Weird oil level sensor issue

[amancuso]

So it's been a while since I checked my oil level on the 4.8is. Checked it today and it was on the minimum level on the dipstick. I had to add 1 QT. In the past I have gotten the check oil level message on the cluster. It didn't happen this time. Is the sensor faulty? I thought when they failed they would light up yellow at start up. Any thoughts?

[andrewwynn]

I had similar problem with my car recently. I can tell the oil is low when the litter tick at start takes too long to go away but I lent my car to somebody and i noticed the tick immediately.

I added a quart of oil and it didn’t even get to the “minimum” mark so clearly I wasn’t getting my low oil warning like my wife’s car does (where the oil light will come on for a few seconds when you turn off the engine).

I’m betting the oil level sensor is kaput.

I think it may also be the oil temp sensor which I can read with my scanner.

I’ve never tried to find the oil level reading with my scanner but will soon.

[amancuso]

Thanks for your response. N62 as well? Please let me know your findings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[andrewwynn]

I have the 3.0 but I’ve worked on M62 which I think uses identical oil level/temp sensor on the bottom of the oil pan. I don’t know where the 3.0 sensor is.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I have the 3.0 but I’ve worked on M62 which I think uses identical oil level/temp sensor on the bottom of the oil pan. I don’t know where the 3.0 sensor is.

OK thanks for the info!

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I have the 3.0 but I’ve worked on M62 which I think uses identical oil level/temp sensor on the bottom of the oil pan. I don’t know where the 3.0 sensor is.

Kinda needs to be in the bottom of the pan too.

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by wpoll

Kinda needs to be in the bottom of the pan too.

LOL! Cracking up now, just thinking about how BMW could have taken something as simple as this and figured out how to do it with lasers and magnets from above. (as I'm struggling through a locked out situation due to similar overcomplication and lesser quality)

[Overboost]

Thanks for this thread. After reading it I realized that I haven't seen my Check Oil Level message on my high cluster since my last oil change. I would always get it a just under a quart low and around 3000 miles. So I went out and checked the dipstick and zip, nada, nothing on it. It took 2 quarts of oil.

Needless to say, I think my sensor went bad and ordered a new one. I'll be replacing the sensor on my next oil service.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by Overboost

Thanks for this thread. After reading it I realized that I haven't seen my Check Oil Level message on my high cluster since my last oil change. I would always get it a just under a quart low and around 3000 miles. So I went out and checked the dipstick and zip, nada, nothing on it. It took 2 quarts of oil.

Needless to say, I think my sensor went bad and ordered a new one. I'll be replacing the sensor on my next oil service.

Yikes - that's very low on oil...

My 3.0d doesn't seem to use any oil - never has. I have seen the low oil text warning on the high cluster only once but it was a false alarm - oil level was at the max mark.

Of course, the M57 runs on oil...!

Actually, that's not so funny - I've seen videos (like this one) showing what happens to a 3.0d when the turbo oil seals fail catastrophically...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-pxsViKF88

Turbo run-away - the engine is consuming it's own lubrication oil and will eventually destroy itself (if you don't save it by blocking off the air intake ASAP!).

[andrewwynn]

If it has one. I don't have the stiffening plate on wife's X5 and I didn't recall seeing the oil sensor when I was down there so not exactly sure where it is.

Very familiar with where in the M62 motor because it's placement interferes with a few things like making not all the pan bolts being the same length! Not cool BMW.