Oil level low, but can't add more!
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- jordan_ellipsis
- E30 Zone Newbie
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Hey everyone.
My oil level got so low that my car wouldn't start yesterday... dangerous stuff, i know. After a few tries I got it started, and got it home. I checked the oil level, and it was below the minimum point on the dipstick.
So i went to add more oil, but when i unscrewed the cap i noticed that the oil level was already pretty high in the tank. I could only add about 200ml of oil before it started to overflow. This small increase raised the oil level on the dipstick, but not enough to get it back into safe territory.
Could there be a block between the oil tank and the engine?
The car started OK but i'm a little worried about driving it around and ruining my engine.
Thoughts / advice highly appreciated!
Jordan
My oil level got so low that my car wouldn't start yesterday... dangerous stuff, i know. After a few tries I got it started, and got it home. I checked the oil level, and it was below the minimum point on the dipstick.
So i went to add more oil, but when i unscrewed the cap i noticed that the oil level was already pretty high in the tank. I could only add about 200ml of oil before it started to overflow. This small increase raised the oil level on the dipstick, but not enough to get it back into safe territory.
Could there be a block between the oil tank and the engine?
The car started OK but i'm a little worried about driving it around and ruining my engine.
Thoughts / advice highly appreciated!
Jordan
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- Turbo Farmer Tractor Driver
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You seem to be mentioning an "oil tank"? What do you mean? There are a few candidates for this in an e30 engine bay, none of which are conected to the oil in the sump.
Engine oil is added via the rocker cover apperture, and I would not describe that as a tank.
Low oil will not stop your car starting.
Engine oil is added via the rocker cover apperture, and I would not describe that as a tank.
Low oil will not stop your car starting.
Last edited by maggspower on Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
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What cap did you unscrew to add more oil?
pour the oil in slowly .there is a black plastic cover beneath the oil cap that stops oil splash backs off the cam ,this is what you can see when peering in the filler hole .
the only way a car will not start through lack of oil is when the engine is seized or it's banging it's bottom ends right out and all the oil seals have disintegrated .#
you are putting the oil in through the top of the 'engine'rocker cover cap aren't you ...
the only way a car will not start through lack of oil is when the engine is seized or it's banging it's bottom ends right out and all the oil seals have disintegrated .#
you are putting the oil in through the top of the 'engine'rocker cover cap aren't you ...

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Must admit that I have never had a problem adding oil....via the hole in the top of the engine.
However,whilst in the RAF I did once instruct a young WRAF to 'Check and fill the oil on the Station Commander's Austin 1800'.....
Correct!
I went and checked up after I had seen her walk past the office window 5 times with the gallon oil can....
However,whilst in the RAF I did once instruct a young WRAF to 'Check and fill the oil on the Station Commander's Austin 1800'.....
Correct!
I went and checked up after I had seen her walk past the office window 5 times with the gallon oil can....

Youth is wasted on the young.
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"Tank"?
As mentioned above, you sure its the engine oil you're filling up and not the power steering tank?
I see you mention "I noticed the oil level was pretty high in the tank"....you can't really view any oil level from the rocker cover to see the level was high, but if you unscrew the PAS cap you can visually see a reservoir of fluid, and check the levels by eye.
My bet is you're filling your power steering fluid with engine oil.

As mentioned above, you sure its the engine oil you're filling up and not the power steering tank?
I see you mention "I noticed the oil level was pretty high in the tank"....you can't really view any oil level from the rocker cover to see the level was high, but if you unscrew the PAS cap you can visually see a reservoir of fluid, and check the levels by eye.
My bet is you're filling your power steering fluid with engine oil.
or worse the brake fluid res ,manky old brake fluid is black as is p/s fluid.German-Whips wrote:"Tank"?![]()
As mentioned above, you sure its the engine oil you're filling up and not the power steering tank?
I see you mention "I noticed the oil level was pretty high in the tank"....you can't really view any oil level from the rocker cover to see the level was high, but if you unscrew the PAS cap you can visually see a reservoir of fluid, and check the levels by eye.
My bet is you're filling your power steering fluid with engine oil.
what ever system has been contaminated will need flushed through until the nice new correct fluid is present at all 4 brake calliper bleed nipples and out of the p/s fluid return pipe.
are you Female ?

m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds

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Blimey,Mick,that's thin ice you are on!magpie wrote:
are you Female ?
Just hope that Beemerburd does not spot this!
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Methinks the brake fluid reservoir is now enjoying some engine oil.



1990 325i Cab auto in Alpine White II
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
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indeed......she'd never get the lid off the p/s reservoir !Topblag wrote:Methinks the brake fluid reservoir is now enjoying some engine oil.
![]()

m52 b30 stroker 6-speed 318is Galvanizer
m42 touring
+ a yard full of scrap turds

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I suppose the PAS tank does sail OIL on it.
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- Love it up the more door !
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I think the above gives the game away!!!!!!!jordan_ellipsis wrote: So i went to add more oil, but when i unscrewed the cap i noticed that the oil level was already pretty high in the tank. I could only add about 200ml of oil before it started to overflow. This small increase raised the oil level on the dipstick, but not enough to get it back into safe territory.
!
Jordan


- aimlessrock
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im aching to see where this goes...
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190 Mercedes (1988)
"there is nothing more expensive than a cheap E30"
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LOL.magpie wrote:most likely to a big puddle under the car !aimlessrock wrote:im aching to see where this goes...

1990 325i Cab auto in Alpine White II
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
- Brianmoooore
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I didn't spot it either, even after you said, and I too learnt to read in a Devon school!
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But where has the engine oil gone?M1k3 wrote:Haha, I still think it looks fine, noone will notice
Brianmoooore wrote:I didn't spot it either, even after you said, and I too learnt to read in a Devon school!
The proof is in the pudding ;)

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- Old Skooler
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1990 325i Cab auto in Alpine White II
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
1988 Alpina C2.5 moredoor in Black, 71k
1990 325ix, moredoor auto in Laser Blue. 51k
1984 Hartge H35 in Black
2004 996 C4S in Silver 43k manual
2006 Audi S6 V10 in Black 58k
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No posts from the op... I think he/she may have left the zone for good. 


PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
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no wonder, imagine admitting to that on hereGert_8 wrote:No posts from the op... I think he/she may have left the zone for good.
