Yes ANOTHER Oil Gauge Thread ... But this one is different ...

AMPowerJ · 06-25-2009, 03:01 PM

Here is the deal ...

I have had two days of interstate road trips of greater than 100 miles each way. I had the service performed at 1200 miles and yesterday I had about 1500 miles on the car. The oil gauge in the gauge cluster was reading full.

On my trip, while on the interstate at speed, the oil level dropped one tick and then another. I was slightly concerned that I would burn that much oil but thought oh well.

This morning when I cranked up the car it read full again. Huh? So I decided to try something. Sure enough on my trip today it dropped two ticks again while at speed but this time when I arrived at my destination I let the car idle and reset the gauge. Bingo ... full reading again. Got back into the car to drive home and the same thing happened. Down two ticks AGAIN on the interstate. Just got home and pulled into the garage, reset the gauge, and all full again.

So what gives? Does the gauge only provide an accurate reading while idling and stopped? Has anyone else noticed this behavior? Think this is normal for the POS gauge?

Voltigeur · 06-25-2009, 08:23 PM

-

Something similar was happening to me when driving on the Autobahn this month - after a while at speed

, except my reading got lower and freaked me out. Then I would stop, re-start and it had 'filled' again. I hope this doesn't continue: near the end of our ED I had it serviced at Bayern Aix in Provence. Wait and see ...

alpineweissM3 · 06-25-2009, 08:46 PM

I frequently drive long distances on the highway and have no problem. My gauge hasn't budged since I changed my oil about 4k miles ago.

BMWM.D. · 06-25-2009, 09:18 PM

I think you need to stop staring at the oil guage while you drive

. J/K, but the correct way to check the oil is while idling on level ground. Most of the other BMW models with the electronic "dipstick" will not allow you to check the oil level unless the engine is at idle.

I know the S65 is known to burn some oil, but monitoring it while driving is going to do little but make you paranoid. I'd say set it to the V= feature or turn the display off. Switch to the oil display when you stop for gas, before you leave, or at your destination.

AMPowerJ · 06-26-2009, 07:52 AM

Fair enough ... thanks.

06-25-2009, 03:01 PM	#1
AMPowerJ One mod leads to another ... 416 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: 2014 F10 M5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blythewood, SC iTrader: (10)	Yes ANOTHER Oil Gauge Thread ... But this one is different ... Here is the deal ... I have had two days of interstate road trips of greater than 100 miles each way. I had the service performed at 1200 miles and yesterday I had about 1500 miles on the car. The oil gauge in the gauge cluster was reading full. On my trip, while on the interstate at speed, the oil level dropped one tick and then another. I was slightly concerned that I would burn that much oil but thought oh well. This morning when I cranked up the car it read full again. Huh? So I decided to try something. Sure enough on my trip today it dropped two ticks again while at speed but this time when I arrived at my destination I let the car idle and reset the gauge. Bingo ... full reading again. Got back into the car to drive home and the same thing happened. Down two ticks AGAIN on the interstate. Just got home and pulled into the garage, reset the gauge, and all full again. So what gives? Does the gauge only provide an accurate reading while idling and stopped? Has anyone else noticed this behavior? Think this is normal for the POS gauge? __________________ Current: 2014 F10 M5 Previous: 2015 F80 M3, 2013 E92 M3, 2013 F10 M5, 2009 E90 M3, 1998 E36 M3
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06-25-2009, 08:23 PM	#2
Voltigeur MacroRisk 109 Rep 2,523 Posts Drives: M3 E92 ED'09 / 335d Sport DD Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	- Something similar was happening to me when driving on the Autobahn this month - after a while at speed , except my reading got lower and freaked me out. Then I would stop, re-start and it had 'filled' again. I hope this doesn't continue: near the end of our ED I had it serviced at Bayern Aix in Provence. Wait and see ... __________________ Just thinking of something not so witty ///M3 E92 '09 Jerez Black \| 6MT \| Ext Fox Red \| Tech \| Prem \| 19s \|Heated Seats \| iPod \|Smartphone \| Euro Deliv June 09 Sold: 540iT / 530i / 323i
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06-25-2009, 08:46 PM	#3
alpineweissM3 I love my beautiful wife! 22 Rep 628 Posts Drives: e90 ///M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (0)	I frequently drive long distances on the highway and have no problem. My gauge hasn't budged since I changed my oil about 4k miles ago.
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06-25-2009, 09:18 PM	#4
BMWM.D. Stupid Idiot 134 Rep 827 Posts Drives: E90 335i & 6th Gen ZL1 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Santa Barbara iTrader: (1)	I think you need to stop staring at the oil guage while you drive . J/K, but the correct way to check the oil is while idling on level ground. Most of the other BMW models with the electronic "dipstick" will not allow you to check the oil level unless the engine is at idle. I know the S65 is known to burn some oil, but monitoring it while driving is going to do little but make you paranoid. I'd say set it to the V= feature or turn the display off. Switch to the oil display when you stop for gas, before you leave, or at your destination. __________________
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06-26-2009, 07:52 AM	#5
AMPowerJ One mod leads to another ... 416 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: 2014 F10 M5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Blythewood, SC iTrader: (10)	Fair enough ... thanks. __________________ Current: 2014 F10 M5 Previous: 2015 F80 M3, 2013 E92 M3, 2013 F10 M5, 2009 E90 M3, 1998 E36 M3
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