Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes => Topic started by: bayleif on June 23, 2003, 12:57:18

Title: Dipsticks
Post by: bayleif on June 23, 2003, 12:57:18

I checked the oil this morning an noticed for the first time that the dipstick in my 280SL is marked 230SL/250SL 67. I checked Millers to see if there were different part numbers for dipsticks and discovered that they wanted the engine number. How many dipsticks are there? And how different are they? If I fill up oil to the full mark on my incorrect dipstick, have I over or under filled it?

Chuck Bartlett
1969 Signal Red 4 Speed

Title: Re: Dipsticks
Post by: Cees Klumper on June 23, 2003, 13:55:28

There is a later-style oil pan on the 280's that holds more oil - but having said that, I have two 280 SE engines that each have a dipstick that carries the inscription "230 SL". As often is the case, parts were used for later models, if the specs did not change. So probably there is no difference in the functionality of your dipstick for your 280 SL engine and filling it according to the markings is A-OK

Title: Re: Dipsticks
Post by: ja17 on June 23, 2003, 21:08:03

Hello Chuck,
There are at least three different dip sticks on the W113 engines. If it fits you have the right one, since they are radically different and will not interchange. The earliest had a large oil tube and air filtered vent built in the dip stick (early 230-SLs). Next came the small tube and short rigid dipstick with no filter vent (230-SL, 250-SL probably early 280-SL also. Lastly came the long small tube with the longer flexible dip stick (later 280-SL). None of these will fit in the incorrect engine. view all three types below!
Download Attachment: (http://images/icon_paperclip.gif) dipsticks.jpg (http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/ja17/2003623233022_dipsticks.jpg)
51.12 KB

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

Title: Re: Dipsticks
Post by: Naj ✝︎ on June 24, 2003, 02:06:06

Chuck,
If its any consolation, my '68 280sl has the same dipstick as yours. (Middle one in Joe's picture)

naj
'Kloines Scheisserle'
65 230SL
68 280SL

Title: Re: Dipsticks
Post by: bayleif on June 24, 2003, 10:18:28

All:
Thanks for the replies. Joe, thanks for the pictures which are indeed worth 1000 words. Mine is like the middle one. One less thing to worry about.

Chuck Bartlett
1969 Signal Red 4 Speed

Title: Re: Dipsticks
Post by: LFrank on June 24, 2003, 13:24:13

Hats off to Joe for the definitive dipstick chart; mine is similar to the top one but has no "pull" (I grab it by the filter itself).

Full disclosure: when I firsttried to check the oil, I could not find the dipstick, due to its odd configuration...

LFrank
Washington DC
65 230 sl
DB334/Hellblau

Title: Re: Dipsticks
Post by: Ben on June 25, 2003, 04:23:24

My Jan '64 230SL has the first type which is actually marked 220SE, showing its obvious parentage !  :)

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.