MMI Oil level

[dingosatemyaudi]

When checking the oil level using the MMI, I'm getting a message that says, "Information about the oil level is unavailable at this time" or something to that effect. I've tried to check with the engine running, with it off, with the engine warm and cold.

anyone else experience this?

Guess I'll go buy a dipstick.

[skiracerblah]

I believe you have to shut off the engine, then wait approximately 2 minutes before you can check the oil in the MMI. I know it won't let you check while the engine is running.

[2010S4]

Mine lets me check it anytime after the engine is warm (running or off) I think you get the most accurate reading when it has been off for about 2 mins and given the oil time to settle down.

[Crucible35]

....not an S4 but my B8 A4 (and I've heard others as well) will not display the oil level after you open the hood. On mine it usually takes about 24 hours before it provides a reading after I lifted the hood. Maybe the issue here.....just a thought.

[Voltrons_Head]

I never could figure the damn thing out. It's a pain in the ass. Never once did it work for me with the car off. I could only get it to work while I was driving and had been doing so for a little while. This is why the physical dipstick is a good seller for these cars.

[NWS4Guy]

It's not hard, the owner's manual explains it.

- Engine must be warm (driven for 10+ minutes)
- Engine must have been shut off for 10 minutes after having been driven (to allow oil to pool back into the pan)
- Car must be parked on level ground (for accuracy)

[Dr GP]

Had the same thing happen to me when I tried to compare the oil level reading on the MMI with what I saw on my dipstick. Engine was cold. BTW, dipstick showed 1/4 qt low after 5k miles . MMI read full.

[CBRmatt600]

It's a massive pain in the pass. Compounded by the fact that my parking lot has a slight incline, the only way I can accurately check my oil is to drive around the block for 10 minutes, then park my car somewhere flat and wait for the oil to settle for another 10 minutes. I'm not sure how this is an improvement over being able to walk outside, pop my hood, and pull the dipstick.

[NWS4Guy]

It's a massive pain in the pass. Compounded by the fact that my parking lot has a slight incline, the only way I can accurately check my oil is to drive around the block for 10 minutes, then park my car somewhere flat and wait for the oil to settle for another 10 minutes. I'm not sure how this is an improvement over being able to walk outside, pop my hood, and pull the dipstick.

If you check a dipstick on an incline, you are just as likely to have a bad reading, it's all from the same pool of oil.

[CBRmatt600]

If you check a dipstick on an incline, you are just as likely to have a bad reading, it's all from the same pool of oil.

I know, but I don't have to go through the whole warming procedure and waiting for the MMI to pull a reading. The X3 I just bought my fiancee has a similar system that is an even larger pain in the ass because it doesn't give any detail about the oil level. It just tells you if you are ok, need to add a quart, or have overfilled. I miss the dipstick!

[Rhytid]

It's not hard, the owner's manual explains it.

- Engine must be warm (driven for 10+ minutes)
- Engine must have been shut off for 10 minutes after having been driven (to allow oil to pool back into the pan)
- Car must be parked on level ground (for accuracy)

That may be what it says in the manual but I checked it today on the way home. Engine was warm, I was stopped at a red light with the engine running, in "D" (DSG) and it gave me a reading... about 3/4 full on the MMI.

So there seems to be some variance here....

[ChrisMT79]

It's ridiculous to have to go through all that trouble just to check your oil. I was one of the lucky ones who also had the issue where the hood latch/lever was causing the oil light to come on and state i needed a quart of oil. Luckily I heard of the issue prior to adding more oil. pos

[JimmyBones]

I just posted this in the A5/S5/RS5 board and thought you guys should know too.

Everyone should know that the oil level display is a little touchy and inaccurate at times. To get an accurate oil level reading the engine has to be at operating temp (ideally if you have enabled it through with a Vag-Com the oil temp should be at or above 180 degrees F), the hood has to be open (make sure the hood reads open in the DIS because if does not you probably need a hood switch), the vehicle has to be on a level surface, and it takes two minutes to get a correct reading. Any more steps and it would seem like they want to you jump through hoops while standing on your head but that is the best way to check your engine oil level with the MMI display.

[Nighthawk]

I usually check mine driving down the highway...

[xtrema]

I usually check it after a fill up. MMi always say its full but dip stick is half way between min and Max.

After I close the hood another oil meter shows up in the DIS to say the oil is ok.

[NWS4Guy]

I usually check mine driving down the highway...

LOL exactly

That may be what it says in the manual but I checked it today on the way home. Engine was warm, I was stopped at a red light with the engine running, in "D" (DSG) and it gave me a reading... about 3/4 full on the MMI.

So there seems to be some variance here....

Did you totally miss the second point, or was that intentional sarcasm, because I honestly cannot tell...

[Rhytid]

LOL exactly



Did you totally miss the second point, or was that intentional sarcasm, because I honestly cannot tell...

I must have missed the second point. I thought I was adding something to the discussion. Now I am totally confused. :(

[dingosatemyaudi]

I thought maybe the reason I couldn't get a reading was because I had the hood open. But after trying again, no love. I still get the same message that a reading cannot be made. I've tried it warm/cold, running/not running. If I had an inop sensor I would think I'd get an error message or CEL. This issue has only appeared recently, previously I had not problems checking the oil level with the MMI.

