Oil temperature oscillating

Ggeezer · 04-21-2016, 01:27 PM

I tried searching but haven't found anyone else with the same issue.

Basically, once my oil is up to temperature, I notice that the gauge oscillates by about 0.5 degrees and never noticed it on my old 2008 M3.

Video was taken on my bone stock 2012 DCT M3.

I informed the dealer and they didn't find any codes nor any SIBs on the issue so they chalk it up as normal.

Has anyone else noticed this?

dparm · 04-21-2016, 01:30 PM

Umm, it's not normal.

My needle will fluctuate slightly over 20-30 minutes of driving, which is what I would expect. It should not be wiggling like your video shows.

Doc Oc · 04-21-2016, 01:56 PM

Definitely not normal but I doubt it's indicative of actual oil temp fluctuation....probably something wrong with the gauge or sender.

admranger · 04-21-2016, 06:42 PM

That's not right. They all *don't* do that.

///M Power-Belgium · 04-21-2016, 06:53 PM

Not normal .

asmazda · 04-21-2016, 08:00 PM

I have a 2013 E92 M3 and mine does the exact same thing. The oil or water has never overheated and no fault codes so I didn't bother trying to butt heads with the dealer.

What weight oil are you running? Dealer switched mine to 5W-30 and I wonder if it has something to do with the oil?

Ggeezer · 04-21-2016, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmazda

I have a 2013 E92 M3 and mine does the exact same thing. The oil or water has never overheated and no fault codes so I didn't bother trying to butt heads with the dealer.

What weight oil are you running? Dealer switched mine to 5W-30 and I wonder if it has something to do with the oil?

Good to know!

My warranty is up in a month so I had the dealer recheck any little issue I had.

I'm running 10W60 now but I'm not sure whether it's the Shell or Castrol oil.

The car hasn't overheated in the year I've had it but I have my first track day with the car next weekend where it will be put through its paces. It would be a good test to see whether or not the car would overheat past 125 degrees (Celsius)

jimk · 04-21-2016, 10:01 PM

I think Carly will measure the oil temp as it is reported by the ECU/oil temp sensor. You may want to compare what the ECU/oil sensor reads via the Carly app and see if it fluctuates to match the gauge. If it does, then the gauge should be fine and there may be an issue with the sensor which I think it is built in to the oil level sensor. If the readings on the Carly app are constant but the gauge fluctuates, then there may be an issue with the gauge.

Amirsm3 · 04-21-2016, 10:03 PM

Bad sending unit or gauge needle, IMO

Denk · 04-22-2016, 12:24 AM

My last one did that occasionally.

Doc Oc · 04-22-2016, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmazda

I have a 2013 E92 M3 and mine does the exact same thing. The oil or water has never overheated and no fault codes so I didn't bother trying to butt heads with the dealer.

What weight oil are you running? Dealer switched mine to 5W-30 and I wonder if it has something to do with the oil?

5w30? No one is running oil that thin. I did notice immediately when I stepped down from 60 to 40 that the oil temp rose and fell much quicker, but it never jumped like that.

kb9uwu · 04-22-2016, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmazda

Dealer switched mine to 5W-30 and I wonder if it has something to do with the oil?

dafuq?

dparm · 04-22-2016, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmazda

I have a 2013 E92 M3 and mine does the exact same thing. The oil or water has never overheated and no fault codes so I didn't bother trying to butt heads with the dealer.

What weight oil are you running? Dealer switched mine to 5W-30 and I wonder if it has something to do with the oil?

Are you certain the dealer put 5w30 in? If so, take it back and have them put the correct oil in: 10w60.

asmazda · 04-22-2016, 08:39 PM

I know it seems ridiculous but last year BMW changed the approved oils and now low-ash formula 5w-30 is also approved oil besides the regular 10w-60. At least in California some dealers are putting in 5w-30. I've had a long debate with the dealer, then contacted BMW North America and got the same answer. Anyway, next week I'm going to switch out the oil myself. For anybody in SF Bay Area stay away from Peter Pan BMW!

momo58 · 04-23-2016, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmazda

What weight oil are you running? Dealer switched mine to 5W-30 and I wonder if it has something to do with the oil?

dafuq²

You should change your dealership and the oil to 10w60, because 5w30 is not good for the s65 engine

dparm · 04-23-2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmazda

I know it seems ridiculous but last year BMW changed the approved oils and now low-ash formula 5w-30 is also approved oil besides the regular 10w-60. At least in California some dealers are putting in 5w-30. I've had a long debate with the dealer, then contacted BMW North America and got the same answer. Anyway, next week I'm going to switch out the oil myself. For anybody in SF Bay Area stay away from Peter Pan BMW!

