engine and drivetrain How Much Oil... Really?

[gliding_serpent2]

I know the manual says 4.5 L with a new oil filter (edit 4.25). Then folks say top up to upper line. I just did 5L and my oil level cold (after warmed, oil changed, but not run again) is just over the top line. What do others end up adding? Just curious. The online 02 restoration article suggests 6 quarts which seems a bit much.

Edited September 25, 2013 by gliding_serpent

[roadhog0]

Usually it's just a hair over 4 quarts for me.

[bmwfan]

Just did mine tonight. Factory rec is , with filter change, 4.25 liters. With conversion to quarts is 4.49025 quarts.

Might be worth checking if the dip stick tube is in the correct position. Mine is loose and rotates back and forth. Also pulls out some when I pull the dip stick out. My grommet at the handle end of the stick is loose and moves up and down.

I left it out and cleaned the stick and grommet letting dry and going to super glue it in place. I'll set the grommet by trial and error putting it in and out to find the spot where it shows full on the line then glue it.

Should be with in acceptable margin of error with the known volume of oil in, 4.5 quarts.

Prob. better to be a bit under and not over filled. I stick with 4.5 quarts.

Edited September 25, 2013 by bmwfan

[tlapham]

4.5 is perfect for me.

[tim385]

4.25 litres ,there is a bit of variation in the dipsticks between years, if you stick with what the manual says youll be right.

[c.d.iesel]

4 litres

4.3 quartz

really

do not top up COLD

only top up after the motor is fully HOT,

park/off for 5 min. on level ground,

then read dip stick

If your dipping and adding to cold motor

you'll be over filling it

Edited September 25, 2013 by c.d.iesel

[Birdie]

I bought my car a year ago and as part of the purchase it was taken to a very qualified (European mechanic) for a quick once over. He topped off fluids, etc. The dipstick always read a little low but in the safe zone. I would add a little oil along the way but it was always low. About a month ago I started to get a flickering oil light at 4300 rpm. I had been driving it much more spiritedly than that for sometime with no issue. I decided to do a oil/filter change to get a full baseline read on my car's oil needs (I don't really know how much he put in etc.) I put in 4.5 quarts and it barely hit the minimum oil line and I mean barely. I added a little more and almost no rise in oil level. I approached 5 quarts and still barely touching minimum. This got me a bit worried so I pulled the plug and trued it up at 4.5 quarts (which reads at the minimum oil level on the dipstick - barely).

 

I have half a mind to just keep adding oil until it is in the mid-to-upper oil level read on the stick. Then go out driving to see if I can reproduce the oil flicker at 4300rpm.

 

I would then at least know if the two issues are related or not.

 

I sure hope they are related bc the oil light has me concerned.

 

- 1976 Stock.

- Dipstick Guide Tube seems to be in perfect working order (it's the bolt-on w no clamps - see pic)

- Dipstick is 17" from tip to rubber stopper per @John76 in a separate post

 

Any thoughts on this?

 

[jimk]

From the block to the top of the dipstick tube, what does your read?  About 9-3/8" ?

[TobyB]

I think you need an oil pressure gauge.

 

t

 

[NickVyse]

zoom in on your photo - dipstick tube has pulled out of the block. But yeah, probably a red herring for your oil light, and a pressure gauge will tell all.

[Birdie]

Yes almost 9 3/8 exactly.

Yes, I absolutely need an oil pressure gauge.

Yes, I also noticed that small gap in the guide tube.

 

Okay, setting aside the oil pressure light, I’d like to have a dipstick a can trust.  How is that gap on the dipstick guide tube remedied? Is that a threaded fit?

[NickVyse]

It's a press fit - gently tap it in with a rubber mallet or similar

[Birdie]

@NickVyse for the big win from South of France!

I actually had to put a socket with an extender on it and tap it gently+ with a mallet. It didn't go easily and I hated hitting it with metal on metal but A) it was hard to reach with fuel connection to carb, etc. and B ) when I used a softer extension (a second mallet) it acted as a hole punch and left bits of plastic in the guide tube, which had me pretty freaked out.. alls well that ends well.

 

 

That is a huge load off. Now on to an oil pressure gauge which I will research on a separate thread.

Edited May 27 by Birdie

[John76]

Wonder why your '76 didn't have a two-piece dip stick tube.

Mine came with a hose and clamps...?????

Installed length is 9 1/4 inches.

 

 

 

 

[Birdie]

@John76 very good question. If the clamps were stock then this is one of the only variations from stock on my car that I know. I have all of the service records and can go through them at some point to see if the modification is in there. Any idea if switching out this guide tube is something that BMW mechanics did to these cars along the way? I have nothing to base my preference on but I think I like my setup better 🙂.. then again I am the guy that was just hitting it with a hammer so... what do I know.