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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Mechanical Maintenance: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing / Warranty > LOW OIL Counter: Negative Numbers



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      07-29-2013, 07:36 PM   #1
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Exclamation LOW OIL Counter: Negative Numbers

Right now my Low Oil Indicator is lighting up red when i turn on the vehicle. When i check the Oil Level is shows a ticking clock with the bar appearing as empty. When i look at the miles left to change the oil, it shows -300.

I plan to get my oil changed next week, will i be okay driving like this for the next 7 days?

What will happen to the vehicle?

What's the worst case scenario?

is it that severe?

thank you for your time.
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      07-29-2013, 07:38 PM   #2
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I advise you not. Is it worth the risk?
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      07-29-2013, 07:48 PM   #3
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I advise you not. Is it worth the risk?
The risk of what exactly?
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      07-29-2013, 07:49 PM   #4
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Not having any oil and locking up the engine.
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      07-29-2013, 07:55 PM   #5
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The red oil symbol is concerning. Do you have a leak? Do not run your engine without sufficient oil. It could cause irreversible damage in a matter of a minute. If it were just a quart low, it would be the yellow oil can symbol.
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      07-29-2013, 07:58 PM   #6
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If it were me, the fact that the warning is red, not yellow, would keep me from driving it anywhere but to the shop for an oil change (if you can even call it a change since there's very little oil in the engine currently).

Is whatever you have going on during the next 7 days important enough to risk engine failure which could cost $10k+?
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      07-29-2013, 08:02 PM   #7
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You guys do realize that the oil level indicator only measures the last quart, right? Even if it reads "MIN", it only takes a quart to top it off. It is not like you would be driving around with no oil. Address the issue soon but don't freak out.
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      07-29-2013, 08:07 PM   #8
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If you can't get the oil changed right away and must drive the car at least add oil to it, you are probably looking at less than $20. If you continue to drive it and it gets to hot you could damage the piston rings or the pistons them self, then you looking at BIG $$$ to get the engine rebuilt, and be without a car for a few week. Good luck!
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      07-29-2013, 08:13 PM   #9
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Okay so first off the CBS oil change indicator is telling you that you are 300 miles past due for an oil change., How long are you waiting for the oil level to be read? It takes about 6 - 10 miles of driving for the engine to reach operating temperature and other requirements for the e-dipstick to read properly. If after 15 minutes of driving the e-dipstick will not measure the oil, then the sensor is going bad and needs to be replaced.

Second, the CBS should have been counting down in increments of 10 miles that the oil was due; did you notice the chime and yellow service icon each time you shut the engine off. Once it goes negative, you get a (red) warning only at engine start.

Third, if the engine was too low on oil, the low oil pressure warning would appear and stay on.

When was the last oil change? It should have been anywhere between 10,000 and 15,000 miles ago.

Any chance you read the owners manual that is in the trunk? It tells you all the answers to the questions you have asked.

Last edited by Efthreeoh; 07-29-2013 at 08:21 PM..
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      07-29-2013, 08:13 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CombatNinja View Post
You guys do realize that the oil level indicator only measures the last quart, right? Even if it reads "MIN", it only takes a quart to top it off. It is not like you would be driving around with no oil. Address the issue soon but don't freak out.
So my car is a 2009 328i lci sedan. Which oil would you recommend i purchase for my vehicle? And where am i able to make the purchase? Also, how much should i buy? Thanks. I just need it to last me until the next week.
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      07-29-2013, 08:15 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by v6turbo View Post
If you can't get the oil changed right away and must drive the car at least add oil to it, you are probably looking at less than $20. If you continue to drive it and it gets to hot you could damage the piston rings or the pistons them self, then you looking at BIG $$$ to get the engine rebuilt, and be without a car for a few week. Good luck!
Won't i get a warning before something like this happens? Don't are vehicles have Fail Safes? Won't the engine shut down before something like this happens?
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      07-29-2013, 08:24 PM   #12
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Low oil pressure warning. And you sorta already have the warning showing up now.
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      07-29-2013, 08:28 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by skatenc123 View Post
Low oil pressure warning. And you sorta already have the warning showing up now.
What's the lowest you can run it? Right now I'm at -300
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      07-29-2013, 08:31 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KeepitClassy
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Originally Posted by skatenc123 View Post
Low oil pressure warning. And you sorta already have the warning showing up now.
What's the lowest you can run it? Right now I'm at -300
Not sure. You could probably go a while asking as you kept topping off the oil to the correct level. I have a 335i and change mine every 5000 miles. Little anal about it.
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      07-29-2013, 08:34 PM   #15
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It's red because your past due for service in this case oil service 300 miles over, it's not really a big deal, you can check the oil level by reading your owners manual, if the level is ok it's not a big deal just get your oil changed already.

