Help

[zeaq328i]

I’ve notice it today. When starting the car,all indicators go off except for the circle one in the picture. It stays on for 5 seconds. I notice this after buying petrol at the station. What can that be? Overflow of gas/oil?

I can’t get a clear picture but you guys should know it.

Thanks in advance

[bmwcrazy]

Check your oil. Make sure it is not empty or filled too much.

[zeaq328i]

Well that guy at the petrol station fill up the tank overflow. It supposed to be $22.30 (suppose to be $22 if full) but he makes it to $23.00 so he don’t have to give me the coins back. The oil/gas needle indicator points above the limit.

[Dudesky]

Filling gas has nothing to do with that oil light. Just check your oil, make sure you have enough in there.

[zeaq328i]

Oh. So how do I check those? Tell me where to check it and where to fill it in if it’s not enough. I’ll probably bring it to any workshop to fill it in.

FYI the BMW dealer is close on Monday and Tuesday for their stock check up. I’ll be using the car for college this Monday.

[zeaq328i]

http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/showthread.php?t=19240

I think this person has the same problem?

[Dudesky]

Just look for the orange dipstick (arrow in picture). Do this on a level surface and with the engine off. Pull it out, wipe it, then stick it back in. Then pull it out again. The oil should be between the 2 line marks on the stick. If it's near the lower line (closest to the tip of the stick) or below, ad a quart (or liter depending on what country you're in).

To add oil, open the square cap just above and behind the "B" in BMW, near the firewall.

[zeaq328i]

Thanks Dudesky_E36 ,
That’s very helpful of you. Since I know what’s going on, I felt very relieved. I do it tomorrow morning.
I’m not that type of person who knew the engine well. So can you explain to me why the “oil level decrease” just like that?

[xsperf]

zeaq, by oil they mean engine oil, the stuff that goes into your engine and you have to change every 3000 miles, not the stuff that you put in at the petrol station

[zeaq328i]

Yeah, Duesky_36 just explain it. I got confuse just now. We call it oil here instead of gas

[nick_318is]

Yea Zeaq that is most definitly the oil light. I think its probably that your motor oil is low and that you have to add some more, but I could be wrong. Do what dudesky said, and add oil if it needs it. Good Luck.

[zeaq328i]

I’ve just receive an E mail from my dad (Overseas). He says it could be the low level of oil. He recommends bringing it to any mechanic instead of me doing it. He said they‘ve have the experienced.

Thanks to everybody for your help.

[catalyst]

Dude.. just go out to the car, pop the hood, pull the stick, wipe it down, stick it back in, pull it out again, and see where the level of oil is between the two lines.

You should change your oil every 3-4k miles zeaq not when the stupid dealer service lights in the cabin go off. And you should check your oil every 3-4 days.

I understand you dont do your own work, and that you dont have 'experience' as you put it, but these are things that you should know even if you have no idea how an engine works, checking your oil every 3-4 days is just part of owning a car and treating it well.

Running low on oil is dangerous in and of itself, and i wouldnt drive the car too too far before adding more oil. And dont go revving he piss out of the engine on low oil either, the vanos uses the oil as hydrolic fluid basically and will suck up alot of the oil in the pan once the revs go over 4.2K.

[zeaq328i]

Thanks for the advice. I have to start to learn how to do basic stuff on my car. Like check the oil, changing tyres etc.

So I have one more question to ask. If I were to add some more oil, I saw the dealer resits uses Helix. So I have to use back the same oil brand?
Here’s a picture of the resit.

[Dudesky]

Not necessarily, if you're just adding a little more. But if you wanna be exact, it looks like they used Shell Ultra AB, 5W-30.