[Pittsburger]

So I noticed the low oil indication and I checked the level, it said add +1 quart.

So I added 1 qt.

Then checked again.
Still add 1 qt status of level, so I added again.

After adding 7 quarts it still says add plus 1 quart.

I'm getting worried for at least two reasons.
1 - why is it still hungry for more oil? Have I accidentally overfilled it?
2 - was I driving on no oil? I did notice the car driving a bit rough. It's possible i did damage to the engine?

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Pittsburger

So I noticed the low oil indication and I checked the level, it said add +1 quart.

So I added 1 qt.

Then checked again.
Still add 1 qt status of level, so I added again.

After adding 7 quarts it still says add plus 1 quart.

I'm getting worried for at least two reasons.
1 - why is it still hungry for more oil? Have I accidentally overfilled it?
2 - was I driving on no oil? I did notice the car driving a bit rough. It's possible i did damage to the engine?

How long did you wait until checking the level again? It takes a while for the level to be properly detected when topping up. In most cases check the following day. But if you top up and drive around a bit it should climb and eventually show the final (max) level. Happened to me some years back - topped up after it showed add +1 ltr and off I went, then it showed 25% and I thought that something was wrong and went straight back to the dealer. They basically said that I should check in the morning. On the way home I kept checking and eventually it did jump to max level.

[Pittsburger]

Now I hate not having a dipstick!

I will check in the morning. I possibly overfilled a crazy amount of oil...

[Pittsburger]

.?? Still plus 1 ats after driving around a few miles.
And I get the waves with oil symbol warning...

[Meeni]

If you have added 7 extra qt you are overfilled. Stop driving the car and do an oil change (or have somebody competent do it).
The sensor is probably bad, but at tis point you risk total engine failure from overpressure of the oil system due to overfill.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Meeni

If you have added 7 extra qt you are overfilled. Stop driving the car and do an oil change (or have somebody competent do it).
The sensor is probably bad, but at tis point you risk total engine failure from overpressure of the oil system due to overfill.

+1!

If you have over-filled it is of utmost importance to sort this out. The joys of not having a proper oil dipstick!!

[Pittsburger]

Good advice...
I will do an oil change... I need a new crush washer though. Doh. Wish I had a spare filter on me.

Measure out the oil after you drain it...I'd be curious to see how much comes out versus how much you end up putting back in there.

[Pittsburger]

I might be having the same problem as this guy...
oil level low indication during cold weather.

Northeast has had some cold weather lately, but yesterday was warm... so not sure it is the same problem.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=917057

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Pittsburger

Good advice...
I will do an oil change... I need a new crush washer though. Doh. Wish I had a spare filter on me.

You can use the washer a few times, it won't leak.

[Meeni]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

You can use the washer a few times, it won't leak.

Maybe, I would change it everytime anyway. But at this point op, it is more important to sort out if you have overfill, beyond any other consideration. Do not drive the car while you still don't know. If that means reusing the washer, so be it.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Meeni

Maybe, I would change it everytime anyway. But at this point op, it is more important to sort out if you have overfill, beyond any other consideration. Do not drive the car while you still don't know. If that means reusing the washer, so be it.

Absolutely!! For that matter it should be included with a fresh oil filter which I would change anyway when doing this.

[Pittsburger]

Thanks for the advice guys.
Got my filter and replaced it all.

Unfortunately while I was draining there was a spill.
So I don't know exactly how much oil there was... Doh!

What I did measure was 12 quarts.
So i think there probably was more than enough oil in there to begin with.

And After draining and filling again, the oil low level warning went off again.

This is disconcerting that the oil level sensor is unreliable.

Just to be safe I will read up on the oil filter housing gasket replacement dyi to make sure it isn't a leak there and when the weather gets warmer consider replacing it. Car is 2006 3 series with 30 k miles.

To make this funnier, the steering wheel lock issue came up sometime this week too. Who is the master here, me or the car?

[Meeni]

If you do not see oil on (and especially under) the engine, you have no leaks. Rejoice, some are nasty to fix.

The sensor can be changed, it is worth it.

[Pittsburger]

Originally Posted by Meeni

If you do not see oil on (and especially under) the engine, you have no leaks. Rejoice, some are nasty to fix.

The sensor can be changed, it is worth it.

Sensor can be changed dyi style?
Maybe if I could see this sensor I can begin to understand it... I only know something about it using a capillary effect...

[Meeni]

The sensor is the black Siemens electronic on the oil pan, just close by the oil drain bolt. It is very simple to change:
* empty the oil (since you just change it, use a clean container and reuse it if you feel like it)
* remove the bolt on the sensor
* pull the sensor out
* push a new sensor (with a new rubber ring gasket) in
* tighten the bolt on the sensor
* refill.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Pittsburger

Thanks for the advice guys.
Got my filter and replaced it all.

Unfortunately while I was draining there was a spill.
So I don't know exactly how much oil there was... Doh!

What I did measure was 12 quarts.
So i think there probably was more than enough oil in there to begin with.

And After draining and filling again, the oil low level warning went off again.

This is disconcerting that the oil level sensor is unreliable.

Just to be safe I will read up on the oil filter housing gasket replacement dyi to make sure it isn't a leak there and when the weather gets warmer consider replacing it. Car is 2006 3 series with 30 k miles.

To make this funnier, the steering wheel lock issue came up sometime this week too. Who is the master here, me or the car?

Wow, 12 quarts is a heck of a lot!! Good thing you did this as soon as you could! Shows how "big" our engines are!!!

Originally Posted by Meeni

The sensor is the black Siemens electronic on the oil pan, just close by the oil drain bolt. It is very simple to change:
* empty the oil (since you just change it, use a clean container and reuse it if you feel like it)
* remove the bolt on the sensor
* pull the sensor out
* push a new sensor (with a new rubber ring gasket) in
* tighten the bolt on the sensor
* refill.

With the recent odd behaviour of my oil level sensor I am of course curious about the DIY to replace it and did notice what at the time I expected to be the oil level sensor, so at least now know where it is and how easy it is to replace.

Yeah, that's weird. I would change out the sensor and see what happens.

[woodpecka]

I got the same problem last year and the cause was moisture in oil due to winter short drives. The combustion humidity cannot be extracted and is mixed in oil. As our e-stick is reading the oil conductivity and the moisture is changing this parameter, the comouter thinks you need more oil but it's wrong. I think there is a SB on this.

Anyway, I fixed my problem but just changing my oil, nothing else.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by woodpecka

I got the same problem last year and the cause was moisture in oil due to winter short drives. The combustion humidity cannot be extracted and is mixed in oil. As our e-stick is reading the oil conductivity and the moisture is changing this parameter, the comouter thinks you need more oil but it's wrong. I think there is a SB on this.

Anyway, I fixed my problem but just changing my oil, nothing else.

This is then probably what happened to mine - still keeping an eye on the oil level with a hawk's eye and has not changed since it stabilised...

[ashmostro]

I plan to change mine out as it mis-behaves in colder weather. Once warmed up the oil level suddenly jumps up to normal.

[Three_thirty_I]

Would be nice if there was a retrofit option to have a proper dipstick fitted...