Will 1qt more engine oil damage the engine?

chicago88 · 03-26-2006, 10:39 AM

I have e90 325xi

I have that famous engine oil sensor problem. of course I found it out after added 1qt of Mobil1 to it.

My dealership is about 15miles away..
The question is to you guys is

Should I tow it there ? or Is it okay to drive it there with extra 1qt of oil?

Please let me know what you guys think....

thanks in advance

no1sportz · 03-26-2006, 10:46 AM

Can you drain the quart out? I would not recommend starting the engine at all if in is over full. Operating an engine with excess oil is far worse than running it low. If you have no way of draining the oil then I would have it towed.

Ryan@Motorwerks · 03-26-2006, 11:08 AM

If you are a DIY type of person, then just drain all the oil(it would be somewhat difficult to only partially drain it, but I've never tried that before.) by taking the screw out of the oilpan, and then just put in the proper amount of new oil, or just get it towed to a dealership. Driving with too much oil is a very bad thing for a car.

ben1364 · 03-26-2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicago88

I have e90 325xi

I have that famous engine oil sensor problem. of course I found it out after added 1qt of Mobil1 to it.

My dealership is about 15miles away..
The question is to you guys is

Should I tow it there ? or Is it okay to drive it there with extra 1qt of oil?

Please let me know what you guys think....

thanks in advance

My advice is to call the dealer and talk with the Shop Foreman or Service Mgr. if possible, rather than a service writer. Don't know about the current engine family but lots of folks add an extra quart of oil to E 36 M3s for driving schools, etc. Of course it is easier to remove excess oil from engines with a dip stick. I can't fathom why BMW went with the electronic gizmo. They should know better!

fletcher969 · 03-26-2006, 11:35 AM

I have, in my 30 years of driving, for whatever reason(s) (usually a malfunctioning oil sensor and a not-so-easily read dipstick) put an extra quart of oil in engines before, and I've been privy to a dozen or so other people who've done the same without incident. I can't speak about the E90's engine specifically, but my guess is it would be perfectly fine for a 15 mile drive. Before I opted for the expense of a tow, I'd call the dealership, and speak to somebody who can tell you for sure.

e36 · 03-26-2006, 11:43 AM

too much oil is definitely bad.

bsjd00 · 03-26-2006, 11:58 AM

My recommendation - have it towed to be on the safe side, but have the DEALER (well, BMW) pay for the tow. You added oil because the car told you to do so. Therefore, BMW is responsible for the cost of the tow, not you.

You recently bought a $40,000 car that malfunctioned. The dealership should be rolling out the red carpet for you.

If your Service Department or BMW Roadside Assistance refuses to pay for the tow, call your salesperson and tell them that you expect better from a new BMW - and that if this isn't resolved to your satisfaction, you won't buy from him again.

Lost Rider · 03-26-2006, 12:01 PM

I would call the dealer first.
Good luck.

chicago88 · 03-26-2006, 12:35 PM

I've called BMW road side last night and told them I've added 3qt instead of telling the truth(1qt) ..

they said they will pay for the tow but It was saturday
so car will sit there for one day on there open parking lot. I told them I would call them back on monday.
I guess I'll call the dealership first tomorrow, looks like I'm getting a free oil change that I was going to do it myself....

car has 1200 miles

thanks guys for your input.

Ghunger · 03-26-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicago88

I have e90 325xi

I have that famous engine oil sensor problem. of course I found it out after added 1qt of Mobil1 to it.

My dealership is about 15miles away..
The question is to you guys is

Should I tow it there ? or Is it okay to drive it there with extra 1qt of oil?

Please let me know what you guys think....

thanks in advance

Just wondering, but how do you know you have the oil sensor problem. I'm partially wondering cause I want to know what to look for and partially because I've heard Bimmers burn through oil a little bit and you could actually just need oil.

chicago88 · 03-26-2006, 01:12 PM

simply I have no oil leak what so ever. car has only 1200miles
and after I added 1qt of oil just like the car ask me to do It still says add 1qt of oil... the gage shows the oil level at minimum.

and after I searched a little bit I found out that oil sensor problem for e90 is pretty common.

ClydeC. · 03-26-2006, 02:13 PM

Did you re-calibrate your oil level sensor?

"When you are prompted by the sensor to add 1 quart of oil, shut off the engine. Power on the ignition (note - DO NOT START THE ENGINE). Scroll through the display until you have the Oil check menu. Perform a control check on the oil level, shut off the ignition. Now add the appropriate amount of oil. After adding oil, drive the car - BMW states that this could take between 6 and 23 miles. The level sensor should recalibrate during this period."

a burrito · 03-26-2006, 09:01 PM

No it will not. It will however hurt your gas mileage.

