Dipstick explanation - M54B25 2.5 engine
- Thread starter zriha
- Start date
I have the original owners manual that came with the car and the illustration in the manual does not look like the actual dipstick. The text in the manual is this “The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick.”
I take that to be full at the upper red line on your photo but I can see how it could be interpreted differently.
I always assumed that was the full mark. my old 1.9L Z3 had a similar dipstick and I filled to your upper red mark in that car. I would think that as long as your oil reads somewhere in that middle block, you are good to go.
I take that to be full at the upper red line on your photo but I can see how it could be interpreted differently.
I always assumed that was the full mark. my old 1.9L Z3 had a similar dipstick and I filled to your upper red mark in that car. I would think that as long as your oil reads somewhere in that middle block, you are good to go.
Thanks for the help mate, yeah, interpretation is really crazy here, I was looking in the manual, looking at the dipstick, and though, am I crazy?!.
I really don't know, maybe you are right, somewhere between those two marks it is ok. I can always rely on low oil indicator, but I don't want to.
I really don't know, maybe you are right, somewhere between those two marks it is ok. I can always rely on low oil indicator, but I don't want to.
The little rectangle in the centre denotes the full and low levels, difference between the two equates to a litre of oil. So if your dipstick shows the level at the lower edge of the rectangle adding a litre of oil should bring the level up to the full mark denoted by the top edge of the rectangle. Somewhere between the two is acceptable but anything lower than the low mark should be addressed by topping up and checking for any oil leaks that have developed, favorite being the cam cover and oil filter to block gaskets developing leaks and loss of oil.
I can't seem to find anything completely authoritative to quote, but I recall seeing somewhere that the central rectangle is the ideal normal range, and what you have marked with black lines should be regarded as the absolute max and min allowable levels.
As per above, that central bit of plastic denotes your min and max level, not your red or black lines.
Either way you are way too low on oil. Maybe about 2L off max level.
Apart from leaks you could also be burning off oil due to a clogged up or knackered pcv system which is more likely the case with the M54 engine.
Either way you are way too low on oil. Maybe about 2L off max level.
Apart from leaks you could also be burning off oil due to a clogged up or knackered pcv system which is more likely the case with the M54 engine.
Its the correct dipstick according to the part number but there were at least two different designs.
If you have oil on the 'Goldilocks' rectangle in the middle it's just right, if its on the thin bits it needs attending to, if it's above or below the thin bits it's getting urgent
If you have oil on the 'Goldilocks' rectangle in the middle it's just right, if its on the thin bits it needs attending to, if it's above or below the thin bits it's getting urgent
Top it off to the top of the middle rectangle shown by your red line in the photo, that is a good enough level to keep it at, yes yours is well low by looking at the picture so needs topping up at least one and a half litres by the look of it.
There you go. in the picture its midway between min and max.
Its wants to ideally be at 2 but not above it. The difference between 4 and 2 is one litre. Not my pic by the way!!
