Oil level readings (MMI vs Dipstick)

[SwankPeRFection]

Has anyone else noticed the readings being off by a bit. I'm trying to figure out if the problem is with the dipstick not being very accurate (because the part # for this engine is the same one used on the 3.2's I believe), but in reference to the limits that the oil pan sensor reads seems to be the bottom portion of the dipstick between the min arrow and absolute bottom tip of the stick itself. Seems this is the area of min/full that the MMI shows, so anything above the min arrow on the dipstick reads as full on the MMI. WTF?... over. Anyone else notice this silliness?

[Dr GP]

Here is what I have observed. When I bought my 2104, I took the dipstick that I had in my 2010 and put it in the 2014. After driving 30 miles home, I checked the oil and it was at the min level of the stick. Right at the are below where the stick is more narrow and crosshatched. The MMI reading was at full. A few weeks later , I checked it again and it was at the middle of the cross hatched area. I agree with you, that if the oil level is above the min level on the stick, the MMI will give you a full reading. So I to keep the oil level 1/2 way between the min and max level just to be safe . But your observation mirrors my experience.

[AwdPwns]

Here is what I have observed. When I bought my 2104, I took the dipstick that I had in my 2010 and put it in the 2014. After driving 30 miles home, I checked the oil and it was at the min level of the stick. Right at the are below where the stick is more narrow and crosshatched. The MMI reading was at full. A few weeks later , I checked it again and it was at the middle of the cross hatched area. I agree with you, that if the oil level is above the min level on the stick, the MMI will give you a full reading. So I to keep the oil level 1/2 way between the min and max level just to be safe . But your observation mirrors my experience.

2104 didnt know they came out with that already

[AmanG]

I don't have a dipstick, but I don't think the MMI is very accurate. The MMI was showing that my oil level was about 1/10 of the way down from full and simply opening and closing the hood caused it to show that the oil level was full.

[SwankPeRFection]

I don't have a dipstick, but I don't think the MMI is very accurate. The MMI was showing that my oil level was about 1/10 of the way down from full and simply opening and closing the hood caused it to show that the oil level was full.

You know, it's funny you say that because after checking the oil today, my MMI was stuck on the Wait 2 minutes bs message and wouldn't ever show a level. No matter what. I drove it somewhere I needed to be and then drove it home and nothing... same shit. I was like... ok, the sensor is either dead all of a sudden or the whole thing is somehow linked to the hood latch sensor. (I thought this because after I key the ignition to on to check the level with the hood up, I got a new "Oil level OK" message with graphic in the center console on the dash which I hand't seen before. So, I got home and opened the hood, reseated the oil cap and dipstick and closed the hood. Came back into the car and keyed the ignition to on and got that same display in the center console about the oil level. Checked the MMI and now it seemed like it was working again. So, weird... I'll have to watch it closer now since it's doing some strange things and I don't know which level to trust.

[Bomiz]

I should probably add oil... MMI still says i'm above min but haven't added oil since about 4k miles? I'm at 12,4xx now.

[SwankPeRFection]

Geez man, not only do you drive a ton on the same oil, but you also don't top off as needed either. That's awesome...

Do you do your own maintenance or do you pay Audi to do it? I do oil changes every 5k and keep a pretty close eye on the level. Take better care of that engine man.

[Doc Masher]

I noticed a similar situation, with the exception that when changing the oil in the car, 6qts of oil added after filter and fluid change and an engine start and cool down, will put the oil level on the dip stick @ full on the dip stick. MMI states the oil is "Max", So its hard to say what is actually correct. I have noticed that the dip stick almost correlates to the MMI indication as far as when there is oil consumption.

I would add that at 35,000 miles I have nearly 0 oil consumption through a oil change interval @5K miles. My old 2.0T consumed oil like a radial engine comparatively speaking;)

[Bomiz]

Geez man, not only do you drive a ton on the same oil, but you also don't top off as needed either. That's awesome...

Do you do your own maintenance or do you pay Audi to do it? I do oil changes every 5k and keep a pretty close eye on the level. Take better care of that engine man.

lol. Yeah I need to one of these days. And I need to find out why my car misfired on me a few days ago.

[b8s4dood]

Wow, I've always trusted the MMI readings, but now I'm a little worried. This makes me wonder how Audi would respond if an engine fails due to no oil, even when the MMI reads ok.

[kiznarsh]

I remember when I tried correlating the 2, it came out pretty close but now I just don't even bother with the MMI. I see no reason why the dipstick wouldn't be more accurate so I just go with that.

