Engine Oil Indicator

M

muddie

Well-Known Member
Good day mates,

I'm not sure if anyone have encounter the following problem.

2 days ago, the engine oil indicator light up, indicating I shd top up the engine oil. My mileage is about 11k now, so I thought it's about time.

This morning, as I opened the engine oil cap, I realised it's full, cos the stick floated up. So, I decided to just top up a little, hoping by the time I start the car, the indicator will not show.

But to my irritation, it shows up again!!!! I'm wondering what's wrong, tried to call PML today but nobody pick up the call. Now I'm a little more irritated.

Anyone bros or sis here can help?

Thanks.

Cheers
Muddie
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

the stick floated up? you sure you didnt check the radiator instead? Or you have E90 is it?
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

as posted here: http://www.bmw-sg.com/forums/help-w...ning-light.html?highlight=dipstick#post230901

With some new knowledge now, I can say that the BMW guy who said that he cannot topup the oil even when the indicator flashed is doing the right thing.

BMW auto dipstick display is well known to be LOUSY IN ACCURACY. In several cases when the auto dipstick showed lack of oil, and the oil was topped up, in ACTUAL fact the oil was over topped up, and the oil destroyed the cats and caused them to disintegrate, and backpressure caused the engine to suck back the cat particles into the engine causing engine destruction.

The absolute safe way for BMW to handle this now, is to drain all the oil and refill.

Oil consumption is quite normal, but the sensor issue screws everything up. It is very very difficult to top up oil in all BMW engines without a manual dipstick now. There is no solution. It is a nightmare, especially if your engine is new and uses up oil in the beginning before it is truly broken in.
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

caySman - Are you saying that E90s don't have a dipstick?

*incredulous look on face*
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

I know that dipsticks have their shortcomings, eg. accurately measuring oil level while the car is parked on a slope. But this is the first time I've heard of a car engine being deliberately designed without a dipstick. Makes you wonder who the real dipsticks are.

Anybody know of any other car engines that come without this vital piece of equipment?
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

PerverTT;263927 said:
caySman - Are you saying that E90s don't have a dipstick?

*incredulous look on face*
Click to expand...
Yes, the E90 does not have a dipstick. Most of the new engines don't have a dipstick .... but at least they have sensor accuracy. But the E90's Valvetronic engine sensor design known to be so bad that it is almost useless. Hopefully new revisions better.

My engine also don't have dipstick, the 2.7L variocam plus. In fact, I never seen my engine before !
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

PerverTT;263935 said:
I know that dipsticks have their shortcomings, eg. accurately measuring oil level while the car is parked on a slope. But this is the first time I've heard of a car engine being deliberately designed without a dipstick. Makes you wonder who the real dipsticks are.

Anybody know of any other car engines that come without this vital piece of equipment?
Click to expand...
Other engines without dipsticks which I know of just add to the list:

All Porsche M273 engines and variants
All Mercedes Supercharged twinpulse engines (C180,200,240, E200)
All new 4 valve per cylinder V6 and V8 Mercedes engines (except CGI engine)
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

caySman- You made me smile. Even if your car came with a dipstick, you'd need a can opener to check your oil level!
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

dip stick only la...
some cars dont even have temperature gauge on the cluster meter!
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

dpointt;264015 said:
dip stick only la...
some cars dont even have temperature gauge on the cluster meter!
Click to expand...
LOL that's right. When the Mercedes Benz W203 chief designer Peter Pfeiffer (IIRC) was asked that, he answered (paraphrased):

'I do not think drivers of our luxury automobiles would want to be bothered by insignificant things like engine oil temperature. In any case, they can access it using the menus if they so desire'

For me, the temp gauge is the 2nd thing I see besides the tachometer.
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

hi guys, sorry for the big hoo ha.

i made the most stupid mistake of pouring engine oil into the coolant. not sure what came into me, just any how pour.

brought the car in to PML yesterday to flush it, cost me $340!!!!!! very costly mistake man.

cheers
muddie
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

hehehe, i TOLD you. soon as you said "stick floated up"

oh well, at least the water pump impeller is lubed now!!
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

sigh......the more i thought about it, the more embarassed i am. never happened before man, that morning anyhow hantam!!!

collecting the car soon though...one of these days, i need to go for the meetup...haven't been to one though i've been lurking at this forum for a while already.

see you guys soon.

cheers
muddie
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

i think you are brave telling us!!!

come to the meetups, i promise i wont laugh
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

I think the sensor problems that you guys mentioned is really not that bad.

Sorry to OT on this but really would like to share my experience.

I guess, most ppl would have the mindset or even really sure that Japanese Sedans are much more reliable than their continental counterparts. But I really don't feel this is the case.

I am driving the Civic 2.0 with the K Series enginer. Its currently a year old and I have already signed the agreement to sell it, now only awaiting my 320i which I can collect next week. Reason being, my Civic started consuming engine oil after just 10+K km travelled. I am in the Sales line and I travel alot everyday. My monthly mileage ranges from 4500 to 5200km.

WHen I say consume engine oil, it really drinks, after servicing from the offical distributor, the engine oil low level warning light comes on intermittently, sometimes flashing. Initially I had tot the sensor to be faulty, till one day, the light came on permanently and I panicked and quickly checked the engine dip stick. It was far below the minimum level, only a drop at the tip of the dipstick.

When I brought in for a check, the engineers took out my owner's manual highlighted the sentence which mentioned that it is normal for the car to consume 1litre of engine oil per 1000km traveled and even asked me to bring a bottle of engine oil to top up when necessary. What Bullshit is this? I banged tables, shot emails, complain, etc, nothing was done.

In the end, I paid from my own pocket to replace the whole engine head at my own favourite workshop and solved the problem. Next up, the bigger anti-roll bar I had installed, ripped open the mounting plate on my rear right lower arm. I replaced the lower arm, told myself, to hell with the car, I'm going to change my car no matter how much I will lose selling it.

In the end I decided on the bimmer after much consideration.
I hope by sharing this, that fellow bros here will feel more happy with their cars and all cars have their fair share of problems and faults. Frankly, Japanese cars quality seem to have taken a big dip in quality in recent years, most prob due to cost cutting, etc
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

Delrosa, I just want to wish you the best of luck in your continental purchase. As for your Honda, I don't think you could make the judgment on all Japanese cars with your example. THe engine was a lemon, but if you installed an aftermarket ARB and it ripped your mounting plate, don't think it had much to do with build quality, right?

The Civic you mentioned I've driven numerous cars numerous times, auto and manual, and they work great. I know most of the owners personally, and they never had any issue.

Compared to BMW, Merc friends, ... I must say that the Civic has great user satisfaction.
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

centurion;263943 said:
Other engines without dipsticks which I know of just add to the list:

All Porsche M273 engines and variants
All Mercedes Supercharged twinpulse engines (C180,200,240, E200)
All new 4 valve per cylinder V6 and V8 Mercedes engines (except CGI engine)
Click to expand...

Really, the E200 kompressor has a dipstick. Mine's just 3 months old...and it has consumed 1.5L of oil. Oh, dat;s about 6k kms only. Worse, the oil level warning light doesnt even light up when the level is low?? What kind of modern engines are these....
 
Re: Engine Oil Indicator

Wow did Merc just add a dipstick?

These modern engines are fine. It's the electronics and mechatronics which suck. Send hatemail to Robert Bosch.
 
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