Topping up oil
 

When the display reads low oil, I add 1 quart and that brings the “green” bar gauge up to full. I have read that I could add 2 quarts, would that not overfill?
This is a 2012 X5 5.0

I'm not sure I understand what you're really asking. In one sense...yes, you "could" add 2 quarts...heck, you could try to pour in 3 quarts...but should you overfill...and if you do, what is the consequences of that action (cavitation)?


What is BMW's recommendation for the amount of oil required to "top up" when you get the low oil warning? If they recommend 1 quart/liter...what would be the benefit for adding twice as much as the recommendation? And who or where did you read that you should double the amount (that might be more telling than the why)?

I know my '08 3.0 is 1 quart low as soon as the green level drops 1/16". I suspect it will be 2 qts low if I wait until it says add a quart.

Hmm...fortunately with our 4.8 we have a dipstick so I've been able to compare. It tracks nearly perfect. And it is a quart from min to max.

My BMW dealer told me when the oil reaches minimum, add 2 full quarts. Due to a consumption design flaw BMW leverages an extra quarts worth of capacity in the engine for top offs.

There is some documentation to back this.

I've been adding 2 quarts myself only when it reaches the bottom line. I have a 2011 X5 5.0i

Nanniepoo...you DO know that you're rubbing your e53 X5 dipstick in the faces of e70 X5 owners, right? :D :stickpoke :D

I thought all E70's had them, my 35D has one right behind the oil filter.

One thing to keep in mind is when you check it, I find the level about 1/4 range low when the engine is hot - I like to check it after the oil has settled back in the sump (about an hour conservatively)

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Yeah ours is an E70. It's the E70 I6's that don't have them.

Learnt something new...I thought all e70s were dipstick-"less" :doh:

Some one OUGHT to figure out if one can retrofit a dipstick.... now THAT would be a popular and useful mod.