03-26-2006, 10:39 AM	#1
chicago88 New Member 0 Rep 23 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325 Xi Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago IL iTrader: (0)	Will 1qt more engine oil damage the engine? I have e90 325xi I have that famous engine oil sensor problem. of course I found it out after added 1qt of Mobil1 to it. My dealership is about 15miles away.. The question is to you guys is Should I tow it there ? or Is it okay to drive it there with extra 1qt of oil? Please let me know what you guys think.... thanks in advance
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03-26-2006, 10:46 AM	#2
no1sportz Private First Class 3 Rep 120 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: VA iTrader: (0)	Can you drain the quart out? I would not recommend starting the engine at all if in is over full. Operating an engine with excess oil is far worse than running it low. If you have no way of draining the oil then I would have it towed. __________________ 08 335i Black Sapphire...current 07 335i TiAg...gone 06 330i TiAg...gone 05 ///M3 Imola/Black...gone 04 ///M3 Carbon Black...gone
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03-26-2006, 11:08 AM	#3
Ryan@Motorwerks Captain 48 Rep 963 Posts Drives: X3M Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	If you are a DIY type of person, then just drain all the oil(it would be somewhat difficult to only partially drain it, but I've never tried that before.) by taking the screw out of the oilpan, and then just put in the proper amount of new oil, or just get it towed to a dealership. Driving with too much oil is a very bad thing for a car.
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03-26-2006, 11:35 AM	#5
fletcher969 Dad: "Can't never did nothing" 8 Rep 319 Posts Drives: '96 Camaro Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	I have, in my 30 years of driving, for whatever reason(s) (usually a malfunctioning oil sensor and a not-so-easily read dipstick) put an extra quart of oil in engines before, and I've been privy to a dozen or so other people who've done the same without incident. I can't speak about the E90's engine specifically, but my guess is it would be perfectly fine for a 15 mile drive. Before I opted for the expense of a tow, I'd call the dealership, and speak to somebody who can tell you for sure. __________________ 2006 330i: SG/Blk-Blk-Burl/6MT/ZSP/Heated seats/Sat prep 01-26-2006: Ordered Vehicle 02-01-2006: Production Start 02-06-2006: Production End 02-09-2006: Arrived at POExit 02-13-2006: Transit - Don Juan 03-01-2006: Unloaded in Charleston 03-02-2006: VPC 03-06-2006: Arrived at dealership 03-08-2006: Took delivery
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03-26-2006, 11:43 AM	#6
e36 Lieutenant 101 Rep 432 Posts Drives: BMWs Join Date: May 2005 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	too much oil is definitely bad.
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03-26-2006, 11:58 AM	#7
bsjd00 Lieutenant 38 Rep 407 Posts Drives: e90 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: U.S. iTrader: (0)	My recommendation - have it towed to be on the safe side, but have the DEALER (well, BMW) pay for the tow. You added oil because the car told you to do so. Therefore, BMW is responsible for the cost of the tow, not you. You recently bought a $40,000 car that malfunctioned. The dealership should be rolling out the red carpet for you. If your Service Department or BMW Roadside Assistance refuses to pay for the tow, call your salesperson and tell them that you expect better from a new BMW - and that if this isn't resolved to your satisfaction, you won't buy from him again.
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03-26-2006, 12:01 PM	#8
Lost Rider Captain 87 Rep 805 Posts Drives: R NineT, X1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ventura County, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW R NineT [0.00] 2015 X1 xdrive [9.00]	I would call the dealer first. Good luck. __________________ GET LOST! www.lostrider.com
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03-26-2006, 12:35 PM	#9
chicago88 New Member 0 Rep 23 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325 Xi Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago IL iTrader: (0)	I've called BMW road side last night and told them I've added 3qt instead of telling the truth(1qt) .. they said they will pay for the tow but It was saturday so car will sit there for one day on there open parking lot. I told them I would call them back on monday. I guess I'll call the dealership first tomorrow, looks like I'm getting a free oil change that I was going to do it myself.... car has 1200 miles thanks guys for your input.
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03-26-2006, 01:12 PM	#11
chicago88 New Member 0 Rep 23 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325 Xi Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago IL iTrader: (0)	simply I have no oil leak what so ever. car has only 1200miles and after I added 1qt of oil just like the car ask me to do It still says add 1qt of oil... the gage shows the oil level at minimum. and after I searched a little bit I found out that oil sensor problem for e90 is pretty common.
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03-26-2006, 02:13 PM	#12
ClydeC. New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: '06 330i Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Did you re-calibrate your oil level sensor? "When you are prompted by the sensor to add 1 quart of oil, shut off the engine. Power on the ignition (note - DO NOT START THE ENGINE). Scroll through the display until you have the Oil check menu. Perform a control check on the oil level, shut off the ignition. Now add the appropriate amount of oil. After adding oil, drive the car - BMW states that this could take between 6 and 23 miles. The level sensor should recalibrate during this period."
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03-26-2006, 09:01 PM	#13
a burrito Lieutenant Colonel 56 Rep 1,962 Posts Drives: Urus, 958.2 TTS, 997 S Join Date: May 2005 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (1)	No it will not. It will however hurt your gas mileage. __________________ Peanut Butter Chunky
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