Car won't read my engine oil level!

BimmerF32_430i · 06-08-2015, 04:19 PM

I'm at operating temperature (nearly 240 or so) on a level surface, and car is in park with handbrake on. No matter how many times I try my car refuses! It'll stop around 16%, and then get my hopes up and get all the way to 76% and stop again. Last time it literally took me half an hour just to get the reading. I turned the car off and back on and tried it and it worked last time. Tried it again today and it didn't work. It's just frustrating and It makes me wish we still had a dipstick reading method sometimes.

Is there something I'm doing wrong??

F32Fleet · 06-08-2015, 05:48 PM

Dealer.

carzaddict · 06-08-2015, 07:18 PM

i dont think it'll be possible to diagnose...just go to the dealer

963mw · 06-09-2015, 02:27 PM

That happened to me once, it was because my engine was too hot (Also at operating temperature ~120C) . Left the engine bay open for 5 minutes with the weather slightly windy. After that started car (Temperature slightly dropped), and was able to read oil level.

lokito · 10-12-2015, 08:02 AM

So I have been running the same issue lately. But have got no luck on getting the process running past 17%. I tried around 5-6 times. It kept saying to put the car at a leveled ground and pointing North, which I did. When I took it to the dealer, they stated it was normal, which I don't believe it is. Did you take your car to the dealer? Did they diagnose the problem and got it fixed?

BimmerF32_430i · 10-12-2015, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lokito

So I have been running the same issue lately. But have got no luck on getting the process running past 17%. I tried around 5-6 times. It kept saying to put the car at a leveled ground and pointing North, which I did. When I took it to the dealer, they stated it was normal, which I don't believe it is. Did you take your car to the dealer? Did they diagnose the problem and got it fixed?

No it just resolved on its own. There was one point where I tried for an hour or so to get a reading and failed. Turned the car off and back on and tried again and it worked. If it keeps acting weird try that

963mw · 10-12-2015, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaudhrysn

No it just resolved on its own. There was one point where I tried for an hour or so to get a reading and failed. Turned the car off and back on and tried again and it worked. If it keeps acting weird try that

It happens to me on Summer days. It's the excessive temperature from the weather conditions. My solution was to park in the shade, open engine cover and let it cool down for 5 minutes then run it again. Lemme know if that works, this could be the reason given you're in Texas.

lokito · 10-12-2015, 06:20 PM

I'll give it a try in the morning after the car warms up. Hopefully that's the issue.

robbnc · 11-04-2015, 04:47 PM

This happened to me once. After disconnecting the battery and re connecting it the problem never came back.

DiceK · 11-18-2015, 10:06 AM

My car is at the dealer for this issue right now.

Rabbits chewed through 3" of the wiring harness. They also got my ambient temperature sensor.

Polo08816 · 11-18-2015, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiceK

My car is at the dealer for this issue right now.

Rabbits chewed through 3" of the wiring harness. They also got my ambient temperature sensor.

Did you coat your engine bay with carrot juice?

DiceK · 11-18-2015, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiceK

My car is at the dealer for this issue right now.

Rabbits chewed through 3" of the wiring harness. They also got my ambient temperature sensor.

Did you coat your engine bay with carrot juice?

Haha, nope, but I have to say this is the first car where I've had this problem.... Not a cheap one either, looks like the oil level sensor shorted out and died.

JamesBMW123 · 11-16-2024, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerF32_430i

I'm at operating temperature (nearly 240 or so) on a level surface, and car is in park with handbrake on. No matter how many times I try my car refuses! It'll stop around 16%, and then get my hopes up and get all the way to 76% and stop again. Last time it literally took me half an hour just to get the reading. I turned the car off and back on and tried it and it worked last time. Tried it again today and it didn't work. It's just frustrating and It makes me wish we still had a dipstick reading method sometimes.

Is there something I'm doing wrong??

This is happening to me and I was quoted an oil pump replacement as the fix. Did you ever find a solution?

tluckey001 · 08-08-2025, 04:55 PM

Lots of reading on how to fix the problem. Same as many others. Oil level measurement only gets to 17%. One post stated only started after an oil change. Same as me, so I took a look at the oil filter and made sure the cap was tight. It could have been a bit tighter. Making sure the cap was on tight fixed the problem. Lots easier than replacing temp & presure sensors or the thermostat.

06-08-2015, 04:19 PM	#1
BimmerF32_430i Major 311 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Texas iTrader: (6)	I'm at operating temperature (nearly 240 or so) on a level surface, and car is in park with handbrake on. No matter how many times I try my car refuses! It'll stop around 16%, and then get my hopes up and get all the way to 76% and stop again. Last time it literally took me half an hour just to get the reading. I turned the car off and back on and tried it and it worked last time. Tried it again today and it didn't work. It's just frustrating and It makes me wish we still had a dipstick reading method sometimes. Is there something I'm doing wrong??
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-08-2015, 05:48 PM	#2
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 4155 Rep 10,807 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Dealer. __________________ "Drive more, worry less. " 435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-08-2015, 07:18 PM	#3
carzaddict Lieutenant Colonel 165 Rep 1,574 Posts Drives: 2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	i dont think it'll be possible to diagnose...just go to the dealer __________________ 2015i Cadillac Escalade ESV
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-09-2015, 02:27 PM	#4
963mw BMW Fanatic 345 Rep 1,075 Posts Drives: M2 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Mexico iTrader: (0)	That happened to me once, it was because my engine was too hot (Also at operating temperature ~120C) . Left the engine bay open for 5 minutes with the weather slightly windy. After that started car (Temperature slightly dropped), and was able to read oil level. __________________ 18 BMW M2 \| ER DP \| ER CP \| Wagner Evo 2 Comp Intercooler \| Aquamist HFS4 \| BM3 \| CSF Oil Cooler \| AFE Drop-in Filter \| Bilstein B16 PSS10
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2015, 08:02 AM	#5
lokito Registered 1 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 335i ///M Sport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	So I have been running the same issue lately. But have got no luck on getting the process running past 17%. I tried around 5-6 times. It kept saying to put the car at a leveled ground and pointing North, which I did. When I took it to the dealer, they stated it was normal, which I don't believe it is. Did you take your car to the dealer? Did they diagnose the problem and got it fixed? __________________ 2013 335i ///M-Sport \|6MT\|Mineral Grey\|DHP\|PDC\|HK\|
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-12-2015, 06:20 PM	#8
lokito Registered 1 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 335i ///M Sport Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	I'll give it a try in the morning after the car warms up. Hopefully that's the issue. __________________ 2013 335i ///M-Sport \|6MT\|Mineral Grey\|DHP\|PDC\|HK\|
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2015, 04:47 PM	#9
robbnc Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325I sedan Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	This happened to me once. After disconnecting the battery and re connecting it the problem never came back.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-18-2015, 10:06 AM	#10
DiceK New Member 4 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 320i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	My car is at the dealer for this issue right now. Rabbits chewed through 3" of the wiring harness. They also got my ambient temperature sensor.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-08-2025, 04:55 PM	#14
tluckey001 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 328i Join Date: Aug 2025 Location: Arkansas iTrader: (0)	Oil level not reading after oil change Lots of reading on how to fix the problem. Same as many others. Oil level measurement only gets to 17%. One post stated only started after an oil change. Same as me, so I took a look at the oil filter and made sure the cap was tight. It could have been a bit tighter. Making sure the cap was on tight fixed the problem. Lots easier than replacing temp & presure sensors or the thermostat.
	Appreciate 0 Quote