I wonder if cars like the Cayman that can't even have a dipstick have redundant oil level sensors?

[AKPS4]

Sounds like everyone keeps a very close eye and doesn't rely on the MMI. My Meter has never gone down except recently and it sounds like if the dipstick shows low with the MMI bar full, then the oil level must be much lower if the MMI start reading lower.

Is it better to check with the car cold so that all the oil is at the bottom? Or better to check warm while running?

I guess I'll start checking with the dipstick every couple of weeks. I'm not sure exactly where to insert the dipstick though. Anyone have a close up photo?

[SwankPeRFection]

Sounds like everyone keeps a very close eye and doesn't rely on the MMI. My Meter has never gone down except recently and it sounds like if the dipstick shows low with the MMI bar full, then the oil level must be much lower if the MMI start reading lower.

Is it better to check with the car cold so that all the oil is at the bottom? Or better to check warm while running?

I guess I'll start checking with the dipstick every couple of weeks. I'm not sure exactly where to insert the dipstick though. Anyone have a close up photo?

[Blackhawk878]

Swank,

Have you done any oil analysis to show changes needed evry 5k or do you change at that interval from personal preference?

[AKPS4]

Thanks Swank!

I also do oil changes every 5k miles regardless of oil analysis. Can't hurt and I don't have the time to get an analysis done every so often. I don't mind spending a few bucks to change the oil a few extra times.

[wwhan]

The MMI oil level works best when the engine is hot, level ground, about 5 minutes after one shuts off the engine. There is a delay, in the system, that prevents it from reading until the oil has drained back to the pan (the program delay seems to be somewhere between 2min & 5min).

My MMI reads full when dipstick shows full and 1/2 between min/min when when dipstick shows 1/2 between min/max. I would not expect the sensor to be very accurate, in a linear sense, it just needs to be safe for the engine.

I did have the oil dash light up with oil low indication once on a freeway hill, it said add a quart (was at 7k miles from last oil change). I put in a quart, checked the MMI & dipstick, both registered 1/2 between min/max. So the oil warning light apparently goes on at 1/2 quart below min.

[Dr GP]

Sounds like everyone keeps a very close eye and doesn't rely on the MMI. My Meter has never gone down except recently and it sounds like if the dipstick shows low with the MMI bar full, then the oil level must be much lower if the MMI start reading lower.

Is it better to check with the car cold so that all the oil is at the bottom? Or better to check warm while running?

I guess I'll start checking with the dipstick every couple of weeks. I'm not sure exactly where to insert the dipstick though. Anyone have a close up photo?

You cannot check the oil with a dipstick on ANY car that is running ! Actually you can but the results will be WAY off low. The oil needs to be checked WARM or HOT after the car has been shut off and allowing some time for the oil to drain back into the oil pan. BTW, on the 335i( which has no dipstick and no provision to add one) the oil level is checked while the car is running.

[SwankPeRFection]

Swank,

Have you done any oil analysis to show changes needed evry 5k or do you change at that interval from personal preference?

With modern synthetic oils from Mobil 1, the detergents will be fine for longer, but I'll change mine every 5k and keep it clean. The oil gets pretty dark after 5k and a lot of people that don't do their own maintenance done even bother to check the oil between changes. Point is, if you're going to drive a car like this, take care of it. For me, I've done 5k changes in the last 4 cars and the engines were as clean after 100k as they were with 1k on them. Every 40-50k I also like to run a cleaner through the oil prior to doing that time's oil change. It's something I do with turbo motors to maintain the turbos and keep the bearings/shaft clean from the heat cycling, but it works just as good on non-turbo engines too. The 2.0T is notorious for oil deposit sludge and ours don't have this problem when scoped and pan was pulled. Squeaky clean.

Also, yes, I will do an analysis when I get the car after I run my oil through it for at least one 5k segment and then once every 40-50k just to make sure it's all good. I usually take that same on the next oil change after the cleaning because the cleaner I use contaminates the oil I drain when I clean it, so on the next change I know I have a clean engine and oil that's run 5k after that.

[AKPS4]

You cannot check the oil with a dipstick on ANY car that is running ! Actually you can but the results will be WAY off low. The oil needs to be checked WARM or HOT after the car has been shut off and allowing some time for the oil to drain back into the oil pan. BTW, on the 335i( which has no dipstick and no provision to add one) the oil level is checked while the car is running.

That was my understanding but thought i'd ask anyways...

