Member Since: 05 Mar 2020
Location: Bangor
Posts: 6
Electronic Oil Dipstick -faulty?
Good morning,
Recently checking the Electronic Oilstick, the level is reading Minimum, "Unavailable".
I have since added 2Ltr of correct Oil , and there is no change to the reading, but no Warning light has come on to indicate a Low level problem. Everything else 'Electronic' is working.
Is there another way of checking oil level, as there is no physical Oilstick?
9th Mar 2020 12:17 pm
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
2 litres is a bit of an overfill by a litre, you haven’t run it have you?
As The Dundonian says it may be very undesirable to start the engine if it is substantially overfilled.
I will leave it to others to suggest a solution - possibly drain & refill with the correct quantity of oil.
I remember that you posted a concern about blue smoke when accelerating - I wonder if this was due to past overfilling?
Good luck.
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9th Mar 2020 1:16 pm
Dave T
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I had never heard of dip stick problems on here, but my RRS with the 3l engine had its dipstick replaced before I got it and have since hgeard of several failures on RRSport.co.uk. Its a £70 part with a 14 hour book time to replace!!!!! (or so I was told by the dealer)Joined the BMWX5 45e group
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9th Mar 2020 1:20 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
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Posts: 3069
‘Unavailable’ means the electronic reading can not be read right now (I.e. not in the right conditions temperature, etc. )
I’d be very concerned about running the engine if you’ve added that much oil on top of what should be there already
Edit: More reading for you - https://www.disco4.com/forum/oil-level-alw...61151.htmlD4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
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9th Mar 2020 1:24 pm
robpenrose
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2136
Re: Electronic Oil Dipstick -faulty?
captpeet wrote:
Good morning,
Recently checking the Electronic Oilstick, the level is reading Minimum, "Unavailable".
I have since added 2Ltr of correct Oil , and there is no change to the reading, but no Warning light has come on to indicate a Low level problem. Everything else 'Electronic' is working.
Is there another way of checking oil level, as there is no physical Oilstick?
Where has the minimum come from? Is that your take on "Unavalibale"?
If its saying unavailable, that doesn't mean it's below minimum. It means it can't be checked due to not meeting the test criteria. Probably because it hasn't been left long enough since being run.
The easiest way to check it is when its dead cold, after leaving overnight etc. It won't get you a 100% accurate reading, but good enough to know the level.
Leave it until its dead cold, then check it and see what's going on. If you have added 2l, it will probably read Overfilled.
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9th Mar 2020 1:32 pm
captpeet
Member Since: 05 Mar 2020
Location: Bangor
Posts: 6
Thank you for your advice.
The level shown on the screen stops with a line saying MIN, and next to this it says "Unavailable".
there is a MAX line higher up ofcourse to.
I read the handbook regarding allowing time for oil to be at right temperature, but will try the cold
method you suggest.
The earlier report of blue smoke came from myself, but I had not previously added any oil, the oil was changed at last service Oct2019 and not touched since then.
Yes, as per the handbook, Not running engine.
Last edited by captpeet on 9th Mar 2020 1:55 pm. Edited 2 times in total
9th Mar 2020 1:47 pm
robpenrose
Member Since: 12 Jan 2016
Location: Surrey / SW London
Posts: 2136
No problem. To be honest, as long as it been left long enough, you should get a reading. If say it's been an hour since its been run, it should be fine.
I am assuming (Just to be sure), you are checking the oil without the engine running?
So press the start button (Foot not on brake), navigate to the service menu, then check the oil?
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9th Mar 2020 1:51 pm
PeterTh
Member Since: 06 Sep 2013
Location: Alunda
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You can also check the oil without waiting for the prescribed time to elapse. Open the bonnet and go to the service menu. Go to check oil and press cruise control cancel twice. Now you will get a reading.
As long as it says "Unavailable" you are not getting a reading. I would assume you have overfilled the engine which is not good at all.
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9th Mar 2020 7:43 pm
captpeet
Member Since: 05 Mar 2020
Location: Bangor
Posts: 6
My Electronic Dipstick problem.
Following the advice I received, (For which I am very grateful). I checked the oil level again, but this time with "cold" engine on a wet/cold afternoon. The reading now said "Overfull" above the MAX line.
So I called Breakdown services, arranged for local garage to drop out the oil and replace this with the correct oil amount/level.
Am now up and running!
Speaking to Land Rover Services here in NI, the opinion was that the Electronic Oilstick has a poor
record especially when there is no easy alternative.
Thanks for the Help.
9th Mar 2020 9:50 pm
DrRobH
Member Since: 10 Oct 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 924
Check it regularly, cold or 20mins after shut down of hot engine. Level ground.
When hot it should be on max or just below.
When cold it should be just above the mid line.
Take more than one reading every time. Also let the reading stabilise every time
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9th Mar 2020 10:05 pm
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1528
My oil, hot or cold is always at max when I check it (but not overfilled)Gary
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9th Mar 2020 10:54 pm
James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3069
A good outcome overall and glad you asked the question and took action before any harm done!
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9th Mar 2020 11:25 pm
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