Not for M cars. Those guys are fucking idiots that can't read if they think your car should've gotten the 5w30.

asmazda · 04-27-2016, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dparm

Not for M cars. Those guys are fucking idiots that can't read if they think your car should've gotten the 5w30.

Read this. the 5W-30 with BMW part number BMW part number 07 51 0 037 195 is approved for M cars.

serranot · 04-27-2016, 04:17 AM

My car does this. Running Castrol 10W-60. Started right after I had BE bearings installed. Seems to run fine but it never did this before.

dparm · 04-27-2016, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmazda

Read this. the 5W-30 with BMW part number BMW part number 07 51 0 037 195 is approved for M cars.

Ugh, we beat this to death when that confusing document came out. BMW also released a clarification chart showing the S65 does not get the 5w30 or other LL01 oils. IIRC a few people even called BMW North America to ask.

I don't have the other doc handy but I remember someone posting it on here.

asmazda · 04-27-2016, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dparm

Ugh, we beat this to death when that confusing document came out. BMW also released a clarification chart showing the S65 does not get the 5w30 or other LL01 oils. IIRC a few people even called BMW North America to ask.

I don't have the other doc handy but I remember someone posting it on here.

I agree this document is horribly written, and I don't disagree that you shouldn't simply use any LL01 oil in M models. Whoever wrote this should be fired and their boss should be fired! But there are clearly two different 5W-30 oils with different part numbers listed in the document I attached, and the second one is under the M models section.

M cars cannot use the regular synthetic 5W-30 - they need the Castrol version that is a low-ash formula. I also called BMW NA and confirmed this. I don't know if it is just the low-ash formula or something else about the Castrol version of 5W-30 that makes it OK.

But anyway, regardless of what BMW NA said to me or what this doc says I don't feel comfortable running such a thin oil in a car that originally shipped from the factory with much thicker oil. Had it been 5W-40 then maybe I would have stayed with that.

Mr. Liu · 04-28-2016, 03:48 PM

Mine does that sometimes - but not as quickly as yours. Like it would stay right on the dot then if I push it a little hotter it gets hotter, then maybe 5 minute later it would come back down

drwankel · 04-29-2016, 04:38 PM

Wanted to chime in. My car does the exact same thing as OPs video.

2012 e92 m3. Stock.

Running the newer m power 10w60 oil. I have an extended warranty, so I'm tempted to go in and see what they say.

If anybody else has any more data on this it would be appreciated. I am kinda leaning toward a bad sensor or something. As far as I can recall, the car didn't do this when I first got it.

