Our driveway is on a slight incline, but it's very slight. I'll throw a level on it tomorrow and see. FWIW after sending the Very Significant Other to work in it today and checking it fifteen minutes after her 20 mile trip home the oil was showing dead between the two plastic bits on the dipstick. That would be disappointing if such a slight out of level would skew the oil reading that much.

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

So eight months later, I had this same oil change experience this evening.
There's been an oil change or two in between but I can't remember what I did, I think it was put two gallons in and forget about it since it never uses any.

It again took over two gallons to get it to just below halfway between min and max mark. Two gallons was barely even at the MIN mark on the plastic. My significant other who drives it daily reminded me that the PO had the oil pan replaced, wonder if it was a larger capacity pan from some other chassis?

Car has been and still seems perfectly happy with the oil level indicated halfway between min and max, even though it takes a lot more than everyone says it should to make that read as such. Anyone have the part number handy for the correct dipstick for a 94 E320? I'm still curious about this but less concerned since the thing seems happy over the long term.

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

I’m not familiar with the M104 but is it possible whatever damaged the sump dislocated the dipstick tube? Do you drain or extract? How much comes out?

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

Drained. We've had it a year or so now, hasn't exploded.
Anything is possible as far as the tube, but it goes in well and feels right
for whatever that's worth.

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

What I meant is maybe the tube end is bent such that the dipstick sits just a little higher than the spec oil level so it appears to read low. A possible check is to compare how much is extracted with how much is drained. The debate rages but many believe the difference is teaspoons. Your results might be different if use use the dipstick tube itself for extraction vs an inserted tube and the dipstick tube end is bent to be further from the bottom of the sump.

Maybe easier to send a vinyl tube into the dipstick tube to get a reading and compare with a trusted E320 reference.

After all this typing, is the dipstick tube pressed into the block all the way?

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
C320 wagon

The tube is not loose at all, I assume it's all the way in.
I'd have to crawl under and see but I believe the dipstick is pretty high up
vs the low hanging parts of the pan that got hit by road debris prompting the replacement. Anything is possible but off the cuff it looks unlikely. I'll
look at it further this afternoon.

Could one reasonably assume there would be some self-leveling over many thousands of miles if the oil was actually over-filled by a quart or more, and/or that there would be some sign of leaking, frothing, etc, eh?
Never has been, weeps a little from somewhere down low and front but not enough to drip very often, I assume the timing cover or some such. The dealer put a head gasket on it not too many years ago, seems dry up top.

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

I have seen head gasket change on 104s where they did not remove the O ring for the tube, but installed the new one over it.

This gets you a higher tube b/c of double O ring and will show incorrect level.

Worth a look...........

104s do not like high oil level of any sort....that is why the factory came out with TSB modification specs.

__________________
A Dalton

Dealer can screw up like anyone else I guess, I'll look at that too.

You'd think after almost a year and many thousands of miles if it was badly overfilled something would be complaining and it isn't that I can see.
I also run the level midway between min/max, which might actually be max
if something is truly wonky, but it still took over 8qts to get it there.
Very strange.

__________________
One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

You have the newer gasket. so I would simply run it between min/max as the TSB states.

The TSB was initiated for the block leak and front U seal at the orig head/block seams.

But that did not solve the gasket problem...the new haed gasket kit did.

__________________
A Dalton

One quart = .946 liter.

Best way to check oil is when you service fuel, and it can be tough to get an accurate reading with fresh oil. Most gas station pads are level, so this is a good time to do it. First thing to do is open the hood, pull the dipstick, wipe it down, and lay it in a convenient place.

The several minutes is takes to fuel will allow oil in the dipstick tube to drain down, which will prevent a false reading. So after fueling insert and remove the dipstick and you should have a clear reading.

Duke