Measuring oil level changes with Carly app

[Drv4fun]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Cheers Vsix, so seems to boil down to 32.05-32.9 ish equal to full. Quite a large span still. Lets continue to collect values and see where it ends up.

Helmsman,
Great thread. I think the unit may be cubic feet/100 (although one would expect an SI unit, maybe the sensor is sourced from a country using imperial units?)
8.8L = .31077 ft^3
9L = .31783 ft^3
9.2L = .32489 ft^3

.3205 = 9.0755L
.3264 = 9.2426L
.3290 = 9.3162

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Drv4fun

Helmsman,
Great thread. I think the unit may be cubic feet/100 (although one would expect an SI unit, maybe the sensor is sourced from a country using imperial units?)
8.8L = .31077 ft^3
9L = .31783 ft^3
9.2L = .32489 ft^3

.3205 = 9.0755L
.3264 = 9.2426L
.3290 = 9.3162

Dang, that seems to align quite well, interesting!

[Drv4fun]

Just a follow up for Helmsman, I just did an oil change with a warm engine. I let it drain for a few hours and extracted as much oil as I could from bottom of the oil filter area. I added a new oil filter and 9L of oil (9x1L bottles) allowing each bottle to completely empty. Carly read 31.75 = 0.3175 ft^3 = 8.990L before engine start. (I suspect the missing .010L = 10mL is the amount left in all the bottles-though I believe it should be more for such a thick oil.) I will make another reading after engine start and then again after a few days and report back where the oil level indicator is.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Drv4fun

Just a follow up for Helmsman, I just did an oil change with a warm engine. I let it drain for a few hours and extracted as much oil as I could from bottom of the oil filter area. I added a new oil filter and 9L of oil (9x1L bottles) allowing each bottle to completely empty. Carly read 31.75 = 0.3175 ft^3 = 8.990L before engine start. (I suspect the missing .010L = 10mL is the amount left in all the bottles-though I believe it should be more for such a thick oil.) I will make another reading after engine start and then again after a few days and report back where the oil level indicator is.

Did you read the value after each liter was added?

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Drv4fun

Just a follow up for Helmsman, I just did an oil change with a warm engine. I let it drain for a few hours and extracted as much oil as I could from bottom of the oil filter area. I added a new oil filter and 9L of oil (9x1L bottles) allowing each bottle to completely empty. Carly read 31.75 = 0.3175 ft^3 = 8.990L before engine start. (I suspect the missing .010L = 10mL is the amount left in all the bottles-though I believe it should be more for such a thick oil.) I will make another reading after engine start and then again after a few days and report back where the oil level indicator is.

Yeah seem you've cracked this one Drv, interesting! I'm on 32.94 after latest change which would be close to 9.3L, sounds like a tad much? Next time I chat with the indy I'll ask how much the poor in, they get it right on top each time.

Yes would have been really interesting with a measure half way, as possible without starting the engine.

Thanks

[Drv4fun]

So the measurement is halfway past the line and the top arrow of the computer. I recall when new the oil reading was at the line. I’m not sure why the dealer has always filled it to the top arrow. I wonder if that difference is the oil that remains in the oil housing which I removed.

[Drv4fun]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Yeah seem you've cracked this one Drv, interesting! I'm on 32.94 after latest change which would be close to 9.3L, sounds like a tad much? Next time I chat with the indy I'll ask how much the poor in, they get it right on top each time.

Yes would have been really interesting with a measure half way, as possible without starting the engine.

Thanks

Also ask your Indy if they remove the oil in the housing. Its only about 200mL plus a bit that spilled out when I removed the cover which is on par with the difference. All this assuming Carly is correct..

[Drv4fun]

Interesting, I was reviewing the S85 documentation for oil service TIS as I couldn't find one for the S65, and it states that between the min and max level is 1L. If the S65 is the same, 9.3L (which is what Helmsman is at) at max marker and 8.8 at the center, 8.3 at the min marker. 9L should be half way between middle and max. I surmise the Carly is in did reporting a value that is cubic feet x 100. Scharbag's idea of measuring per liter is good. Maybe someone will try that who's due for an oil change.

[Drv4fun]

Helmsman, page 60 of the sup manual has defined the oil level display and interestingly enough what the manual says as too high is what I got at the dealer everytime. I am at picture #1, OK, with the 9L and Carly 31.75.

