[Spoolin1]

Hey guys,

I just changed my oil for the second time and something doesn't seem correct this time.

The first oil change I did about 5000 miles ago, took about 7 qts to refill and get the sensor to show full. Now with this oil change, it only took about 5.5 qts to show full. What gives? The car only has 32k miles and is a 2007 and I drove the car up on ramps to change the oil like the last time it took 7 qts. On level ground, as of the second day from the oil change and a drive to work, it's still showing full.

Can anyone tell me why it only took 5.5 qts to show full level this time and last oil change it took 7 qts? Could the sensor be bad?

Could it be possible the all the oil didn't drain out this time even though I let it drain for 10 min and the oil was very hot? The front of the car was slightly higher than the rear being that my driveway is at about a 10 deg incline and is exactly the same way I did the change the last time.

[Efthreeoh]

The sensor is not bad. You didn't refill the engine properly and you are not using the e-dipstick system correctly. The sensor does not act like a mechanical dipstick. The oil change procedure is to drain the oil out, replace the filter, and refill the engine with 7 quarts of new oil. The procedure is not like that of a mechanical dipstick car where some procedures tell you to fill the engine with oil to one quart less the full amount, then run the engine, and then top it off. With the N52/N54, just drain it, change the filter and refill with 7 quarts.

The e-dipstick takes several measurements over several miles once the engine is warmed up and the car is driven several drive cycles to accurately determine the level of oil in the engine. I'll bet in a few days you will get the +1 quart indication. You also need to understand that the system does not tell you how much oil is in the engine below a 6-quart threshold, so if the engine is 5.5 quarts full of oil, it will eventually tell you it is 1 quart low, not 1.5 quarts low.

Unless the engine is at a severe angle, all the oil drains out. The best practice is to open up the oil filter housing and fill cap to prevent a vacuum while the oil drains. Also, you should remove the retained oil from the oil filter housing.

Add the other 1.5 quarts in and you'll be good to go.

[Three_thirty_I]

Not to argue or dismiss what Efthreeoh said, simply to mention what I have experienced with my N52's electronic dipstick:

Changed oil earlier this year and started by refilling with 6 of the 6.5 litres to begin with, then ran the engine for a few minutes before taking the car for a short drive. At first the initial oil level reading registered 25% above min, then a while later it showed 50% which was then correct based on the amount of oil in the engine. Returned home and then added the remaining 0.5 litre - again went for a short drive and once again it initially showed 75%, then later 100%.

Now I am open to correction with regards to the electronic dipstick, but I gather that it measures the quantity and condition, thereby showing the level between min and max (1 litre or 1 quart range) and then the mileage remaining for condition based servicing.

When I changed the oil I admittedly didn't observe the proper safe method of using ramps or jack stands (don't have ramps or long reach jack), so ended up just using my trusty (with my life) 2 ton jacks to lift the car at the jack points. So while the oil was draining I did actually lower the car a bit so that it was almost level. But I reckon even if the car is at a reasonable angle as in the case of being on ramps, there shouldn't be very much oil left in the sump after draining.

One way of checking this is to measure how much oil was drained to begin with, if only 5.5 quarts then somehow 1.5 quarts remained in the engine, odd. But if it is 7 quarts then all I can think is that the level sensor needs more time to adjust - it can sometimes take a while. But I had a very strange thing happen a few weeks ago - mine was consistently showing 100%, then all of a sudden it showed 50%! And I check the level every time are drive my car as a means to "gauge" when the engine is up to temperature due to the lack of a temperature gauge, so I would have noticed if it had dropped to 75% which it would do before 50%. Drove the car a bit more and it continued to show 50%, then took the car for a spirited drive that night and all of a sudden the level shot back up to 100%, and then later settled on 75% which for the mileage from oil change and the average driving was within expectation. Still not sure what caused this, and it is still on 75% - keeping an eye on it though.

[Spoolin1]

Thanks for the help guys.

I checked the level again today and it's not showing about 25% above min, so I clearly need to add another 1.5 qts. I'll just put in 7 qts at each change from now on.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Spoolin1

Thanks for the help guys.

I checked the level again today and it's not showing about 25% above min, so I clearly need to add another 1.5 qts. I'll just put in 7 qts at each change from now on.

To play safe, I would just add half a quart first and drive it for a few days to see where the level goes to - theoretically it should go to 75%, then again, in theory it only needs 1/4 of a quart to reach 100%. Were you able to check how much oil came out of your car when you changed the oil?

[runningdoc]

You should double check your oil capacity on this model. Generally, it is 6.5 L (6.8 quarts), not 7 quarts. BMW recommends NOT overfilling the N54...

[NH335i]

How did you know that it read full at 5 and a half?

Was there power to the car while you were changing it?

[Spoolin1]

I put 5.5 qts in and then ran the engine for about 5 min to warm it up. Then when I checked the level it showed full then and for a day after until late yesterday and it finally showed the true level. That's why I was confused and didn't add anymore at the time.

I wasn't able to see how much oil came out, I would assume it was the 7 qts I previously put in it, being that the level never changed on the gauge. I don't think I'm burning or losing any with leaks.

[Three_thirty_I]

Have you added half a litre or half a quart yet? Curious to see what reading it would show after a while with that.

[Spoolin1]

Not yet but will saturday and will post back then.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Spoolin1

Not yet but will saturday and will post back then.

Very keen to see what it shows! Keep us posted!

[Spoolin1]

Yep, just put in a little less than 1.5 qts more and today it's showing full. ~6.8 qts looks to be the magic amount.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Spoolin1

Yep, just put in a little less than 1.5 qts more and today it's showing full. ~6.8 qts looks to be the magic amount.

I am glad you got this sorted out!

[Spoolin1]

Thanks bud, me too.