If you are actually low on oil and your low oil pressure light is on drive another car to the auto store and buy Mobil 1 0-40 European Formula and top it off.
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      07-29-2013, 08:34 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KeepitClassy
Quote:
Originally Posted by skatenc123 View Post
Low oil pressure warning. And you sorta already have the warning showing up now.
What's the lowest you can run it? Right now I'm at -300
Keep going and you'll find out. Be sure to let us know.
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      07-29-2013, 08:57 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KeepitClassy View Post
What's the lowest you can run it? Right now I'm at -300
Dude! You are mixing things up here. The red warning (with -300) you are getting is for being past the mileage interval for the currently needed oil change; not a low oil pressure warning. The two warnings are totally separate things. They can happen simultaneously if you've let the car go way past the +1QT notification that the car is 1 quart low on oil. Is a red oilcan symbol constantly lit in the gauge cluster when the engine is running? If that is the case, then you ARE low on oil and you should not drive the car. If you are just referring to the oil change past due (red) warning when you start the car (and then it goes away) you are just past due on the oil change. If the CBS (Condition Base Service) system is not reading the oil level after 10 - 15 minutes of driving then the oil level/condition sensor is faulty and needs to be replaced. Just take it to the dealer and let them have their way with you because you have no clue on how to interpret what the car is telling you. RFTM.

Last edited by Efthreeoh; 07-29-2013 at 09:03 PM..
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      07-29-2013, 09:05 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by index1489 View Post
It's red because your past due for service in this case oil service 300 miles over, it's not really a big deal, you can check the oil level by reading your owners manual, if the level is ok it's not a big deal just get your oil changed already.

If you are actually low on oil and your low oil pressure light is on drive another car to the auto store and buy Mobil 1 0-40 European Formula and top it off.
How many qts should i buy to top it off? And how long will that last me for? Will It be good enoug to delay the oil change for 30 days?
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      07-29-2013, 09:08 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
Dude! You are mixing things up here. The red warning (with -300) you are getting is for being past the mileage interval for the currently needed oil change; not a low oil pressure warning. The two warnings are totally separate things. They can happen simultaneously if you've let the car go way past the +1QT notification that the car is 1 quart low on oil. Is a red oilcan symbol constantly lit in the gauge cluster when the engine is running? If that is the case, then you ARE low on oil and you should not drive the car. If you are just referring to the oil change past due (red) warning when you start the car (and then it goes away) you are just past due on the oil change. If the CBS (Condition Base Service) system is not reading the oil level after 10 - 15 minutes of driving then the oil level/condition sensor is faulty and needs to be replaced. Just take it to the dealer and let them have their way with you because you have no clue on how to interpret what the car is telling you. RFTM.
Thanks man. Think that's best. When I go to Check Service, it shows the Oil Lamp with a bar that appears to be empty, with a clock ticking.
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      07-29-2013, 09:40 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by index1489 View Post
It's red because your past due for service in this case oil service 300 miles over, it's not really a big deal, you can check the oil level by reading your owners manual, if the level is ok it's not a big deal just get your oil changed already.

If you are actually low on oil and your low oil pressure light is on drive another car to the auto store and buy Mobil 1 0-40 European Formula and top it off.
Will this be okay? If so, how many should i buy to last me until the tune up next week? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-0W-40-1qt/17034373
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      07-29-2013, 09:47 PM   #21
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If the car didn't have a warning would you just drive it until it ran out?
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      07-29-2013, 10:03 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KeepitClassy View Post
How many qts should i buy to top it off? And how long will that last me for? Will It be good enoug to delay the oil change for 30 days?
30 days? You just said 7. Seriously, just get your oil changed. The CBS shows service due for oil well in advance, was not spending the 2 hours to get it changed at a dealer/indy really worth all this headache you're experiencing now?
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