New six cylinder engines have no dipstick

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> In article
> hington.edu>,

> Jon Blake > wrote:
>>> I'm happy to see the dipstick go. When last did you dip your fuel
>>> tank to know the level? ;-)
>>>
>> <<< SNIP >>>
>
>> I think this is a flawed analogy. If you run out of gas because of a
>> faulty gauge/warning light, your engine will stop, perhaps
>> inconveniently, and you will undoubtedly stress your fuel pump. If
>> your oil sensor fails, your engine can fail, a much worse situation.
>> Call me old fashion, but I just can't see not having a way to
>> physically check oil levels.

> The low oil level light does that for you.

Sure, if it's still working.

Matt O.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> In article
> hington.edu>,
> Jon Blake > wrote:

>> If you run out of gas because of a faulty gauge/warning light, your
>> engine will stop, perhaps inconveniently, and you will undoubtedly
>> stress your fuel pump. If your oil sensor fails, your engine can
>> fail, a much worse situation. Call me old fashion, but I just can't
>> see not having a way to physically check oil levels.
>
> How do you check the oil levels in your gearbox and final drive?
> Failures of either of these would be an equally catastrophic event.
> And I'm old enough to remember these too having dipsticks.

I'm old enough to remember when they leaked.

Matt O.

they dont get replaced. not the same as engine oil. duhhh

"Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
...
> In article hington.edu>,
> Jon Blake > wrote:
> > If you run out of gas because of a faulty gauge/warning light, your
> > engine will stop, perhaps inconveniently, and you will undoubtedly
> > stress your fuel pump. If your oil sensor fails, your engine can fail,
> > a much worse situation. Call me old fashion, but I just can't see not
> > having a way to physically check oil levels.
>
> How do you check the oil levels in your gearbox and final drive? Failures
> of either of these would be an equally catastrophic event. And I'm old
> enough to remember these too having dipsticks.
>
> --
> *Middle age is when work is a lot less fun - and fun a lot more work.
>
> Dave Plowman London SW
> To e-mail, change noise into sound.

BMW doesnt want you to have the cars that long
so when engine goes on no oil
u gotta buy another one

"Matt O'Toole" > wrote in message
...
> John Burns wrote:
>
> >> I'm guessing its like the CSL with a "digital dipstick" on the OBC
> >> which shows the level to .1l (I think).
> >
> > That I can live with. Until it breaks (seen loads of 15+ year old BMWs
> > with faulty oil level idiot lights). Dipsticks tend not to break, and
> > I imagine they're cheaper.
>
> Many of the 15 year old BMWs I've seen have nothing electrical still
working,
> but at least the dipstick still does. Heck, you can drive most of them
> *another* 200k in that condition, and then some.
>
> Matt O.
>
>

>>What fun. I think idiot light is a great idea. But personally if I'm
>>about to undertake a long journey I like to know if the oil's at the top
>>mark on the dipstick or near the bottom and soon to need a top up.
>
>
> Both my E39 528 at 80,000 miles and my 150,000 mile ancient Rover SD1 with
> the Buick V-8 will run to oil change time without needing topping up.
> However, as with all my cars, I drive them gently until fully warm.
>
> But both have low oil level warning systems anyway.
>
> I'm happy to see the dipstick go. When last did you dip your fuel tank to
> know the level? ;-)
>

I *would* dip my fuel tank before a 200 mile journey if the only
indicator on board was a low fuel level warning light. It helps to know
how much fuel I have left, as opposed to only knowing if I've almost run
out of it. But maybe that's just me.

As it happens, the fuel gauge (if it works properly) provides just a tad
more info than a "low level warning". In that vein, an oil *gauge* would
be a fair replacement for the dipstick.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
> In article >,
> daytripper > wrote:
>
>>>I'm happy to see the dipstick go. When last did you dip your fuel tank
>>>to know the level? ;-)
>
>
>>Cute but lame.
>
>
>>So, does this device show the inevitable post-service over-filled
>>condition?
>
>
> A main dealer puts a measured amount of oil in from his bulk supply. If
> you're changing the oil yourself, you too should do just this.

Well, yes and no.

Yes, this is what they do. That's how you get an over-fill condition.
Overfills are not a good thing as it can cause excessive crankcase
pressure and blow out seals.

No, this is not what you should do. You should fill it up to the
pre-measured amount minus a pint or so. Then, start and stop the engine
and check the level (after appropriate settling time of course).
Finally adjust the level on the dipstick by topping it up.