[pjk380]

Originally Posted by jimk

So I drain the oil from the oil filter housing one more time. The oil level did not change and the car was still complaining that there was too much oil. I then re measured the oil level again and it took a considerable amount of time to read it but it came back OK with the level in the top mark of the green level. Then I measured the oil level parameter with the Carly app and it was now showing 32.94. I think the Carly app works fine, it is just the oil level sensor programming software from BMW that needs some work to properly determine the oil levels. I think BMW has programmed this sensor to trigger new reads after a while and not every time you ask for it. Carly simply reports what the ECU tells it.

I just changed oil and now not sure what Carly sees. Whether it directly reads oil level sensor or it only reads what the ECU tells it after going thru iterations to determine oil level.

Before I drained the old oil, oil level gauge showed oil level on the middle mark. Carly app showed 30.86. I changed the oil and dumped in 8.6L. I started the car and Carly app still showed 30.86. I added in 0.4L, drove the car around until I got a reading on the gauge and it’s at the top of the OK mark. Carly now reports 32.94. From what others have posted, 32.94 seems to be near Max overfill. I drained .4L, drove around until car reached operating temps and Carly raw value still at 32.94. I drained another .4L, Carly now reads 32.64 with oil level remaining at top of OK mark. Now after driving for approx. 40 miles, oil level display is at 3/4 mark and Carly reads 31.75.

So, similar to what Helmsman and others reported

Oil gauge: Carly
Max (OK) : 32.64-32.94
3/4 : 31.75
Middle: 30.86

This would be so much simpler if there was a dipstick…

[Drv4fun]

Originally Posted by pjk380

I just changed oil and now not sure what Carly sees. Whether it directly reads oil level sensor or it only reads what the ECU tells it after going thru iterations to determine oil level.

Before I drained the old oil, oil level gauge showed oil level on the middle mark. Carly app showed 30.86. I changed the oil and dumped in 8.6L. I started the car and Carly app still showed 30.86. I added in 0.4L, drove the car around until I got a reading on the gauge and it’s at the top of the OK mark. Carly now reports 32.94. From what others have posted, 32.94 seems to be near Max overfill. I drained .4L, drove around until car reached operating temps and Carly raw value still at 32.94. I drained another .4L, Carly now reads 32.64 with oil level remaining at top of OK mark. Now after driving for approx. 40 miles, oil level display is at 3/4 mark and Carly reads 31.75.

So, similar to what Helmsman and others reported

Oil gauge: Carly
Max (OK) : 32.64-32.94
3/4 : 31.75
Middle: 30.86

This would be so much simpler if there was a dipstick…

-—
Thanks for posting your data! Did you by chance drain what was in the oil filter housing? Also re the ECU I suspect it reports its reading based on the last check which would of been prior to the oil change. Also it may be rounding to the nearest x mL?

[///Mobbin]

Great information in this thread, thanks all for sharing!

I'm curious if anyone knows how to access this value in BMW Standard Tools INPA?

[pjk380]

Originally Posted by Drv4fun

-—
Thanks for posting your data! Did you by chance drain what was in the oil filter housing? Also re the ECU I suspect it reports its reading based on the last check which would of been prior to the oil change. Also it may be rounding to the nearest x mL?

I did drain what was in the oil filter housing. However, since I changed oil in my slightly sloping driveway, there was probably a little oil left in the sump. I measured the amount of oil removed and it was not quite 8L. So I probably had another .5L-1L left in there, not sure. I was more focused in Carly raw values and how it stacked up to the Car's oil level gauge.

[Drv4fun]

Originally Posted by pjk380

I did drain what was in the oil filter housing. However, since I changed oil in my slightly sloping driveway, there was probably a little oil left in the sump. I measured the amount of oil removed and it was not quite 8L. So I probably had another .5L-1L left in there, not sure. I was more focused in Carly raw values and how it stacked up to the Car's oil level gauge.

Thanks for the data. Can you change the oil with the car in the reversed direction?

[pjk380]

Yep, should have done that. Change oil with the back end high, not nose high.

[Drv4fun]

Originally Posted by pjk380

Yep, should have done that. Change oil with the back end high, not nose high.

