor

 

Your welcome, as I said a some folks don't like this method, but remember your dealing with syn oil and it is slippery, and Mercedes does it themselves. One tech told me he hasn't taken off a drain plug in a years or more. I sure you will like it. It pays itself back quickly especially if you use the dealer to change your oil.

Good luck and Happy New Year!