[NWS4Guy]

I must have missed the second point. I thought I was adding something to the discussion. Now I am totally confused. :(

If the engine is not off, and has been off for 10 minutes, then the MMI, Dipstick or anything else will not be accurate. Engines use an oil pump to suck oil out of the oil pan and shoot it into the top of the engine, where it will lubricate everything. The oil in the pan will be far below anything resembling normal when it's being shot into the top of the engine. The purpose of waiting 10 minutes is to allow all the oil distributed throughout the engine to drip back down into the pan and give an accurate reading. The ticking you can hear when an engine is turned off and has been running a while is a combination of the metal cooling and the oil dripping back into the pan.

[NWS4Guy]

I thought maybe the reason I couldn't get a reading was because I had the hood open. But after trying again, no love. I still get the same message that a reading cannot be made. I've tried it warm/cold, running/not running. If I had an inop sensor I would think I'd get an error message or CEL. This issue has only appeared recently, previously I had not problems checking the oil level with the MMI.

Definitely odd, I would get it into service in the near future.

[dingosatemyaudi]

well all, it seems to be back to normal, I went out to lunch and I can now get an oil level on the MMI with the engine off or on. The problem must have been due to the hood being open occassionally over the last week or so and it needing time to reset. That's the only thing I can figure out. But that makes no sense; if I were changing the oil, I'd want to check the oil level immediately. I shouldn't have to close the hood, wait some time and then check. Or to get a more accurate reading, warm the engine, wait at least two minutes and then check the level. There's still something funky here.

[Voltrons_Head]

It's not hard, the owner's manual explains it.

- Engine must be warm (driven for 10+ minutes)
- Engine must have been shut off for 10 minutes after having been driven (to allow oil to pool back into the pan)
- Car must be parked on level ground (for accuracy)

The what?

[primetime]

The what?

Yeah... I heard Audi was going to quit giving them out when they sell cars as it was giving away too much about their products and BMW might steal the ideas... Just throwing it out there... LOL

[neptunesfinest]

well all, it seems to be back to normal, I went out to lunch and I can now get an oil level on the MMI with the engine off or on. The problem must have been due to the hood being open occassionally over the last week or so and it needing time to reset. That's the only thing I can figure out. But that makes no sense; if I were changing the oil, I'd want to check the oil level immediately. I shouldn't have to close the hood, wait some time and then check. Or to get a more accurate reading, warm the engine, wait at least two minutes and then check the level. There's still something funky here.

I honestly think it operates this way to deter people from changing their own oil. It's damn near impossible unless you get a dipstick.

[CBRmatt600]

Yeah... I heard Audi was going to quit giving them out when they sell cars as it was giving away too much about their products and BMW might steal the ideas... Just throwing it out there... LOL

Haha. I heard that every company is going to start following that procedure from now on. The new Chargriller is just bought is a box of parts with a piece of paper on top that says "Figure this out on your own, idiot".

[Crucible35]

Could it be that this is different from one model Audi to another? If I just open my hood to check the coolant I can't get an oil reading in the AMI 'til the next day. Seems like we're all following a different protocol.

[rick b]

I felt this frustration as well until I bought the dipstick which is great.

rick b.

[TheDonPulido]

Same here couldn't wait 10 min to check the oil.

[B8 S FOR]

I bought the Dipstick too from ECS! One of the best things I did! Just checked the Oil Level 2,800 miles and hasn't used a drop!

[abaker]

Well this is all very interesting. I have 2014 A4 2.0T and am having the oil level no information display issue. Just changed the oil and there is no display.
Previously had the oil overfill message after driving the car 2K miles after my 5K Audi oil change, and they took some oil out, and reset it.
Is anyone else having this issue with their 2014 model, all very annoying, love the car, but everytime I change the oil, am I going to have to go back and have them reset this. Going to buy the dipstick Monday.

[theedge111]

Well this is all very interesting. I have 2014 A4 2.0T and am having the oil level no information display issue. Just changed the oil and there is no display.
Previously had the oil overfill message after driving the car 2K miles after my 5K Audi oil change, and they took some oil out, and reset it.
Is anyone else having this issue with their 2014 model, all very annoying, love the car, but everytime I change the oil, am I going to have to go back and have them reset this. Going to buy the dipstick Monday.

To check the top liter of oil. The vehicle needs to be at operating temperature the vehicle needs to be parked on a level surface, shut the vehicle off for 2 minutes. Read oil level on MMI.

If's it oil change info you are after. You need to drive a minimum of 500kms for the system to reset.

If all those fail you your hood switch could be broken.

[abaker]

thank you will try. Just seems like you have to do the hockey pockey and turn yourself around, shouldn't be this hard.................... but thank you again.

[theedge111]

thank you will try. Just seems like you have to do the hockey pockey and turn yourself around, shouldn't be this hard.................... but thank you again.

Lol yeah I agree! I have to buy gas once a week so I do it then.