"Service Engine Soon" Light

[dazzleman]

Is your "Service Engine Soon" Light (you need an oil change) the same or different then a Check Engine Light (your engine is h0sed)?  Maybe the numbnutzes never changed the counter last time they did you oil change?

I think they're the same.  It definitely doesn't need an oil change.  I just got one recently.  And when I check all the system in the computer, they all come out OK.  Now, the light is off again.  There's no rhyme or reason to it.

[the Teuton]

It's possible that the system wasn't reset when you got the oil change.

[dazzleman]

It's possible that the system wasn't reset when you got the oil change.

No, because the system tells me when I need the next oil change, and it's not now.

I'm such an idiot.  What I should do is check the dipstick.  Maybe I need a quart of oil.  I shouldn't since I recently had the oil changed, but it's worth a check.

[the Teuton]

No, because the system tells me when I need the next oil change, and it's not now.

I'm such an idiot.  What I should do is check the dipstick.  Maybe I need a quart of oil.  I shouldn't since I recently had the oil changed, but it's worth a check.

Your car has a dipstick? LOLZ.

[dazzleman]

Your car has a dipstick? LOLZ.

Doesn't every car have a dipstick for the oil?  How else would you check it?

[TBR]

Doesn't every car have a dipstick for the oil?  How else would you check it?

Newer BMWs don't, but yours might be old enough that it still has one.

[S204STi]

Doesn't every car have a dipstick for the oil?  How else would you check it?

The oil level sensor, I guess.  BMW must really trust those sensors.

[3.0L V6]

The oil level sensor, I guess.  BMW must really trust those sensors.

Or really be confident that the engine won't burn oil until after the warranty's up.

[280Z Turbo]

I believe Porsche no longer uses dipsticks. Germans must be the only ones to stupid enough to eliminate a $0.50 part for a $20 computer system.

[the Teuton]

I believe Porsche no longer uses dipsticks. Germans must be the only ones to stupid enough to eliminate a $0.50 part for a $20 computer system.

Zee eeficientzee ist sehr besser than zee stoopeed dipstick.

[S204STi]

Since most owners don't check the oil level anyway I have to wonder if it doesn't make some sense.  If the sensor were able to detect dangerously low oil levels, and has some built-in diagnostics which allow the PCM to tell if it's actually working or not, it could work just fine.  Until the costly sensor fails, that is.

[TurboDan]

Since most owners don't check the oil level anyway I have to wonder if it doesn't make some sense.  If the sensor were able to detect dangerously low oil levels, and has some built-in diagnostics which allow the PCM to tell if it's actually working or not, it could work just fine.  Until the costly sensor fails, that is.

Exactly. I don't necessarily "trust" any sensors. My friend's MB had some sensor detect he had been in an accident (when he really hadn't) and his car started stopping on the middle of the highway and going nuts and almost caused a real accident.

I wonder why they couldn't just have a sensor AND a dipstick?

[r0tor]

I wonder why they couldn't just have a sensor AND a dipstick?

I have both... fear the japanese

[CALL_911]

Newer BMWs don't, but yours might be old enough that it still has one.

His car has an N52, it doesn't.

[Laconian]

I wonder if eliminating the dipstick makes the design of the engine packaging easier? Can they achieve tighter tolerances in the block or heads without it?

[r0tor]

no...

[Byteme]

I wonder if eliminating the dipstick makes the design of the engine packaging easier? Can they achieve tighter tolerances in the block or heads without it?

It simply involves a hole and tube that a metal rod goes through to measure the depth of the oil in the pan.  It has nothing to do with anything else.  Eliminating it doesn't save much money, probably none when compared to the cost of the electronics to replace it.  Doesn't make the engine any more reliable; does it automatically shut the engine down if low oil is detected?  Does it detect if some numb nuts at an oil change place overfills the crankcase?

I can think of no reasonable reason to eliminate it.  Sensors can fail the only failure one can experience with a dipstick is to not check the oil level in the first place.  Is BMW admitting it's custoimers are too stupid to know to check the oil occasionally? Or is this some ploy to generate more service revenue?

[TurboDan]

It simply involves a hole and tube that a metal rod goes through to measure the depth of the oil in the pan.  It has nothing to do with anything else.  Eliminating it doesn't save much money, probably none when compared to the cost of the electronics to replace it.  Doesn't make the engine any more reliable; does it automatically shut the engine down if low oil is detected?  Does it detect if some numb nuts at an oil change place overfills the crankcase?

I can think of no reasonable reason to eliminate it.  Sensors can fail the only failure one can experience with a dipstick is to not check the oil level in the first place.  Is BMW admitting it's custoimers are too stupid to know to check the oil occasionally? Or is this some ploy to generate more service revenue?

Nail, meet a hammer on the way to your head. 

[dazzleman]

I took the car in for servicing today to look into this problem.

They said they needed to rotate the celinoids in the engine.  I have no idea what that means, but I hope it works.  If rotating them doesn't do the trick, then they need to be replaced.  For now, all seems well.

The best part is that they didn't charge me.  They said it was because the car just came out of warranty and the problem originated from before the warranty expired.  So as of now, I'm pretty happy with the experience.

[S204STi]

Solenoids.

It sounds like one of the cam phaser solenoids might have stuck.

This reminds me of one of the last cars I worked on... a GMC Terrain with sand in the head and cam phaser solenoid screens from the casting process.

I doubt that's your concern, but the only solenoids in an engine are typically for the cam phasing system.

[r0tor]

thank god for the need to control the throttle via an overly complicated VANOS system rather then a damn throttle plate....

[S204STi]

Oh, that's right. VANOS.  I bet that has quite a few of them thar celenoids.

[dazzleman]

Thanks for the info, Roy.

[The Phantom]

Doesn't every car have a dipstick for the oil?  How else would you check it?

Yours has one in the driver seat!  

[S204STi]

Thanks for the info, Roy.

Yeah, no problem dude.  If you have any other questions about the jargon let me know.  I may not fix cars for a living anymore, but I know Mechanicese like it's my first language.

[Rupert]

Yeah, no problem dude.  If you have any other questions about the jargon let me know.  I may not fix cars for a living anymore, but I know Mechanicese like it's my first language.

Wait, what?

[MX793]

Oh, that's right. VANOS.  I bet that has quite a few of them thar celenoids.

I don't know if VANOS really relies on them, but Valvetronic definitely does.

[S204STi]

Wait, what?

Yeah, I quit my job at the end of March.

[Rupert]

Oh, wow, nice?

What are you gonna do now?

[S204STi]

Oh, wow, nice?

What are you gonna do now?

Yeah, it's ok.  I was burned out, partly on working on cars but mainly on working where I was working.  There was some screwy shit going on.  Since nobody around here will hire a tech with as little experience as I have (which sounds funny considering I've done it for about 4.5 year) the only solution was to just leave the industry for now. 

I'll be working for some lawn care company called TruGreen, mainly doing stuff with trees.