[SwankPeRFection]

Just an update on this. I think I might have actually found a software bug in the MMI about this. It's linked to the hood latch sensor, but the oil level icon/info display does actually pop up in the center dash display when you open or open/close the hood and then ignition cycle without engine start. The bug however happens as follows. If you open/close the hood and do not cycle ignition to on and then off and just lock the car up and let the MMI and everything else shut down as it normally does after a few minutes of being off, the next time you key the car on and drive and all subsequent times after that, the MMI will not show you the oil level. Instead, it'll show you the 2 minute wait warning. The only way to fix this is to open/close the hood and cycle ignition to on (wait for it to give you the oil level info display on the center dash cluster) and then off.

It's really weird, but I've been able to duplicate this 3 times now, so it's definitely a software bug Audi has overlooked. Can anyone else try and duplicate this for me if you have time. Warm the engine up and make sure you can read the oil level on the MMI. Then turn the engine off. Open and close your hood and then lock your car up. Go do something for 15-20 minutes. Come back and start the car back up. Check the oil level in the MMI... it should give you the 2 minute warning despite the engine being warm. Drive around and check it again... you'll see that the 2 minute warning just won't go away no matter what. Open/close the hood after key-off. Get in and ignition on. Check oil level. This will fix the glitch.

[AmanG]

Just an update on this. I think I might have actually found a software bug in the MMI about this. It's linked to the hood latch sensor, but the oil level icon/info display does actually pop up in the center dash display when you open or open/close the hood and then ignition cycle without engine start. The bug however happens as follows. If you open/close the hood and do not cycle ignition to on and then off and just lock the car up and let the MMI and everything else shut down as it normally does after a few minutes of being off, the next time you key the car on and drive and all subsequent times after that, the MMI will not show you the oil level. Instead, it'll show you the 2 minute wait warning. The only way to fix this is to open/close the hood and cycle ignition to on (wait for it to give you the oil level info display on the center dash cluster) and then off.

It's really weird, but I've been able to duplicate this 3 times now, so it's definitely a software bug Audi has overlooked. Can anyone else try and duplicate this for me if you have time. Warm the engine up and make sure you can read the oil level on the MMI. Then turn the engine off. Open and close your hood and then lock your car up. Go do something for 15-20 minutes. Come back and start the car back up. Check the oil level in the MMI... it should give you the 2 minute warning despite the engine being warm. Drive around and check it again... you'll see that the 2 minute warning just won't go away no matter what. Open/close the hood after key-off. Get in and ignition on. Check oil level. This will fix the glitch.

My car was showing the 2 min warning for a while and it went away after the third time I started and drove the car. I didn't open the hood after I got the message so I don't know if that would have fixed it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[SwankPeRFection]

My car was showing the 2 min warning for a while and it went away after the third time I started and drove the car. I didn't open the hood after I got the message so I don't know if that would have fixed it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

lol, maybe I just wasn't patient enough to wait 3 drive cycles. Unfortunately, I'm pretty OCD and I do tend to check the MMI oil level on a regular basis, so not having it show it to me was bothering the hell out of me. lol I had to figure out what was going on and that's when I found this pattern of behavior.

[Heresy]

Just an update on this. I think I might have actually found a software bug in the MMI about this. It's linked to the hood latch sensor, but the oil level icon/info display does actually pop up in the center dash display when you open or open/close the hood and then ignition cycle without engine start. The bug however happens as follows. If you open/close the hood and do not cycle ignition to on and then off and just lock the car up and let the MMI and everything else shut down as it normally does after a few minutes of being off, the next time you key the car on and drive and all subsequent times after that, the MMI will not show you the oil level. Instead, it'll show you the 2 minute wait warning. The only way to fix this is to open/close the hood and cycle ignition to on (wait for it to give you the oil level info display on the center dash cluster) and then off.

It's really weird, but I've been able to duplicate this 3 times now, so it's definitely a software bug Audi has overlooked. Can anyone else try and duplicate this for me if you have time. Warm the engine up and make sure you can read the oil level on the MMI. Then turn the engine off. Open and close your hood and then lock your car up. Go do something for 15-20 minutes. Come back and start the car back up. Check the oil level in the MMI... it should give you the 2 minute warning despite the engine being warm. Drive around and check it again... you'll see that the 2 minute warning just won't go away no matter what. Open/close the hood after key-off. Get in and ignition on. Check oil level. This will fix the glitch.

I had this happen with my A4 Avant a few years ago. The dealer replaced the hood latch sensor, or so they said.

[SwankPeRFection]

I had this happen with my A4 Avant a few years ago. The dealer replaced the hood latch sensor, or so they said.

