Electronic dipstick giving spurious readings ?

[glendog74]

I had a weird occurence of the electronic dipstick not registering any reading at all when i left Germany yesterday... It was a full 45 minutes before a reading appeared, having initially displayed '-.-'!

Having just had an Insp II, i was reasonably confident that oil was in fact still in there!

[XPorker]

Originally Posted by Bravo73

Xporker,

Have you had the oil level checked?

No, but have just embarked on a tour of Wales. No rattling noises (apart from a rear damper mount) and no pools of oil underneath.



No comments about nervous looking sheep either please ! (and if they DO look nervous it was the induction noise from the car that caused them to look so . . . )

[RichW]

Great Shot!

[dave1]

Originally Posted by glendog74

I had a weird occurence of the electronic dipstick not registering any reading at all when i left Germany yesterday... It was a full 45 minutes before a reading appeared, having initially displayed '-.-'!

Having just had an Insp II, i was reasonably confident that oil was in fact still in there!

mine was the same it takes a while to register, as long as it is a + plus reading it is fine 1.1 is the maximum .5 is halfway as with a normal dpistick the level should be between the min and max there is no need to have it on the maximum

you want to get some oil out as to much is not a good thing you have 2 to 3 litres to much in there

[Bravo73]

Originally Posted by XPorker

No, but have just embarked on a tour of Wales. No rattling noises (apart from a rear damper mount) and no pools of oil underneath.

I think that you might have a few big bills coming your way. The head gasket will probably be the first thing to go (due to the very, very high oil level and pressures).

[SpineOnABap]

Originally Posted by glendog74

I had a weird occurence of the electronic dipstick not registering any reading at all when i left Germany yesterday... It was a full 45 minutes before a reading appeared, having initially displayed '-.-'!

That's not "weird" Glen, it's totally normal behaviour.

All the -- means is that it's been unable to take a longterm reading and the reasons for that are 1) you've been spanking it for a while (eg, trackday) or 2) you only do short journeys.

I generally do about 8 miles a day (to work and back) - car never gets fully warm. As a result my reading is nearly always --

As you say a longer 'normal drive' journey is required to acheive a successful longterm reading

[glendog74]

Originally Posted by SpineOnABap

That's not "weird" Glen, it's totally normal behaviour.

All the -- means is that it's been unable to take a longterm reading and the reasons for that are 1) you've been spanking it for a while (eg, trackday) or 2) you only do short journeys.

Ahh, that'll be reason 1 then... Spanking is fun though!

[RichW]

[quote="glendog74"]

Originally Posted by SpineOnABap

Spanking is fun though!

We all know that - its good fun thrashing the car too

[XPorker]

Originally Posted by Bravo73

I think that you might have a few big bills coming your way. The head gasket will probably be the first thing to go (due to the very, very high oil level and pressures).

If indeed it is high, the level should have no impact on cylinder pressures whatsoever, it may however cause somewhat elevated crankcase pressure.

If that were the case I'd expect to see pools of oil all over the floor where the front and rear crankshaft seals had failed or the sump gaskets had given up the unequal task of trying to contain the pressure.

I will do a proper test when I get the opportunity (I did try and do one on the outward leg to Wales but I forgot both the instructions kindly given on here and the CSL supplement to the cars manual) I know I'm a

I make no bones about it, the car was used very hard whilst over in France, I'd be very surprised if it has more than one litre of oil over and above the specified amount in it's sump right now. hence my somewhat blase approach !

The car also has the official dealer issued BMW warranty too, from my perspective if there's oil in there when it goes bang it''ll be tricky to prove there was too much in there !

Perhaps I should add I was a muckanic in my dim (apt) and distant past. hence the old phrase about a coblers children being worst shod is proving true !

Promise I'll check it next time out !