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Thread: oil change/capacity issue

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    oil change/capacity issue

    new here, appreciate any help

    did an oil change on my 2009 328xi, sulev n52 83k miles
    i read 6.5 qt capacity, so i put in exactly 6.5 qts, after warming up it read at the max line and OK as normal
    after 200 miles it read 3/4 of the line and OK

    so.. i added .3 qts and the reading didnt change. 20 miles later i added the remaining .2 qts in the bottle, again no change 3/4 mark and ok, 20 miles later

    bought another qt added .2 and once again no change

    so then i believe i have 7.2 qts reading 3/4.
    now after 10 miles of driving, it changes to the usual max mark and OK

    i see no leakage. do i trust the sensor now that it reads ok, or do i have too much oil in (knowing it has 7.2 qts) and need to drain some off

    thank you in advance

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Does the engine typically burn and/or leak oil? If not, then I suspect that the sensor is going bad. Deleting the dipstick is another wussification of the brand.

  3. #3
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    You’re overthinking it. A .2 over or under is negligible and difficult for an electronic sensor to detect. You have nothing to worry about at all.


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    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  4. #4
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    +1

    Unless you are on a track hitting sharp curves all day long, it doesn't need to be at the Full line all the time. Just leave it alone and wait for the car to tell you to add a quart.
    Darin
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  5. #5
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    I fully agree that a half a quart isn't important, under or over.

    However; the capacity is in liters, not quarts. Either an N51 (sulev) engine, or an N52K without the additional oil cooler uses 6.5 liters.
    6.5 liters is 6.87 quarts.

    https://www.turnermotorsport.com/t-E...N51_or_LEV_N52

    And don't be too sure about BMW oil level sensors being accurate......

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  6. #6
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    These systems take awhile to register after adding oil give it a few days

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