04-21-2016, 01:27 PM	#1
Ggeezer Captain 252 Rep 822 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Montreal iTrader: (4)	Oil temperature oscillating I tried searching but haven't found anyone else with the same issue. Basically, once my oil is up to temperature, I notice that the gauge oscillates by about 0.5 degrees and never noticed it on my old 2008 M3. Video was taken on my bone stock 2012 DCT M3. I informed the dealer and they didn't find any codes nor any SIBs on the issue so they chalk it up as normal. Has anyone else noticed this?
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04-21-2016, 01:30 PM	#2
dparm Stop the hate, get a V8 3850 Rep 8,625 Posts Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	Umm, it's not normal. My needle will fluctuate slightly over 20-30 minutes of driving, which is what I would expect. It should not be wiggling like your video shows. __________________ Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
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04-21-2016, 01:56 PM	#3
Doc Oc Captain Fatbelly 1422 Rep 1,994 Posts Drives: C63 amg Join Date: May 2015 Location: Upyourbuttandtotheleft iTrader: (0)	Definitely not normal but I doubt it's indicative of actual oil temp fluctuation....probably something wrong with the gauge or sender. __________________ 2013 c63 Amg coupe p31, v7 tune, plm headers, armytrix downpipes, EflexFuel 2008 dct coupe, evolve engine/dct tune, ttp, ms intake, megan exhaust, cf ds. Sold.
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04-21-2016, 06:42 PM	#4
admranger Retired Curmudgeon 2985 Rep 4,047 Posts Drives: ‘19 X3M40i, ‘18 m550i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (1)	That's not right. They all don't do that. __________________ '19 X3 M40 Carbon Black/Oyster, '23 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit, Past BMWs: '18 M550i, '18 330 GT, '16 X5 40e, '11 E90M3, '06 X5 4.4, '03 330i ZHP, '02 M3, '97 Z3 2.8, '95 M3 (2x), '94 530i (manual), '92 525i (manual), '88 M3, '87 325iS
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04-21-2016, 06:53 PM	#5
///M Power-Belgium General 63062 Rep 24,605 Posts Drives: ///M3-E92-DCT Silverstone II Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	Not normal . __________________ "MAX VERSTAPPEN" IS THE 2021+2022+2023 F1 WORLD CHAMPION - #UnLeashTheLion BPM DEV-Tune & DCT Software-Tune & Servotronic & coding ///Alpine HID Angeleyes ///Oem.exhaust mod.
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04-21-2016, 08:00 PM	#6
asmazda Private First Class 106 Rep 191 Posts Drives: F90 M5 CS Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	I have a 2013 E92 M3 and mine does the exact same thing. The oil or water has never overheated and no fault codes so I didn't bother trying to butt heads with the dealer. What weight oil are you running? Dealer switched mine to 5W-30 and I wonder if it has something to do with the oil?
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04-21-2016, 10:01 PM	#8
jimk Captain 101 Rep 933 Posts Drives: 2018 M550i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Camarillo, CA iTrader: (8)	I think Carly will measure the oil temp as it is reported by the ECU/oil temp sensor. You may want to compare what the ECU/oil sensor reads via the Carly app and see if it fluctuates to match the gauge. If it does, then the gauge should be fine and there may be an issue with the sensor which I think it is built in to the oil level sensor. If the readings on the Carly app are constant but the gauge fluctuates, then there may be an issue with the gauge.
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04-21-2016, 10:03 PM	#9
Amirsm3 Brigadier General 514 Rep 3,482 Posts Drives: 2011 Space Grey e90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Williams/Flagstaff, AZ iTrader: (3)	Bad sending unit or gauge needle, IMO __________________ 2011 e90 M3 Space Grey DCT ZCP- eAs, BMW Performance, Agency Power, Macht Schnell, iND, Milltek, Volk, Challenge, Stoptech, Ohlins BMWCCA:518970
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04-22-2016, 12:24 AM	#10
Denk Brigadier General 1006 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2021 X5M Join Date: May 2011 Location: PNW iTrader: (2)	My last one did that occasionally.
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04-22-2016, 08:39 PM	#14
asmazda Private First Class 106 Rep 191 Posts Drives: F90 M5 CS Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	I know it seems ridiculous but last year BMW changed the approved oils and now low-ash formula 5w-30 is also approved oil besides the regular 10w-60. At least in California some dealers are putting in 5w-30. I've had a long debate with the dealer, then contacted BMW North America and got the same answer. Anyway, next week I'm going to switch out the oil myself. For anybody in SF Bay Area stay away from Peter Pan BMW!
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04-27-2016, 04:17 AM	#18
serranot Lieutenant 324 Rep 488 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Middletown, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW E90 M3 [10.00]	My car does this. Running Castrol 10W-60. Started right after I had BE bearings installed. Seems to run fine but it never did this before.
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04-28-2016, 03:48 PM	#21
Mr. Liu Lieutenant 108 Rep 569 Posts Drives: '11 M3 '14 E63 '05 E55K Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1)	Mine does that sometimes - but not as quickly as yours. Like it would stay right on the dot then if I push it a little hotter it gets hotter, then maybe 5 minute later it would come back down __________________ Turner - Megan - Rogue Engineering - RDSport - AFe - Akra
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04-29-2016, 04:38 PM	#22
drwankel Major 1032 Rep 1,041 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 ZCP, 2021 M340i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Bothell, WA iTrader: (0)	Wanted to chime in. My car does the exact same thing as OPs video. 2012 e92 m3. Stock. Running the newer m power 10w60 oil. I have an extended warranty, so I'm tempted to go in and see what they say. If anybody else has any more data on this it would be appreciated. I am kinda leaning toward a bad sensor or something. As far as I can recall, the car didn't do this when I first got it.
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