I've had a failing hood latch sensor in a B7. Given the duplicatable steps I have found on the B8, I don't think that's the issue. It's either by design (for some strange reason) or a software bug that Audi hasn't fixed yet. Unfortunately, unless an update is done to the MMI firmware, there's no way to tell if it's been addressed or not and the Audi dealers don't usually do updates to the MMI firmware.

[IanCH]

I took a long trip up to Maine this weekend and after getting back I noticed my oil level was reading fully MIN in MMI. I then bought a quart of 5W40 from the closest shop (castrol) today and filled the engine with the full quart and it just got up to MAX on MMI. This thread is good info that the MMI is full of shit because I knew that on a disptick car putting a quart in would never take the car from presumably below min to above MAX.

Anyway, I ordered a dipstick from GAP ($4.56) and buzzed around a bit in low gear and the car is running fine with no indication of overfill.

[dbX79]

I took a long trip up to Maine this weekend and after getting back I noticed my oil level was reading fully MIN in MMI. I then bought a quart of 5W40 from the closest shop (castrol) today and filled the engine with the full quart and it just got up to MAX on MMI. This thread is good info that the MMI is full of shit because I knew that on a disptick car putting a quart in would never take the car from presumably blow min to above MAX.

Anyway, I ordered a dipstick from GAP ($4.56) and buzzed around a bit in low gear and the car is running fine with no indication of overfill.

Can you shoot me a link I can't find one online for that price.

[IanCH]

Can you shoot me a link I can't find one online for that price.

you have PM

[dbX79]

you have PM

Thanks all this talk about oil changesi need to get one done instead of waiting on Audi care. It's crazy sometimes it seems the dealer does more harm to these cars than help.

[SwankPeRFection]

I took a long trip up to Maine this weekend and after getting back I noticed my oil level was reading fully MIN in MMI. I then bought a quart of 5W40 from the closest shop (castrol) today and filled the engine with the full quart and it just got up to MAX on MMI. This thread is good info that the MMI is full of shit because I knew that on a disptick car putting a quart in would never take the car from presumably below min to above MAX.

Anyway, I ordered a dipstick from GAP ($4.56) and buzzed around a bit in low gear and the car is running fine with no indication of overfill.

Well, if you read the manual, you'd see where it said the MMI measures the last top quart of oil in the engine, so when it's on min or empty, that's just 1 quart shy of the full amount. Considering people wait until it gets to min to add anything, do you really think it would be healthy for an engine to have the full 7 quarts of measurable level in the MMI? I didn't think so. Most people don't even monitor the MMI oil level.

[IanCH]

Well, if you read the manual, you'd see where it said the MMI measures the last top quart of oil in the engine, so when it's on min or empty, that's just 1 quart shy of the full amount. Considering people wait until it gets to min to add anything, do you really think it would be healthy for an engine to have the full 7 quarts of measurable level in the MMI? I didn't think so. Most people don't even monitor the MMI oil level.

Lol, my car didn't come with a manual so I really don't know how it works on an official basis, I'm just using the good ole common sense machine.

Before my trip of about 500 miles, the MMI read half, and up in Maine they have never heard of the word Audi, never mind 5w40 oil so I couldn't do anything about it there. I filled it within 5 miles of it hitting MIN.

[SwankPeRFection]

Next time you change the oil, make sure it's on max and then monitor how many miles it is before it starts to come off of max. Too few and you have a slight oil consumption issue. 500 miles to go from 1/2 to 1/4 is bullshit. That's way too few.

[IanCH]

Next time you change the oil, make sure it's on max and then monitor how many miles it is before it starts to come off of max. Too few and you have a slight oil consumption issue. 500 miles to go from 1/2 to 1/4 is bullshit. That's way too few.

Yeah I'll be keeping track of it. It could be a leak of sorts too that I will check out when its on the lift,The roads in Maine were quite fucked up. Before the trip I had around half in the MMI since I got the oil changed 2 days after buying the car. As I said, I'll be getting the dipstick pretty soon to find out whats really going on in there.

[ahc]

you have PM

Can you send me the link as well? Just changed my oil today and using the MMI to check the oil is a huge pain!

[IanCH]

Can you send me the link as well? Just changed my oil today and using the MMI to check the oil is a huge pain!

it turns out that GAP listed the part wrong and its just the plug (the cheap one)

They are sending me the dipstick but it cost the exact same as ECS. Europa is still overpriced.

[ahc]

it turns out that GAP listed the part wrong and its just the plug (the cheap one)

They are sending me the dipstick but it cost the exact same as ECS. Europa is still overpriced.

Ah ok, was wondering how they were selling it for so cheap. Will order from ECS. thx!