+ 1 quart warning

[OzCoE92]

Yesterday while driving to work I received the +1 quart warning. I stopped by the local dealer after work and grabbed a bottle of 10W60, but while driving home, the level mysteriously came back up to about 3/4 full. This morning, I drove all the way to work (35 miles) and the warning has not reappeared. I did not add any oil to it yet, so my question is, should I wait until it displays the +1 quart warning again to add? Any help on this would be appreciated, thanks.

[Candide13]

Originally Posted by OzCoE92

Yesterday while driving to work I received the +1 quart warning. I stopped by the local dealer after work and grabbed a bottle of 10W60, but while driving home, the level mysteriously came back up to about 3/4 full. This morning, I drove all the way to work (35 miles) and the warning has not reappeared. I did not add any oil to it yet, so my question is, should I wait until it displays the +1 quart warning again to add? Any help on this would be appreciated, thanks.

The sensor is always temperamental, but the behaviour you describe sounds unusually weird. When was the last oil change, and did you monitor the dropping of the indicated oil level over time?

[xander_g]

The oil level sensor in theses cars seems to be possessed. The car needs to be warmed up and level to get an "accurate" reading.

I usually wait until it says to add 1qt and add only half which brings it up to perfect level each time.

Is your driveway/parking spot on an incline by any chance? Are there any other factors that may have affected the way the level is read?

[OzCoE92]

I appreciate the replies. The car only has 32,500 miles, and I have not changed the oil under my ownership yet, the dealer did so prior to me purchasing. There are only 7,000 miles on the oil so far, and I am going to change it out before 8,000 miles to be safe. I went for a drive last night to run errands and never received the warning again, same with this morning, oil checked on level ground both times. Would low battery voltage contribute to the sensor being finicky at all? I have received the low battery discharge warning since it is getting colder here in WI and I intend to replace it when the oil is changed. Any thoughts?

[xander_g]

A battery that is low will cause all kinds of errors. If it's just your oil level sensor - you got off light. Get a new battery asap.

Also, you should change the oil every 5,000 miles as a part of proactive maintenance. 8,000 is too long.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by xander_g

Also, you should change the oil every 5,000 miles as a part of proactive maintenance. 8,000 is too long.

False. This meme needs to die.

[carenthuziast]

Originally Posted by xander_g

A battery that is low will cause all kinds of errors. If it's just your oil level sensor - you got off light. Get a new battery asap.

Also, you should change the oil every 5,000 miles as a part of proactive maintenance. 8,000 is too long.

Do people install replacement batteries themselves or does removing the battery require programming the car which only a dealer or bmw shop can do?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by carenthuziast

Do people install replacement batteries themselves or does removing the battery require programming the car which only a dealer or bmw shop can do?

You have to do the battery replacement "learning", but I think Carly and other apps can do it.

Basically, the car knows the age of the battery and assumes a certain degradation rate, and adjust a few things accordingly. If you don't tell it you've replaced the battery, it will just assume your battery is old and shitty.

[xander_g]

Originally Posted by dparm

False. This meme needs to die.

My apologies. Could you please clarify.

I change my oil every 8,000 kms. On my other cars back in the early 2000s, I would change it every 5,000

[OzCoE92]

Originally Posted by dparm

False. This meme needs to die.

Thank you, I thought 5,000 was a little excessive considering the S65 holds almost 9 liters of oil. New battery and oil change will definitely be happening within the next week or so.

[carenthuziast]

Originally Posted by OzCoE92

Thank you, I thought 5,000 was a little excessive considering the S65 holds almost 9 liters of oil. New battery and oil change will definitely be happening within the next week or so.

When I asked for a free oil change prior to buying my vert, the dealer told me that an oil change wasn't due since the recommended interval is 15K miles.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by xander_g

My apologies. Could you please clarify.

I change my oil every 8,000 kms. On my other cars back in the early 2000s, I would change it every 5,000

Dparm is a bit of a lubrication expert no doubt. Regardless of his always solid advice I'd ignore this one and continue with the 8k km oil change interval. Thats what I do, makes me sleep better in the night which is cheaper than sleaping pills anyhow...😎

[cenix]

It's been documented over and over, but when you get the +1 quart indicator, add only half (500 ml) liter and you will be good.

[OzCoE92]

Originally Posted by cenix

It's been documented over and over, but when you get the +1 quart indicator, add only half (500 ml) liter and you will be good.

That's what I ended up doing, it is not burning at an alarming rate. I just checked over the weekend and the oil cap is leaking a little bit, so I will be getting a replacement from ECS soon.