It will drain eventually. Just takes a few hours.

[kimiraikkonen]

Originally Posted by Drv4fun

Helmsman,
Great thread. I think the unit may be cubic feet/100 (although one would expect an SI unit, maybe the sensor is sourced from a country using imperial units?)
8.8L = .31077 ft^3
9L = .31783 ft^3
9.2L = .32489 ft^3

.3205 = 9.0755L
.3264 = 9.2426L
.3290 = 9.3162

Actually, I have a slightly different theory. I believe Carly records the oil level in Imperial Cups to Litre.

So conversion is:

1 Imperial Cup = 0.284 Litre

My measurements:

32.64 @7/8 Full indicator = 9.27 Litre
30.56 @1/4 Full indicator = 8.68 Litre

My assumption is that it is 8.8 Litre oil volume for max fill + 0.5 Litre of extra liquid that stays in the oil sump = 9.30 Litre max volume --> 32.73 on Carly

So if you are >32.73, you will show as overfill

Hope this helps.

[Drv4fun]

Originally Posted by kimiraikkonen

Actually, I have a slightly different theory. I believe Carly records the oil level in Imperial Cups to Litre.

So conversion is:

1 Imperial Cup = 0.284 Litre

My measurements:

32.64 @7/8 Full indicator = 9.27 Litre
30.56 @1/4 Full indicator = 8.68 Litre

My assumption is that it is 8.8 Litre oil volume for max fill + 0.5 Litre of extra liquid that stays in the oil sump = 9.30 Litre max volume --> 32.73 on Carly

So if you are >32.73, you will show as overfill

Hope this helps.

kimiraikkonen is on the money. Good job! This makes more sense.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by kimiraikkonen

Actually, I have a slightly different theory. I believe Carly records the oil level in Imperial Cups to Litre.

So conversion is:

1 Imperial Cup = 0.284 Litre

My measurements:

32.64 @7/8 Full indicator = 9.27 Litre
30.56 @1/4 Full indicator = 8.68 Litre

My assumption is that it is 8.8 Litre oil volume for max fill + 0.5 Litre of extra liquid that stays in the oil sump = 9.30 Litre max volume --> 32.73 on Carly

So if you are >32.73, you will show as overfill

Hope this helps.

Of all of the units of measure that any of the instruments I have used in my life as an electrical engineer, I have NEVER seen something use Imperial Cup!! That would be SOOO awesome if that is the actual case. Strangely, I feel that the Krauts would not utilize Imperial Cups as a unit of measure... Just does not seem very Krautish.

Regardless, this is really great information!

[kimiraikkonen]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Of all of the units of measure that any of the instruments I have used in my life as an electrical engineer, I have NEVER seen something use Imperial Cup!! That would be SOOO awesome if that is the actual case. Strangely, I feel that the Krauts would not utilize Imperial Cups as a unit of measure... Just does not seem very Krautish.

Regardless, this is really great information!

I know...I too thought it was a bit odd, but it was the only unit of measure that I could see that could back-correlate with the Carly readings. Isn't the Carly app developed out of the UK? So maybe they were trying to convert some hexadecimal readout from the ECU and normalized it to their own scale (using imperial cups as the unit of measure)?

I suppose the easiest way to find out would be to email Carly BMW....but I don't trust their customer support responses (i.e., see the numerous threads on battery registration and dynamic brake force coding with Carly).

[Helmsman]

No thread value really, just writing off some frustration guys:

1/4 indicator; 30.45 Carly.
Filling 0.5l.
3/4 indicator; 32.05 Carly.
Love the indicator at top so added exactly 0.1l oil. Nothing happend for half hour drive then suddenly "overfill"; Carly 33.53. FFS.....

I'll suck out the 0.1l tomorrow. Probably just to find no changes but anyhow.... this fokking oil sensor....

[Helmsman]

Drove 150 miles with 3/4 (32.05) before I added above 0.1l. After draining the filter cup today (0.2l isch) it eventually came down to ok/full. Carly show 33.23. Hence 0.1l less oil resulted in an indicator/Carly increase...

So to repeat what already is concluded, the oil sensor is not very accurat. As pointed out Carly present what the ECU tells it, but fwiw with at least one step better resolution between the indicators 1-4 mark.