[littlehuman]

Hi,

I had to replace my radiator a few days ago. The low engine oil light came up in the same morning. I told my auto bodyshop that I need to add up engine oil.

When I picked up my car, the engine oil light was still on. I asked him about it and he said that I don't need to worry about it. He said that the previous auto bodyshop didn't actually reset the system after they changed my engine oil.

I checked engine oil amount and it was less than 1 liter.

I really wonder what he was talking about..

I almost burned my car if I kept driving it.

do you guys have any idea??

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by littlehuman

I was told to keep driving with 0.5L engine oil left...I checked engine oil amount and it was less than 1 liter.

'Less than one liter'??? Almost 7 liters of oil goes into the BMW in-line 6 cyl engine of the 328i.

If the oil level sensor senses the need for oil, it will tell you "Add 1 liter", and it is a good idea to add ONLY ONE liter. Even if it still says "Add 1 liter" after you have first driven around for 15-20 minutes so it can refresh its reading, do not add a second liter!

If it still says 'Add 1 liter' (even after you already added one liter and drove around for 20 minutes), the oil level sensor is probably goofy and in need of replacement.

You NEVER ever want to add TWO liters (even one liter on day 1 and the second liter on day 2)-- unless you just drained all of the oil out and are filling it up again!

STOP TRUSTING A BODY SHOP for advice about maintaining the engine of your car...talk to a MECHANIC who knows BMWs, not a body shop jockey who fixes every brand!!!

[335NJ]

How did you check the oil level? Did you actually pull the drain plug and measure 1 Liter?

[littlehuman]

Sorry guys, I misread it.

The bar graph was at x point. I somehow thought min. means 1 liter lol.

__x___MIN_____MAX____

Stil, it's below min. I'm not sure why he asked me to keep driving..

[littlehuman]

Wilt // See my post.

Wilt // They only fix BMWs.

335NJ // I used in-car checker (?). This one http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attach...3-dsc00808.jpg

[VTECaddict]

The difference between the MIN and MAX on the oil level display is about 1 quart. So when it's at MIN, you still have about 6 quarts left in the engine. It's low, but you should add oil at your earliest convenience.

[fazman]

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

The difference between the MIN and MAX on the oil level display is about 1 quart. So when it's at MIN, you still have about 6 quarts left in the engine. It's low, but you should add oil at your earliest convenience.

100% correct!

OP, Actually your best bet is to always try to maintain half way between MIN and MAX in between oil changes. That way you are never over filled or under filled.

These cars don't have a normal dipstick so it's hard to tell when the computer has the correct reading or refreshed (it's not instantaneous nor is it even a 20 minute refresh cycle... it can take a long while). I would only add 1/4 of a quart for each 1 hour clock on the wall time that has passed between oil level checks. That's a safe way to make sure you don't over fill. I would rather be 1.5 quarts low rather than 0.5 quarts OVER FILLED because:
1) its harder to remove oil as opposed to add oil
2) over filled is too much pressure in the motor and you will start blowing seals where as under filled... as long as your not making high G force turns for sustained periods of time... your motor should be able to get oil to where it needs as opposed to being starved of oil cuz all of the motor oil is up against a wall on the motor cuz of the sustained turn.

[Bimmer221]

My oil level sensor is right at the max level, is that ok?

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by Bimmer221

My oil level sensor is right at the max level, is that ok?

What is not OK is when the display says

> Max

My car just had its annual (low mileage) oil change a couple of weeks ago at the BMW dealer, and the bar is at Max line.

[melloww22]

Are you sure it wasn't 1 quart low and not .5 liter left of oil?