HELP!!! oil light..?

[e30fr3@k]

so i replaced my spark plugs today with bosch platinum plus 4s. when i started my car, the oil light came on. i added 1.5 quarts of chevron supreme 20w50 and it's still on. any ideas?

 

[KC Ron Carter]

two types of oil idiot lights

the oil quantity says oil.

the oil pressure light has a picture of a oil service container.

If the issue is oil pressure, you need to tow the car to a garage to get a mechanical gauge installed to check the pressure.

Later,

 

[jrt67ss350]

Yep - if it's the red light in the dash cluster that has a picture of an oil service can, then it is pressure. If it is the check control oil light in front of the sunroof, then it is low oil.

If it's the oil pressure light, then either the oil pressure is low or the sensor went bad. Do not drive the car until you figure out if it is truly low oil pressure or a bad sensor. You'll need to check the oil pressure with a gauge to make sure, just like Ron said.

 

[e30fr3@k]

ok, so i added a total of 2.5 quarts of the oil and the light went out. who knows. the idle also went nuts but i just tightened the acelerator cable and it seems to work ok now. i also recently painted the intake manifold and valve cover...it looks sick..thanks for the help guys.

 

[e30fr3@k]

also, it was the red dot in the diagnostics cluster in front of the sunroof crank

 

[epj3]

2.5 quarts is way to much man... you're going to flood that thing with oil!!!!!! That light goes on when about 1 - 1.5 quarts are low... geeze.

Do you have a manual? Like the kind in the glovebox that comes with the car? If so, read it.

 

[e30fr3@k]

that's why i'm questioning this. i know the system is supposed to take only 4 total. you're saying the light comes on when there's 2.5 to 3 quarts in there? if that's true, then perhaps i should drain about a half a quart. i don't know when the light's supposed to come on.

 

[jrt67ss350]

Did you not check the oil with the dipstick when you added the 2.5 quarts?????

 

[epj3]

that's why i'm questioning this. i know the system is supposed to take only 4 total. you're saying the light comes on when there's 2.5 to 3 quarts in there? if that's true, then perhaps i should drain about a half a quart. i don't know when the light's supposed to come on.

Actually it's close to 5 quarts if you change the oil filter.

 

[epj3]

BTW if your car really did leak/burn 2.5 quarts, that means you were running on only 1.5 quarts... If i were you I would get under there and figure out what is wrong. It should not be burning that much under any circumstance. Sounds like a serious leak. Check your oil cooler.

 

[mjbst111]

My oil light comes on when it gets 1/4 quart above the add-a-quart line. It gives you some time before you need to add a quart.

NEVER rely on the oil light. Check with your dipstick, it will never lie. Also adding random amounts of oil without checking the dipstick is a BAD idea. The only time you need to add oil is if it is at or below the add-a-quart line on the dipstick. If you add too much oil it is bad, and your car will smoke if you add way too much oil.

 

[bichmgnt]

That oil light will come on when the car is down about a quart. If you then add a quart it does not necessarily go out right away. It sometimes takes a bit of time driving or sitting before the light goes out. But it will eventually go out. Never overfill.

Steve

 

[e30fr3@k]

so is it safe to drive another 400 miles or so? or do i need to go out and drain a little bit?

 

[epj3]

don't worry about it.

 

[jrt67ss350]

so is it safe to drive another 400 miles or so? or do i need to go out and drain a little bit?

Well, what's the level on the dipstick????

 

[e30fr3@k]

Well, what's the level on the dipstick????

it's about at the second line...so two units from the bottom. i think it's a little lower than that when you put the 4.25 quarts in (.25 is from the filter). i'm about 400 miles from an oil change anyways, so as long as it doesn't hurt it to drive with too much oil for that time, i'm not gonna drain. the bmw owners manual just says that if you put too much oil in, it may burn off and give the impression that the car burns more than it does. also, i have no oil leaks, i think it just burns a quart or so just before it's time for a new oil change. i got in the habbit of needing to add more oil towards the end of the oil's duration.

 

[equate]

Its 4.51 with a new filter, 4.25 without I think 318s are 4.0 with no filter and 4.25 with a filter. I just looked it up in the bently yesterday when I changed.

 

[Millreef]

OK...so I'm beginning to feel like a bit of a dipstick!

The oil light (ie. the oil can) sometimes comes on after I turn the car off. The manual suggests that this means I need to add oil...it also says not to add any unless it's below a certain mark on the dipstick. However....what do I find? The dipstick in my car looks nothing like the dipstick diagram in the manual...so I'm not entirely sure where the line is where I need to add oil. Also, do I add an entire litre...or do I have to keep sticking in the dipstick to figure out whether I've added enough?

 

[equate]

Yes, you want to add oil up to the top "bump" on the stick