Oil change max level rant

[GeorgeA]

What a stupid system in this car. I changed the oil, put in 9 liters and the car indicated it was halfway to full. I added 1/4th of a liter and it shot up to max. I took almost 1/4th out of the filter housing and still it was stuck at max. I took out another 1/4th if not more and waited for 20 minutes for it to check, and it never gave me an answer. So I ended up turning it off thinking if you add 1/4 and take out over 1/2 liter it will be fine but it can’t be that easy with this car. It’s still at max. Just wanted to indicate that the oil measurement just does not work and I will be driving it with it on max and see what happens. If I dump anymore it will be the equivalent of running 8 liters of oil.

[JRV]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

What a stupid system in this car. I changed the oil, put in 9 liters and the car indicated it was halfway to full. I added 1/4th of a liter and it shot up to max. I took almost 1/4th out of the filter housing and still it was stuck at max. I took out another 1/4th if not more and waited for 20 minutes for it to check, and it never gave me an answer. So I ended up turning it off thinking if you add 1/4 and take out over 1/2 liter it will be fine but it can’t be that easy with this car. It’s still at max. Just wanted to indicate that the oil measurement just does not work and I will be driving it with it on max and see what happens. If I dump anymore it will be the equivalent of running 8 liters of oil.

Try pressing the stalk to show oil on the dash and then hold down the button until it starts to re-read the oil levels. It usually takes some time to complete.

[TrAcK TRaP]

These weird cars man..

[Scharbag]

8.8L back in after you drain and change the filter. Drive for a few days. Then review the sensor level.

Cheers,

[joe6mt]

8.8 L is the Max and you will over fill.

For anyone change the oil, I suggest putting in 8L and then checking your oil Level indicator afterward. If is on the low side, I recommend putting in ONLY 0.25L at a time and re-check the level. 8.25L should be GTG.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by joe6mt

8.8 L is the Max and you will over fill.

For anyone change the oil, I suggest putting in 8L and then checking your oil Level indicator afterward. If is on the low side, I recommend putting in ONLY 0.25L at a time and re-check the level. 8.25L should be GTG.

8.8 is capacity. Unless you did not drain all the oil out, 8.8 is fine. You are not going to break anything unless you grossly overfill the oil.

Way too much thought goes into this.

[///M Power-Belgium]

.

[eatsleepboost]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

8.8 is capacity. Unless you did not drain all the oil out, 8.8 is fine. You are not going to break anything unless you grossly overfill the oil.

Way too much thought goes into this.

Exactly. It's an oil change. Just put in the 8.8 and drive it. If you check it a few days later and it seems low or high you can add or drain some then. Don't overcomplicate the job.

There is a whole range of 1L that is considered safe an acceptable from min level to Max level. No need to freak out.

[joe6mt]

FYI,

If you are a M3 driver, and don't have a Liter of oil in the trunk of your car at all times, then you haven't been paying attention.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by joe6mt

FYI,

If you are a M3 driver, and don't have a Liter of oil in the trunk of your car at all times, then you haven't been paying attention.

BMW was nice enough to include a little sachle for just this purpose.

[ItsGary]

Originally Posted by joe6mt

FYI,

If you are a M3 driver, and don't have a Liter of oil in the trunk of your car at all times, then you haven't been paying attention.

surprisingly I havent burned any oil in almost 2k KMs, usually i burn once I get past 180kmh in mexico

[EJT86]

Originally Posted by joe6mt

FYI,

If you are a M3 driver, and don't have a Liter of oil in the trunk of your car at all times, then you haven't been paying attention.

I don’t trust the hookers back there with a liter of oil

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by joe6mt

8.8 L is the Max and you will over fill.

For anyone change the oil, I suggest putting in 8L and then checking your oil Level indicator afterward. If is on the low side, I recommend putting in ONLY 0.25L at a time and re-check the level. 8.25L should be GTG.

this.

unless you're sucking all the oil out of the filter housing during your oil changes, don't think about dumping 9L. do 8, maybe 8.5 and wait. drive a few days and top off conservatively if you want it to the top of the digital dipstick.

[GeorgeA]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

this.

unless you're sucking all the oil out of the filter housing during your oil changes, don't think about dumping 9L. do 8, maybe 8.5 and wait. drive a few days and top off conservatively if you want it to the top of the digital dipstick.

I did take all the oil out of the filter housing, when I put 9 liters it was halfway full, that’s when I added another 1/4th and it jumped to max. After taking out 1/2, I’m at 8.75 liters of oil and it’s still showing max, weird.

[GeorgeA]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

.

LOL, I knew someone was going to say that but I had to share the annoyance

[GeorgeA]

Originally Posted by JRV

Try pressing the stalk to show oil on the dash and then hold down the button until it starts to re-read the oil levels. It usually takes some time to complete.

I didn’t know we can make it recalculate, thanks for the info!

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

I did take all the oil out of the filter housing, when I put 9 liters it was halfway full, that’s when I added another 1/4th and it jumped to max. After taking out 1/2, I’m at 8.75 liters of oil and it’s still showing max, weird.

you drove around for a few days after dumping 9 and it was at "half?"

keep in mind, it is an operating range. a little less than the highest mark is going to be ok.

[buzz367]

Sorry to resurface this thread, how bad is it to drive it when its over max? even if just by .5L (or less)?

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by buzz367

Sorry to resurface this thread, how bad is it to drive it when its over max? even if just by .5L (or less)?

It is a big sump. 500ml over on 8,800ml is ~6%. Worst case, you will cause some extra drag losses and some additional oil aeration if the crank has to splash through the oil more. It should be fine and if you are worried, dump the front sump and top it off to the proper level.

Cheers,

[msan]

Originally Posted by buzz367

Sorry to resurface this thread, how bad is it to drive it when its over max? even if just by .5L (or less)?

Bad enough you should probably drain some. You can suck out about .2-.3L if you open the oil filter cap and use a turkey baster and suck it out.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by msan

Bad enough you should probably drain some. You can suck out about .2-.3L if you open the oil filter cap and use a turkey baster and suck it out.

Would have to be one hell of a turkey baster to reach the pan from the filler cap...

[msan]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Would have to be one hell of a turkey baster to reach the pan from the filler cap...

You don't understand, there is about .2-.3L of oil in the oil filter housing easily accessed. I change my own oil and I always suck out the dirty oil in the filter housing.