Post a photo of your oil on dipstick (with miles)

Was going to post the HPL in my Mercedes, after 2,000 miles, but this is what the dipstick looks like.

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1,400 miles

I'd guess 380 miles lol

One thing about mine, when it looks dark brown on the stick, it’s jet black in the pan.

Or at least darker.. Always wondered why that is?

Here is
2004 Fodd Taurus
131,677 miles on car
About 3000 miles on oil

Here it is after topped up 1/4 quart a few miles before. Oil level will change a little of dipstick not kept level, or is moved around.

It looks like it is startint to darken. Perhaps holding some liquefied crud in suspension. As it is supposed to.
(KIND of oil? No idea.. whatever was in that drum of bulk shop PCMO at the shop. Could be 5W-20 or 5W-30. Cap states 5W-20 prominently so I would think they used that. No idea what kind.)
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Here is what I topped it up with, from 1/4 up on dipstick crosshatch area to 1/2. 1/4 quart was added
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"One thing about mine, when it looks dark brown on the stick, it’s jet black in the pan."

Or at least darker.. Always wondered why that is?

The thicker the depth of the oil, the darker it's going to look. Looking at 5 inches deep oil in a drain pan is going to look much darker than a 0.050 inch layer of the same oil.
 
I would have a hard time adjusting to not having a dip stick.
It’s a bit weird. Both the MBs have this system. You have to trust it.

There is a Genuine Mercedes graduated “service tool” with mm depth markings - a dipstick in other words - that is used to verify performance of the oil level sensor. Periodically, I have done just that and the sensor is dead on. It’s an accurate system.

Fortunately, neither engine uses any oil, and neither engine leaks, so, while I check every fill up (if the car is level, and it’s very sensitive to the car being level)…

I promise that most Mercedes owners never even check.

With a 9.5 quart stated sump capacity - that’s probably not an issue.
 
Here is the Ford again (sig) after yesterday's level adjustment to middle-ish of dipstick, after sitting for about an hour after 50 miles of mixed driving, morning errands before work. Engine still quite warm, Vulcan 3.0 is Iron block and heads. At least 3000 miles on the oil. Accumulating quickly (as always.)

Yes, the oil is going to go beyond 3000 miles.

The color tells me it is doing something. That's not new light oil. (Though some oils are a very nice amber color from first pour. Castrol Edge and HPL come to mind.)

As long as you don't have fuel dilution, you should be okay to generally run your oil a pretty long time. "When in doubt, change it out.."

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It’s a bit weird. Both the MBs have this system. You have to trust it.

There is a Genuine Mercedes graduated “service tool” with mm depth markings - a dipstick in other words - that is used to verify performance of the oil level sensor. Periodically, I have done just that and the sensor is dead on. It’s an accurate system.

Fortunately, neither engine uses any oil, and neither engine leaks, so, while I check every fill up (if the car is level, and it’s very sensitive to the car being level)…

I promise that most Mercedes owners never even check.

With a 9.5 quart stated sump capacity - that’s probably not an issue.
There should be a tube with a rubber stopper beside the atf fill tube on your MBs.
You could make a dipstick from a sbc, or order one from MB if you just had to know the color of the oil.
 
I could really show off by having a transmission dipstick these days
😷
Yep. And you could check the level hot instead of removing a plug and filling the atf until it runs out onto the driveway.
I'll add that to stop/start "technology" and burnt out headlights that take all ( ) day and a case of beer to change..
 
There should be a tube with a rubber stopper beside the atf fill tube on your MBs.
You could make a dipstick from a sbc, or order one from MB if you just had to know the color of the oil.
The tube is in the front of the engine, with an o-ring cap. I own the “special service tool”. I could check the color, I suppose, but a quick look under the fill cap is easier.
 
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