Another Dipstick Oil Question. Sorry....

[Bmw.wp]

Hey Guys & Gals

it really bothers me when i check in the morning my dipstick its shows at Nr 2 on pic, but when i drive long distances and check my oil dipstick it shows on 3 or 4.

Must i then top up with oil till it reach nr2 again or leave it at 3 or 4.?

did a test over 400km and when i check in the morning again it was on nr 2 again.

 

[freerider]

Eish, the reason its always different is because you constantly checking at different stages of normal operation.

When the engine is running, oil is pumped up into all the parts etc, so the level will obviously be lower in the sump where the dipstick is taking a measurement.
I like to measure oil level about an hour after the engine has been turned off and theoil has had time to drain back into the sump.

Overfilling your oil can be just as disasterous as running with low oil.

 

[Bmw.wp]

Eish, the reason its always different is because you constantly checking at different stages of normal operation.

When the engine is running, oil is pumped up into all the parts etc, so the level will obviously be lower in the sump where the dipstick is taking a measurement.
I like to measure oil level about an hour after the engine has been turned off and theoil has had time to drain back into the sump.

Overfilling your oil can be just as disasterous as running with low oil.

Hi Freerider.

Overfilling your oil can be just as disasterous as running with low oil.
This is what worries me.:argh: i travel about 1000kms and when i check it lays on 3 or 4. then i dont know if its still fine. because i fear i can run low on oil and i may not knows it.

---

dammit freerider do u see the first pic.?







on the second pic is lays on minimum when traveling. is it still normal.?

 

[freerider]

What you seeing is perfectly normal. Try and stick to set times etc to check oil, or even in the mornings only when there has been plenty time for the oil to have settled.

Checking the level while the engine is still running or just been switched off is a no no.

 

[Bmw.wp]

Thanks Don.

i always check in the morning and when i drive more than 200km.

:thumbs:

 

[Doomsdaya]

Best time to check oil is when the car is cold, infact you should do this before starting your car up. Like freerider said, when the engine is running, oil is all over the place so readings on the dipstick will be lower.

Based on your second pic, I would top up if it was like that from cold, but that looks fine for a running/warm engine.

Edit: Freerider beat me to it

 

[calypso]

Fecking e46 dipstick is a ballache. Goes around so many corners the whole thing always looks wet.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Yep as Don said. Check the oil level after the car has stood for at least half an hour to an hour on a level surface. A drop of oil level after a longer journey could indicate some moisture (as in water condensation) accumulated in the oil has been burnt off giving the impression that there has been some sudden oil consumption.

Now I have a question too, a concern - my Wife's car was recently serviced and the oil level is correct and sitting on the max mark. The PCV was blocked so the pipes and the PCV was replaced straight after the service. When the engine is idling and I open the oil cap there is a slight vacuum, but really slight. But here's what worries me - whenever I check the oil after the car has stood, the entire dip-stick end is drenched in oil. In other words, not just slightly above the max mark, but right to the top of the plastic almost where the metal of the dipstick begins. Is this normal or indicating some sort of weird pressure build up forcing oil up into the dipstick pipe? And since the PCV and pipes were replaced, what could be causing this?

 

[Raybimmer]

@Philip normally the dipstick would have oil maybe half way so there may be pressure causing this . With a warm engine , remove the dipstick , put your thumb over the hole and get someone to start the car and run it for a few seconds while you feel if there is pressure , switch off and clean your thumb if necessary . Are the PCV pipes connected correctly ?

 

[Philip Foglar]

@Philip normally the dipstick would have oil maybe half way so there may be pressure causing this . With a warm engine , remove the dipstick , put your thumb over the hole and get someone to start the car and run it for a few seconds while you feel if there is pressure , switch off and clean your thumb if necessary . Are the PCV pipes connected correctly ?

Thanks! Will give that a try. As far as I know they should be, but anything is possible when others work on ones car. As mentioned, all pipes and the PCV were replaced, a total of four pipes and the PCV itself. Let's see what the "thumb" test reveals when I have time with the car next. :thumbs: