Accuracy of MMI oil level measure?

[Triska]

I am in a 14 S4, about 20k miles in just under a year.

Previous car was 10 A4 that went through a quart every 1k miles. So I check the oil level quite a lot just to be sure.

One of the things I love about this car (other than its seriously awesomer than the A4) is no issues in 20k miles, not a drop of lost oil.

My electronic dipstick has never gone below max, not once. So I was very surprised when I got a warning suddenly that it was "low and need to add oil but safe to drive to dealer". Of course I was in the middle of nowhere but found a Mobil station that happened to have a 5Q rotella. So I eyeball in a quart of oil (I can do this in my sleep since I got plenty of practice with the oil-thirsty A4). Sure I can't say it was exactly a quart but I believe it was close.

Anyway once it settles I next get the message to drain extra oil. Never seen that one before and got no way to do it now so I continue on. Drive 15 miles park and go skiing. Next day I get in and oil is at the perfect level according to MMI.

I already know the answer and I ordered a manual dipstick which really should be stock in these cars. Will be interesting to see just how inaccurate is the MMI or perhaps my oil level sensor is on the fritz?

Basically I have zero trust in the accuracy of the MMI at this point.

I would like to hear if anybody else has had similar issues.

Thanx

[theedge111]

How are you checking through the MMI? Are you going through the proper process or just clicking on oil level while driving?

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

[Black S]

Get the dip stick through ECS.

[Triska]

Generally just checking as I drive. Occasionally as u describe. Am I wrong in assuming the computer will give you a read of the last idle measurement when you check its level while driving? I never thought it would be able to check a live measurement when the pistons are moving. If that's not the case why would the car even give you a readout when driving?

[jygesq]

Read out not intended to work while you are driving. Buy dip stick . Let car sit five minutes and read it .

[theedge111]

Generally just checking as I drive. Occasionally as u describe. Am I wrong in assuming the computer will give you a read of the last idle measurement when you check its level while driving? I never thought it would be able to check a live measurement when the pistons are moving. If that's not the case why would the car even give you a readout when driving?

It's not meant to work as your driving. If you want to check via MMI you have to go through the procedure I posted above.

[moose_head]

The warning light on the dash will appear whenever it wants to appear. Doesn't the car do a check when you are parked and store the data whether you are looking at the MMI oil gauge or not?

[Dr GP]

Some owners who have experienced oil consumption issues have found that they have a defective PVC valve. There is a TSB associated with it. Changing it could solve your issue. BTW, if you do change the PCV valve, you might want to change the TStat while the SC is off.

[Works2shoot]

Will the MMI say if it's overfilled? My dipstick is reading beyond max. Just bought the car after its 12-month service. I do wish audi used the "flat" dipstick. These circular ones are a bit hard to read.

[derek.kritz]

Some owners who have experienced oil consumption issues have found that they have a defective PVC valve. There is a TSB associated with it. Changing it could solve your issue. BTW, if you do change the PCV valve, you might want to change the TStat while the SC is off.

I'm going trough a quart every 1k. Heading in Monday to the dealer to hope they will perform the PVC valve replacement on their dime. They said they got to perform the first step of the test first. Which entails oil usage and them to test the oil. I am out of warranty but only have 42k on my 2010. If they don't cover it, have a great shop that's gonna charge me about $700.


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[Dr GP]

I qt/1000 miles actually qualifies under Audi's definition of 'excessive " oil consumption. I hope it is the PCV valve rather than something else more serious.

[WeeKenny]

Will the MMI say if it's overfilled? My dipstick is reading beyond max. Just bought the car after its 12-month service. I do wish audi used the "flat" dipstick. These circular ones are a bit hard to read.

No. It stops at max, no overfilled warning. It's utter crap fire in a dipstick check regularly, ignore the mmi.

[In2Bate]

When I took my S4 in for maintenance last month, I had a discussion with the service manager about the lack of dipstick and all the issues related. He said beginning soon, Audi is reintroducing the manual dipstick!!!

[derek.kritz]

I qt/1000 miles actually qualifies under Audi's definition of 'excessive " oil consumption. I hope it is the PVC valve rather than something else more serious.

I hope it isn't either!! But I've yet to hear of an instant that the pcv valve was changed and didn't stop the oil consumption. My 2010 has the old revision. Need the updated one. Unless it is the rings, which I highly doubt.


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[youngd]

need to lift the bonnet and close it again, turn on ignition and more accurate level will display in the dis