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      08-08-2018, 01:40 PM   #1
smeard
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oil level drop?

When I first got the car in 1/2018 with 53k mi, the oil had been changed and the oil level read near MAX. After another 4k mi and 7 months of very spirited driving, the oil level now reads middle of the range but still says OK. Is this normal? Is it just a sensor issue or am I leaking a little? Have not gotten the "Add 1 qt." warning yet. I really dislike this electronic dipstick crap. I plan on changing my oil at 60k and then following the 5k mi oil change rule from there.

EDIT: I realize this is common for n54/n55, but my car is a 128 and has the n51. Hoped oil consumption wouldn't be an issue with this motor. Vehicle doesn't smoke at all, but I am having a longer warm start (almost like it is struggling to crank for about half a second, only when hot outside), but that has happened since I've had it.
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Last edited by smeard; 08-08-2018 at 09:48 PM..
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      08-08-2018, 02:38 PM   #2
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This is an age-old subject, most cars don't go through much oil but it will be considered "typical" by a manufacturer to use up to a quart per 1000 miles. Aggressive driving would make that a touch more likely as well. Unless you know of an issue (i.e. smoky idle or acceleration) I'd probably just keep an eye on it.
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      08-08-2018, 02:46 PM   #3
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I just had to put a quart in 5000 miles after my last oil change. 2nd or 3rd time I've had to do that.
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      08-08-2018, 04:51 PM   #4
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I have a 2013 that read oil level minimum after ~2000 miles, added a quart and it showed oil level max. Since its the first few months of ownership, I'll blame it on my spirited driving. The level is back in the middle now after another ~1000 miles.

Sounds like mine is dropping faster than yours... I don't see any oil under my car or smoke . I can live with a quart every few k.
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      08-08-2018, 05:02 PM   #5
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Mine has never read below MAX in between my 5K oil changes except the (3) three times my OFHG failed.
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      08-08-2018, 05:35 PM   #6
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Normal AF. Mostly thanks your PCV system. Nothing to worry about just keep the level in the green.
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      08-08-2018, 05:47 PM   #7
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I would check for a leak. OFHG is a known issue, as well as valve cover gasket and oil pan gasket. If they are all good, just live with the fact that yours burns a bit of oil and add when necessary.
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      08-08-2018, 09:12 PM   #8
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I had an oil sensor go bad. Kept telling me I was middle, then low. I'd add some and then a while later it was middle or low.

Check for leaks on the lower engine tray. Look for leaks around the OFHG.
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      08-08-2018, 09:41 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captain slowly View Post
I would check for a leak. OFHG is a known issue....
Agree on this being an N54 issue. Just had my OFH gaskets replaced a couple of days ago. They did well though - lasted 165,000 km.
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      08-08-2018, 09:45 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tracer bullet View Post
This is an age-old subject, most cars don't go through much oil but it will be considered "typical" by a manufacturer to use up to a quart per 1000 miles. Aggressive driving would make that a touch more likely as well. Unless you know of an issue (i.e. smoky idle or acceleration) I'd probably just keep an eye on it.
that's what i was thinking. my indy told me the same, and that I may have a tiny oil leak from the common spots on the n51/2, and that he'll check it out next oil change
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      08-08-2018, 09:46 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Real Dodger View Post
I just had to put a quart in 5000 miles after my last oil change. 2nd or 3rd time I've had to do that.
Yes, although you have the turbo motor. Mine is the 128i, and I hoped oil consumption wouldn't be as much of an issue.
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      08-08-2018, 09:50 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swunder View Post
I have a 2013 that read oil level minimum after ~2000 miles, added a quart and it showed oil level max. Since its the first few months of ownership, I'll blame it on my spirited driving. The level is back in the middle now after another ~1000 miles.

Sounds like mine is dropping faster than yours... I don't see any oil under my car or smoke . I can live with a quart every few k.
But that is expected with your turbo engine right? Mine is not a 35i
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      08-08-2018, 09:51 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jkoral View Post
Mine has never read below MAX in between my 5K oil changes except the (3) three times my OFHG failed.
I have heard OFGH being a common issue. Does it affect N51 too?
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      08-08-2018, 09:52 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes View Post
Normal AF. Mostly thanks your PCV system. Nothing to worry about just keep the level in the green.
I don't have iDrive so no "green range" just a bar with min and max on it in my gauge cluster.
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      08-08-2018, 09:54 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captain slowly View Post
I would check for a leak. OFHG is a known issue, as well as valve cover gasket and oil pan gasket. If they are all good, just live with the fact that yours burns a bit of oil and add when necessary.
Will definitely check. Is it DIY? I would love to just take care of it myself
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      08-08-2018, 09:54 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gangplank View Post
I had an oil sensor go bad. Kept telling me I was middle, then low. I'd add some and then a while later it was middle or low.

Check for leaks on the lower engine tray. Look for leaks around the OFHG.
Will definitely check sensor. Wouldn't it say INACTIVE when checking the oil if it was bad? I know when my RDC got soaked it said TPMS was INACTIVE
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      08-08-2018, 10:30 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JBT2 View Post
Agree on this being an N54 issue. Just had my OFH gaskets replaced a couple of days ago. They did well though - lasted 165,000 km.
heard it was an issue on n51/2 as well. mine is n51, getting it checked.
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      08-09-2018, 02:31 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smeard View Post
I don't have iDrive so no "green range" just a bar with min and max on it in my gauge cluster.
As long as it's in between those you're good.
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      08-09-2018, 05:01 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smeard View Post
Will definitely check. Is it DIY? I would love to just take care of it myself
All of the things I listed as possibilities can be DIY'd, but are time consuming and tedious (OFHG), so it depends on your comfort level and time available.
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      08-09-2018, 01:37 PM   #20
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The difference between the min and max marks is 1 quart. So if you drop from the max to the mid, you are down a pint.

As has been stated, a pint in 4K miles is not unusual and no cause for alarm. My wife doesn't keep track of when I add for her but she needs a quart or two between oil changes in her n52. I change mine more often and never have to add. A pint in 4K miles is just a quart in 8K which is not bad.
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      08-09-2018, 02:31 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smeard View Post
Will definitely check. Is it DIY? I would love to just take care of it myself
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI8LR2twJck
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      08-09-2018, 02:54 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by captain slowly View Post
I would check for a leak. OFHG is a known issue, as well as valve cover gasket and oil pan gasket. If they are all good, just live with the fact that yours burns a bit of oil and add when necessary.
I've owned my 135i since new and it has never been low on oil except one time. OFHG .... these cars don't burn oil.. it's amazing. I'm at 125K and no oil burning issues.
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