Low oil

Tom|Nbk · 21 Oct 2007 at 16:18

NickXX said:
Mine hasn't noticeably used any oil since I bought it over 25k miles ago. Given up checking it.

I just check it as I check the other levels in my car such as washer fluid, PAS fluid, clutch/brake fluid

Takes all of 5 mins which is good for a peace of mind

Reminds me I need to get my oil changed soon

Anyone know of any cheap deals going atm?

thepharcyde · 21 Oct 2007 at 16:23

Tom|Nbk said:
I just check it as I check the other levels in my car such as washer fluid, PAS fluid, clutch/brake fluid

Takes all of 5 mins which is good for a peace of mind

Reminds me I need to get my oil changed soon

Anyone know of any cheap deals going atm?

Yeah you can goto Wollaston on my behalf and get my £44 back halfords charged me for some oil and take some wind mirrors off on the way out

You can then gladly keep the £44 for your trouble

Tom|Nbk · 21 Oct 2007 at 16:26

thepharcyde said:
Yeah you can goto Wollaston on my behalf and get my £44 back halfords charged me for some oil and take some wind mirrors off on the way out You can then gladly keep the £44 for your trouble

44 quid sweet Christ. Still if needs must...

Maz · 21 Oct 2007 at 16:48

Litre of oil for 1000 miles seems about right in terms of oil consumption in the BMW 6pots.

My 2.8 was about that, my 2.5 used a bit more, and my now 3.3 well not had it long enough to know!

thepharcyde · 21 Oct 2007 at 16:57

NickXX said:
Yeah, I believe the modern Mercs don't even have dipsticks - the only way of knowing when to top it up is when the light comes on.

New BM's have it on the computer too. Both the 1 series and 2 coupe I drove did. Did not open the bonnets to check for a dip stick though. I expect they do to aid filling?

NickXX · 21 Oct 2007 at 17:03

thepharcyde said:
New BM's have it on the computer too. Both the 1 series and 2 coupe I drove did. Did not open the bonnets to check for a dip stick though. I expect they do to aid filling?

Don't think my Dad's C-class has one - will check at some point though.

[TW]Fox · 21 Oct 2007 at 17:09

I have one question - if the oil level had dropped that low, you would have received the yellow 'top up now' warning indicator after completing a journey several times prior to this occasion.

Why did you ignore this?

MagicBoy · 21 Oct 2007 at 17:28

thepharcyde said:
Yeah you can goto Wollaston on my behalf and get my £44 back halfords charged me for some oil and take some wind mirrors off on the way out You can then gladly keep the £44 for your trouble

£44! And I thought VAG PD oil was expensive...

PMKeates · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:02

[TW]Fox;10321897 said:
I have one question - if the oil level had dropped that low, you would have received the yellow 'top up now' warning indicator after completing a journey several times prior to this occasion.

Why did you ignore this?

Not necessarily. The entire "progressive" drive may have been enough to a) consume enough oil to go straight from stage 1 oil light to stage 2 and b) convince the oil sensor that there was less oil than there actually was.

[TW]Fox · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:03

PMKeates said:
Not necessarily. The entire "progressive" drive may have been enough to a) consume enough oil to go straight from stage 1 oil light to stage 2

I do not beleive this is possible unless there is a fault with the car. That sort of oil consumption is abnormal, even on an oil-thirsty engine like the M54.

PMKeates · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:05

[TW]Fox;10322429 said:
I do not beleive this is possible unless there is a fault with the car. That sort of oil consumption is abnormal, even on an oil-thirsty engine like the M54.

On it's own, no, but in combination with the other factor it's quite possible!

thepharcyde · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:12

[quote='[TW]Fox;10321897'
Why did you ignore this?[/quote]

As if! :confused:

Only came on today

Turned engine off, back on light went off.

Drove to halfords light stayed off. Stoped light came on. So the warning did its job

thepharcyde · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:13

I just dont think the dealers, who are **** checked it before they handed it over.

[TW]Fox · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:17

The warning didn't do its job becuase there is another warning which should alert you several hundred miles BEFORE the oil light comes on during driving.

Orange light when engine switched off = top up oil at next fuel stop, up to 500 miles away. This is the light which should show LONG before the light illuminates whilst driving.

thepharcyde · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:20

Not in my manual

thepharcyde · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:20

[TW]Fox;10322560 said:
This is the light which should show LONG before the light illuminates whilst driving.

Does this stay illuminatedt after you start the engine?

[TW]Fox · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:24

thepharcyde said:
Not in my manual

How can it not be? You have exactly the same engine in your car as I have in mine. My manual describes the lights as follows:

Yellow oil light illuminates upon turning off the engine:

Please check oil level at the next convenient opportunity, for example, when refuelling.

Yellow oil light illuminates whilst engine is running:

Please check oil level urgently. Do not drive for more than 50 miles without checking.

Red oil light illimuniates whilst driving:

Stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so. Do not restart the engine, contact BMW service.

The engine is the same - the same principles will surely apply. There is no way your car has no engine oil minimum warning prior to the light which comes on whilst driving.

Does this stay illuminatedt after you start the engine?

No, it goes off. It comes on for 10 seconds or so AFTER you turn the ignition off. The one that comes on when the engine is running is the 'WTF?? ITS SUPER LOW DUDE, CHECK IT ASAP' light.

thepharcyde · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:27

[TW]Fox;10322602 said:
How can it not be? You have exactly the same engine in your car as I have in mine. My manual describes the lights as follows:

Yellow oil light illuminates upon turning off the engine:

Please check oil level at the next convenient opportunity, for example, when refuelling.

Yellow oil light illuminates whilst engine is running:

Please check oil level urgently. Do not drive for more than 50 miles without checking.

Red oil light illimuniates whilst driving:

Stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so. Do not restart the engine, contact BMW service.

The engine is the same - the same principles will surely apply. There is no way your car has no engine oil minimum warning prior to the light which comes on whilst driving.

No, it goes off. It comes on for 10 seconds or so AFTER you turn the ignition off. The one that comes on when the engine is running is the 'WTF?? ITS SUPER LOW DUDE, CHECK IT ASAP' light.

Again.

Light came on.
I stopped
Light stayed on
Restart engine light stayed off.
Get to Halfords, turn engine off, light comes on.
Top up, light goes off.
Did its job no.

And again what you have quoted is not in my manual in regards to a 500 mile warning

[TW]Fox · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:42

It doesn't say a 500 mile warning, thats what I said becuase it suggests checking at the next fuel stop, which, depending on your driving style, could be as far away as 500 miles.

The light did its job but my point, which you repeatedly appear to ignore, is that there is an earlier which comes on, or should come on, before it gets to this stage. This light did not do its job becuase it either didn't come on at all, which is unlikely, or you didn't notice it.

PMKeates · 21 Oct 2007 at 18:47

[TW]Fox;10322784 said:
It doesn't say a 500 mile warning, thats what I said becuase it suggests checking at the next fuel stop, which, depending on your driving style, could be as far away as 500 miles.

The light did its job but my point, which you repeatedly appear to ignore, is that there is an earlier which comes on, or should come on, before it gets to this stage. This light did not do its job becuase it either didn't come on at all, which is unlikely, or you didn't notice it.

The sensor is only a sensor. Applying G to the vehicle may have been enough to convince this sensor, at that point in time, that the oil level was right on the minimum, and thus illuminate the light during the drive. When the driving had calmed down, the sensor then perceived the oil level to be at a point that was no longer on the minimum, but within the "next convenient opportunity" zone. Waiting a little longer before driving off may have extinguished the light altogether for a few more miles.