Correct oil level on the engine??? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Nuno Miguel · 28th June 2004, 12:40

I have reported some strange events, it hapen to me some times, the OBC said "engine oil low" 2 days a go it did it again, i let the engine cool down, and the oil level on the oilstick was almoust max. the warning was showed when i turned off the engine (right after).

After i had a close look at the oilstick, i saw that there are to 4 marks!!!

The 2 marks that are easyer to see are 2 "cuts" on the plastic stick, seperated by +/- 2 centimeters, but there are other 2 marks, (it looks like a ring on the oil stick, you can see that the plastic is a bit salient on that zone)
one is just bellow the 1º cut on the stick, and the other is aprox 5 centimeters up (+/- 2.5 centimeters higher then the other cut)

A bit like this: «----*-/----/------*--------------------------O

The / is the two cuts

The * is the "rings"

This got me confused

, what should guide us?

AndyE · 28th June 2004, 14:34

To aid Nuno's description, here's a photo of my dipstick.

In my understanding, the two cuts represent min. and max. oil level, separated by approximately 1 litre of fluid level.

As far as I'm aware, the other rings on the dipstick are plastic mouldings and don't represent anything. The numbers are the BMW PN, excluding the 11 (Engine) prefix.

Nuno: Perhaps there's something amiss with your car's oil level sensor? I believe its quite an expensive part to replace though...

kevinpayneuk · 28th June 2004, 15:11

Agreed...the two cuts are upper and lower levels

Nuno Miguel · 28th June 2004, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinpayneuk

Agreed...the two cuts are upper and lower levels

Is it normal to the oil level sensor have problems?

RandyZ · 28th June 2004, 19:56

I have the same warning on my 91 M5. If I park on a incline and the oil level is below the half way mark I get the warning. Could be my sensor also acting up. Filling up to the top mark and

most times goes away.

Kurt Ramsden · 29th June 2004, 01:19

I'm having a very similar problem on mine Nuno - OBC keeps saying 'low oil' and it's almost at max on the dipstick.

I don't know whether this is significant, but mine started doing this after I drove over a speed-bump faster than intended (I didn't even see the b**dy thing). I actually thought I'd holed the sump, but it isn't even marked in any way. Have you had a similar experience recently, because I suspect that the shock of the bump has broken or confused the sensor in some way?

There again I could be connecting two unconnected events in some kind of bizarre 'choas theory' way which has no bearing on reality.....

M5 powered · 29th June 2004, 02:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt Ramsden

I'm having a very similar problem on mine Nuno - OBC keeps saying 'low oil' and it's almost at max on the dipstick.

I don't know whether this is significant, but mine started doing this after I drove over a speed-bump faster than intended (I didn't even see the b**dy thing). I actually thought I'd holed the sump, but it isn't even marked in any way. Have you had a similar experience recently, because I suspect that the shock of the bump has broken or confused the sensor in some way?

There again I could be connecting two unconnected events in some kind of bizarre 'choas theory' way which has no bearing on reality.....

Don't worry, the oil sensors seem to wear out quite quickly. My car has had two of the sods. The last one was when I bought the car - low oil light even after its inspection two had been completed. The garage replaced the sensor and I've never had a problem since (touch wood).

BTW, its my understanding you shouldn't get a low oil light even when the car is on a hill etc.

Best

Jonathan

Nuno Miguel · 29th June 2004, 18:57

mmmmm, it seems so... any way, the best is check the oilstick everey full tank of fuel (the manual says it!!! the M´s shure like fresh oil!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt Ramsden

I'm having a very similar problem on mine Nuno - OBC keeps saying 'low oil' and it's almost at max on the dipstick.

I don't know whether this is significant, but mine started doing this after I drove over a speed-bump faster than intended (I didn't even see the b**dy thing). I actually thought I'd holed the sump, but it isn't even marked in any way. Have you had a similar experience recently, because I suspect that the shock of the bump has broken or confused the sensor in some way?

There again I could be connecting two unconnected events in some kind of bizarre 'choas theory' way which has no bearing on reality.....

Probaly it has someting to do with speedbumps, cause i have 2 giant speedbumps on my way home.