Oil Level Oddity

guerilla twang · 06-06-2010, 10:46 AM

So I was taking a short road trip yesterday, and the car chimed in and said it was at the minimum oil level and needed a quart. So be it, I got the castrol LL-01 approved stuff at an advance auto, top it off in the parking lot and go on my way.

This is the confusing part, I checked the oil level through my idrive and it read as "maximum" oil level.

How is that possible? It was at minimum, and after one quart maximum? Maybe something is faulty, i dunno. Any input or suggestions? Should I take it to the dealer?

e90pilot · 06-06-2010, 11:51 AM

That guage reads only one qt from min to max. That's completely normal.

NaTuReB0Y · 06-06-2010, 11:59 AM

my gauge is always 3/4 full after every oil change........7 quarts

jopa489 · 06-06-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90pilot

That guage reads only one qt from min to max. That's completely normal.

Correct. That gauge on "empty" means the engine is a quart down. Adding a quart moves the gauge back up to max. No faults.

guerilla twang · 06-06-2010, 08:54 PM

WHEW! What a relief! Thanks guys for all your input. Having the Valve cover gasket checked out at the dealer tomorrow to fix my minute oil leak.

06-06-2010, 10:46 AM	#1
guerilla twang I do my crosswords in pen. 17 Rep 751 Posts Drives: OEM+ 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: KCMO iTrader: (6)	Oil Level Oddity So I was taking a short road trip yesterday, and the car chimed in and said it was at the minimum oil level and needed a quart. So be it, I got the castrol LL-01 approved stuff at an advance auto, top it off in the parking lot and go on my way. This is the confusing part, I checked the oil level through my idrive and it read as "maximum" oil level. How is that possible? It was at minimum, and after one quart maximum? Maybe something is faulty, i dunno. Any input or suggestions? Should I take it to the dealer? __________________ GRUPPE TITAN Midwest
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06-06-2010, 11:51 AM	#2
e90pilot Freight Dawg 104 Rep 2,103 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (3)	That guage reads only one qt from min to max. That's completely normal. __________________ --Marcelo '06 Arctic Metallic 325i \| Sport Package \| 6MT \| Dinan Stage III suspension \| Dinan exhaust \| 330i manifold swap! Click here! \| Active Autowerke tune \| 135i Brake Calipers \| Deiselboost caliper brackets \| E46 M3 front rotors
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06-06-2010, 11:59 AM	#3
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD 337 Rep 7,369 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Inland Empire iTrader: (12)	my gauge is always 3/4 full after every oil change........7 quarts __________________ 2006 E90 330i Jet Black \| 20" WORK VS-XX \| FK452 \| H&R Sport on Koni Yellow \| REMUS QUAD
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06-06-2010, 08:54 PM	#5
guerilla twang I do my crosswords in pen. 17 Rep 751 Posts Drives: OEM+ 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: KCMO iTrader: (6)	WHEW! What a relief! Thanks guys for all your input. Having the Valve cover gasket checked out at the dealer tomorrow to fix my minute oil leak. __________________ GRUPPE TITAN Midwest
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