Oil overfilled warning....

[Arab]

Hello Gang,

I did a search and never got a final answer...

On my 2015 RS7 I get the engine oil overfill warning...I wiped the cap and it goes away for a day or so and then comes back...dealer checked the oil level...everything is perfect...was there ever a final solution to this problem?

From all my searching it seems like wiping the cap worked for some but not everyone...

Any other advice?

[15 Phantom S6]

How did the dealer check the oil level? It's my understanding that there is no dipstick to check, only checking through the MMI.. You might actually have too much oil in the crankcase. Only other thing I can think of is a faulty sensor, but I would re-do the oil change first before checking into that..

[elptxjc]

There's a tube for a dipstick. I bought the orange Audi dipstick from ECS Tuning, and broke off the plastic pieces at the end. That revealed 2 half-moons on the metal, which should be the 'min' and 'max' marks, since my car is absolutely full, and the level was exactly at the upper such mark. I said 'absolutely full' because level shows full on MMI after driven enough, but with a few short drives (condensation forms), it showed overfilled too. Now I don't pay attention to the electronic gauge, which are never accurate anyway (each segment is about 1/4 of a quart). I highly recommend getting one. Not only provides piece of mind, but you can also check oil condition and accurate oil consumption. Plus you could extract a little oil if truly overfilled too.

[15 Phantom S6]

There's a tube for a dipstick. I bought the orange Audi dipstick from ECS Tuning, and broke off the plastic pieces at the end. That revealed 2 half-moons on the metal, which should be the 'min' and 'max' marks, since my car is absolutely full, and the level was exactly at the upper such mark. I said 'absolutely full' because level shows full on MMI after driven enough, but with a few short drives (condensation forms), it showed overfilled too. Now I don't pay attention to the electronic gauge, which are never accurate anyway (each segment is about 1/4 of a quart). I highly recommend getting one. Not only provides piece of mind, but you can also check oil condition and accurate oil consumption. Plus you could extract a little oil if truly overfilled too.

If you feel the crankcase is not overfilled, then you have an issue with the sensor and the dealer should be fixing the issue. I think that re-doing the oil change from scratch is the only way to truly tell if it's overfilled or not since once you drain all the oil, you can monitor exactly how much you refill it with. I guess you could use an extractor and pull out half a liter at a time to see if if changes anything, but its still guessign how much oil is in there.. Draining and refilling is gonna reveal the truth for sure..

Sounds a bit of a stretch that condensation would trigger the too much oil message...

[elptxjc]

Sounds a bit of a stretch that condensation would trigger the too much oil message...

Nope. It adds up; every manual typically mentions that. And that's how sensors work. If you're at the limit, that happens. Nothing wrong. I was just making the case to add a dipstick for the best of both worlds, which is what I did. I'm used to sensors, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with mine. I just don't like they're not accurate. But if you know how they work, and how to use them, they're always consistent. And that's been the case with all my cars so far.

[15 Phantom S6]

Ok, agreed that the reality is that condensation may trigger the sensor, but its not acceptable that any consumer should be driving a car around with a warning message on which isn't accurate, and then instructed by the manufacture or dealer to drive and live with it.

The sensor is designed and intended to warn of an overfill. IF the sensor is triggered and there is no overfill, then the issue is the sensor (or the parameters it calculates). Audi needs to make it right. If we are told to just ignore the warning message, how would we ever know if the condition of overfilling is real or not? I get that folks are using a dipstick to verify, but if a dipstick was not provided by Audi, it is not a feasible solution..

Bottom line is that Audi needs to calibrate the sensor so that it only comes on in the actual event of an overfilled crankcase. Condensation should be accounted for...

[arrivalanche]

Is this something to be concerned about if the actually overfilled it a little? My wife took in the B9 S4 in for its first oil change and the light came on. They took in to the back after draining some i guess but the light is still coming on. Shes been driving it that way for around 2 weeks.

[Arab]

Went back to my dealer and they drained some out...lights been off for a full day now and 200 plus miles. Think I'm good!

[elptxjc]

Bottom line is that Audi needs to calibrate the sensor so that it only comes on in the actual event of an overfilled crankcase. Condensation should be accounted for...

Again, it's not how sensors work. If it's overfilled since doing an oil change, then it's probably overfilled, even if it's by a hair... which would be fine. But when it's full, and then after some short trips shows overfilled, and after a long drive normal again, it's just borderline full. Which is my case. With sensors it's better not to have it super full, to avoid that kind of behavior. Not a big deal. It's nice to have a dipstick option for a change.

[15 Phantom S6]

Again, it's not how sensors work. If it's overfilled since doing an oil change, then it's probably overfilled, even if it's by a hair... which would be fine. But when it's full, and then after some short trips shows overfilled, and after a long drive normal again, it's just borderline full. Which is my case. With sensors it's better not to have it super full, to avoid that kind of behavior. Not a big deal. It's nice to have a dipstick option for a change.

Well I guess we can agree to disagree.

I don't think its acceptable to be driving around with a warning message on that's not accurate. If a warning comes on stating the oil is overfilled, then it should be overfilled with oil and removal of oil should rectify the issue. Condensation should be accounted for.. Like "arrivalanche" states above, his wife has been driving for 2 weeks with the warning on, that is not acceptable in my eyes..

In my eyes, .5L overfill shouldn't cause any issues, why doesn't the sensor trip at that level? Condensation wouldn't amount to .5L and no "false" warning.. .5L may not be the correct amount, but you get my point...

[elptxjc]

Well I guess we can agree to disagree.

Yep. Learn how sensors work, an then you won't disagree. A sensor doesn't know if it's 0.01-qt or 0.50-qt overfilled man, and there's NOTHING you or Audi can do about that. End of discussion.