Oil level question - E36

[Just-ify]

Hi guys,

So today I jumped in and did an oil change. Everything went well, except for
one peculiarity.

According to the BMW owner's manual, the 316i (e36) requires 4L of oil.

I've put in 4L of Shell Helix Ultra but my oil level seems a bit low.

Granted I'm not really sure how to read the BMW dipstick as it doesn't have any clearly defined min and max markings, but from what I understand it should be in the middle of the two large gaps (see picture).

Any ideas?

Tx again,
J

 

[Bayn46]

Yep, those gaps are the min and max mark on the dipstick. I top mine up to just before max (gap on the right of your pic). My car usually complains about low oil (yellow light) when it gets just below the halfway mark and I've driven quite hard.

 

[Raybimmer]

Let the car stand for an hour or so then check and add a bit till just under the top mark. Check the level the next morning . If the oil level is on the top mark or say 3 mm above that is ok, it is when you have added a litre too much that excess pressure causes problems with pcv's .

 

[Doomsdaya]

I'm not sure about the 4 cylinder engine, but with the 6 cylinder there is exactly a liter difference from the bottom to the top mark on the dipstick

 

[Raybimmer]

Handbook says one litre difference and do not fill above the upper dipstick mark .This then applies to 4 and 6 cylinder models.

 

[Just-ify]

Ray, so the dipstick mark was on 1/3 full from the way I read it on the picture above - even though I estimated it at 4L in already. I then added about 500ml and it jumped to about 4mm above the full mark.

Doesn't really make sense - not exponential at all... maybe it was gumming up somewhere?

Is there any way to tap off the excess or can I get away with the slight overfill this time round?

 

[wikk3d88]

Ray, so the dipstick mark was on 1/3 full from the way I read it on the picture above - even though I estimated it at 4L in already. I then added about 500ml and it jumped to about 4mm above the full mark.

Doesn't really make sense - not exponential at all... maybe it was gumming up somewhere?

Is there any way to tap off the excess or can I get away with the slight overfill this time round?

Did you let the engine run for a bit before you checked the dipstick?

 

[Raybimmer]

Check the oil after the car has stood a few hours . If you added 500 ml then it should be ok , its not like 2 cm above the full mark !!
To get excess oil out is not easy , drain it out and pour most of the oil back ,this is time consuming . Putting a thin pipe down the dipstick hole and pumping a bit of oil out may work .

 

[Just-ify]

Yup, car stood overnight.|

This is the current mark (see pic).

Worth draining or should I leave it?

 

[Raybimmer]

I would leave it . Check the oil level weekly to see if it stays constant . Did you use this oil previously ?

 

[Just-ify]

This is the first service I've done since buying the car - looking at the service receipt done by the previous owner, the oil that was used previously cost R258 - so I'm guessing it was a mineral based oil...

 

[abmi0000]

Hi guys,

So today I jumped in and did an oil change. Everything went well, except for
one peculiarity.

According to the BMW owner's manual, the 316i (e36) requires 4L of oil.

I've put in 4L of Shell Helix Ultra but my oil level seems a bit low.

Granted I'm not really sure how to read the BMW dipstick as it doesn't have any clearly defined min and max markings, but from what I understand it should be in the middle of the two large gaps (see picture).

Any ideas?

Tx again,
J

Oil filter consumes a bit after initial startup...