Engine Low Oil Level Sensor

Won't the oil pressure gauge have that covered?

https://www.autoblog.com/2016/01/08/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-low-oil-level-sensor/

http://www.raventechcorp.com/Products.html

No.

They are not the same thing. The low level sensor should warn before the oil level drops too low to maintain pump prime. Tat gives time to replenish oil before loss of pressure.

But if your oil is that low, every time you go around a corner the gauge will drop to 0 ...the light will come on....

https://www.benzworld.org/threads/low-oil-pressure-at-idle.1528862/

Antique car with less than optimum warning scheme....

The car doesn't have a light only a oil pressure gauge. If it had a light I could put a sounder on the light to give me an sound when the light comes on.

What model would that be...?

Model is a 1985 300CD Turbodiesel

...like an electronic dipstick.

Do they make electronic dipsticks. Sounds like they should if they don't

An undefined plural is of no use to anyone.

Discuss the idea with <...Mercedes...> directly, perhaps?

I thought electronic dipsticks were the ones who didn't study REAL engineering.

tongue in cheek... That wold be a 4-20 mA dipstick... if it could Differentiate from the splash and actual level... similar to the fuel level gauge.

Fuel level sensors usually have a float . On this car the fuel level sensor is a float riding up and down on a pair of wires that change resistance as it moves.

On a diesel engine by the time the oil level is low it will be too late for the bearings.

If oil level gets that low there will be either a puddle of it, a lot of mechanical noise or a lot of smoke, which should give a few other detection ideas.

Level detection is no substitute for a planned preventative maintenance regime.

<unsubscribes>

<...provide a short [open circuit] to sound an alarm...> would be a better idea.

Try an optical sensor.

For example the "Cynergy3 OLS7 Series Level Switch Transistor Output" - not an endorsement.

Thanks I'll look in that type of sensor. I am open to all ideas

given that a car in motion has oil flinging all over the place I don't know how a level sensor would work in the first place.

The crankshaft of an engine doesn't hit the oil so the flaring would be above the surface, sort of like a submarine in a storm.

...which is why pressure is used, not level.

https://www.amazon.com/Mercedes-Engine-Sensor-OEM-Quality-1240017/dp/B00D8M23G6

As JE noted, it's only accurate before the engine is started.

So it seems you might already have one....

If your referring to a dash light I don't have one, it is a 1985 model

I looked at one of these at my mechanics shop and we thought it was too large. That is why I wanted to see if the industry had a smaller sensor.

I would check on one of the Mercedes fan sites, there might be a way to adapt to a newer model drainpan that would accept a genuine mercedes oil level monitor that the newer models have....If there is,, somebody on one of these enthusiast sites has done it already...If not you'll get some suggestions that have worked...

At least Ford & Audi furnish oil level sensors for some of their vehicles. Some look like they are integrated with a drain plug, no reason not to install horizontally higher in the oil pan if too low above the bottom. Here is an Audi unit, looks like it goes in from the side. Better proven technology in the application rather than experimenting with industrial technology in one-off application. Also cost will be commensurate with market penetration.

It looks like for $16.00 it may be worth a shot even if I have to modify it or the oil pan.

I would have hoped you had a negative pressure in the sump, not positive.

I have had many cars from that era and they had crankcase ventilation i.e. negative pressure.

I know diesels have a bit more blow-by but I would have thought Mercedes were on top of that.

You could always have a reserve oil tank in the trunk. After you figure what you're average loss is, you could enable the reserve supply system to always keep things " topped up " .

Why not just check your oil every time you fill up with fuel?

Simple,and costs nothing.

How hard is it to pull a dipstick and check oil?..or is it easier to replace the engine due to lack of maintenance.

At last! A sensible idea...
this whole thread has been like the story of the Emperors new clothes.
Del

Yes It would be easier to check the oil every time you drove the car, the engine doesn't burn oil BUT supposing you are driving down the hi way at 60 MPH and a oil cooler line cracks at 30 PSI it will blow a gallon out in no time. Your looking at the road not the oil pressure gauge and there goes your engine. With a low oil level sensor at least you'll get a alarm instead of continuing to drive and not realizing what is happening. Remember the car is 35 years old and so are most of the parts. Even the aluminum parts of the oil lines could fatigue and crack.

<...oil cooler line cracks at 30 PSI...>

That's why pressure is used as a technique, not level. The pressure trip will be instantaneous in these circumstances whereas level will take longer and a lot of damage can be caused in the interval between those two events.

Anyway, the driver will smell it. That's another sensor: hot oil stinks.

How long is " no time " ? Wouldn't it be better to have a sensor to monitor oil pressure and then shut down the engine before no time occured ,,

An automatic engine shutdown would be a really bad idea--too much chance of causing a road accident.

Yeah! That's a good idea.GO for it!

Shut off engine at 70 mph on a crowded interstate,or in a curve,where low oil level is usually detected due to oil being pressed against the side of the oil pan by centrifugal force.

Lose all power brakes,steering,( if steer-by-wire). Lose accelerator control.

Even on the old analog technology,power brakes will fail due to loss of vacuum;(Had that happen to me once,panic is not quite the word when you are approaching an intersection at 40 mph)fortunately,the intersection was clear and I coasted to a stop on the shoulder.I called my wife and asked her to bring the trailer...and a change of underwear.

.

Yes, you will lose accelerator control if the engine shuts off,,,

No, you will not lose braking or steering control. Power brakes and power steering are assist devices that make it easier to use.

My 1967 type ll and my 1982 s-10 both had non power and while it took more effort to stop and steer, I never lost control.

In fact, millions of vehicles were built this way so it can only be surmised that as people get older they get slow, weak and lazy.

Some of the newer cars are "steer-by-wire" which has no mechanical connection to the steering.

In these vehicles you will lose steering,and is some models brakes are also by wire.

Eventually,windshields will be replaced by display screens and you will not need to drive at all.

In the older vehicles,there is a vacuum reservoir with a check valve.

It allows about two power-assisted applications of the brake before the vacuum is exhausted.

Then the braking becomes much harder, but it will work,you just have to bear down hard on the pedal.

With most engines, a loss of oil pressure can wreck the engine in a second or less, especially if traveling fast..

Myself, I prefer to know the oil level at all times, with some sort of display as the oil level approaches close to the lower level allowed, which is still safe!

That way you do not suddenly come to an unexpected halt, possibly in a dangerous position, as pointed out already.

Though it may not save an engine where the oil pan has been seriously damaged, and has dumped the oil out, but normally, one hears that!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Save-My-Bug-Oil-Sensor-Warning-Dipstick-Type-4-Engine-T2-Bay-Window-1700-2000-/161830463142

I thought this one was the most promising one but on investigation its a heat sensing sensor not a level sensor.

There are all kinds of low oil level switches for small engines that run generators and such. Normally they are wired for cutting the spark and shutting down the engine, but you could wire it to turn on a light or sound a buzzer.

https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&client=ubuntu&q=low+oil+level+small+engine+switch

That sound like it may work I'll check into them Thanks

Most of these small engine low oil sensors work on oil pressure. I'm still checking them out

Almost all power assist and drive by wire is electric... and cars have batteries to keep 'em running even when the engine stops.
Del

We're talking about a 35 year old car here.