>
> Of course if you rely on an instant service place then that's up to you.
>
> But tell me, how do you rectify this 'inevitable post-service overfill'?
>

Ummm... just a guess, but I would drain some off?

-Fred W

news wrote:
<top posting corrected>
> "Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>In article hington.edu>,
>> Jon Blake > wrote:
>>
>>>If you run out of gas because of a faulty gauge/warning light, your
>>>engine will stop, perhaps inconveniently, and you will undoubtedly
>>>stress your fuel pump. If your oil sensor fails, your engine can fail,
>>>a much worse situation. Call me old fashion, but I just can't see not
>>>having a way to physically check oil levels.
>>
>>How do you check the oil levels in your gearbox and final drive? Failures
>>of either of these would be an equally catastrophic event. And I'm old
>>enough to remember these too having dipsticks.
>>
>>--
>>*Middle age is when work is a lot less fun - and fun a lot more work.
>>
>> Dave Plowman London SW
>> To e-mail, change noise into sound.
> they dont get replaced. not the same as engine oil. duhhh
>

Uh, yes they do. Every Inspection 2. Duh.

-Fred W

In article >,
Matt O'Toole > wrote:
> > How do you check the oil levels in your gearbox and final drive?
> > Failures of either of these would be an equally catastrophic event.
> > And I'm old enough to remember these too having dipsticks.

> I'm old enough to remember when they leaked.

And I'm old enough to remember when the majority of engines burnt oil at
modest mileage and needed a re-bore perhaps twice before the body
disintegrated. These days, most decent engines outlive the bodywork - or
other things which send a car to the scrapyard.

--
*Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article >,
Malt_Hound > wrote:
> > A main dealer puts a measured amount of oil in from his bulk supply. If
> > you're changing the oil yourself, you too should do just this.

> Well, yes and no.

> Yes, this is what they do. That's how you get an over-fill condition.
> Overfills are not a good thing as it can cause excessive crankcase
> pressure and blow out seals.

> No, this is not what you should do. You should fill it up to the
> pre-measured amount minus a pint or so. Then, start and stop the engine
> and check the level (after appropriate settling time of course).
> Finally adjust the level on the dipstick by topping it up.

On every car I've ever owned, if it says, say, 5 litres for a change
including filter, after draining the old oil and changing the filter if
you add 5 litres it will read full on the dipstick after it's been run to
fill the filter.

> > Of course if you rely on an instant service place then that's up to
> > you.
> >
> > But tell me, how do you rectify this 'inevitable post-service
> > overfill'?
> >

> Ummm... just a guess, but I would drain some off?

You get the oil changed by someone then go to all the bother of draining
some off yourself? Is this some form of US ritual? I either change the oil
myself or get it done properly. ;-)

> -Fred W

--
*Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Why don't people find out what the actual situation is before complaining
about it.

The E90 displays on the on-board computer what the current oil level is.
it shows in 1/4 litre intervals and when to add a full litre.
This is more acurate than the dipstick ( engine hot or cold ) can be checked
at any time from the comfort of the drivers seat, you don't have to be
concerned if the oil has settled for a proper reading or putting in too
much.

The opening for the dipstick is a major opening for possible environmental
concerns and
has been eliminated to meet the future engine pollution requirements.





"Peter Bozz" > wrote in message
...
>
>>>What fun. I think idiot light is a great idea. But personally if I'm
>>>about to undertake a long journey I like to know if the oil's at the top
>>>mark on the dipstick or near the bottom and soon to need a top up.
>>
>>
>> Both my E39 528 at 80,000 miles and my 150,000 mile ancient Rover SD1
>> with
>> the Buick V-8 will run to oil change time without needing topping up.
>> However, as with all my cars, I drive them gently until fully warm.
>>
>> But both have low oil level warning systems anyway.
>>
>> I'm happy to see the dipstick go. When last did you dip your fuel tank to
>> know the level? ;-)
>>
>
> I *would* dip my fuel tank before a 200 mile journey if the only indicator
> on board was a low fuel level warning light. It helps to know how much
> fuel I have left, as opposed to only knowing if I've almost run out of it.
> But maybe that's just me.
>
> As it happens, the fuel gauge (if it works properly) provides just a tad
> more info than a "low level warning". In that vein, an oil *gauge* would
> be a fair replacement for the dipstick.