330ci-Remember that ticking noise?
Discussion
I started a thread a day or two ago expressing my concern about a 'ticking' noise coming from the engine. I decided it might be best to take it to an independent garage and have them look at it.
Turns out my oil was running low; the oil gauge had failed. I was running the car with little or no oil for just under a week!
Mechanic stuck a few litres in and tappets stopped making their racket, but it turns out a few other things have stopped working;
-PCV Valve (because of the lack of oil?)
-the A/C unit that blows cold air (might let this slide)
-Fan at front of engine bay might be broken or could be fuse (not sure what he meant by 'just a fuse')
For some reason the mechanic told me in broken english (Polish guy) to switch the a/c on to its hottest and highest setting if the engine temp gauge goes right, i.e towards the red; is this some way of forcing the fan to go into over drive or did we get our wires crossed?
Turns out my oil was running low; the oil gauge had failed. I was running the car with little or no oil for just under a week!
Mechanic stuck a few litres in and tappets stopped making their racket, but it turns out a few other things have stopped working;
-PCV Valve (because of the lack of oil?)
-the A/C unit that blows cold air (might let this slide)
-Fan at front of engine bay might be broken or could be fuse (not sure what he meant by 'just a fuse')
For some reason the mechanic told me in broken english (Polish guy) to switch the a/c on to its hottest and highest setting if the engine temp gauge goes right, i.e towards the red; is this some way of forcing the fan to go into over drive or did we get our wires crossed?
daveco said:
So the polish mechanic wasn't pulling my leg! The oil light would come on for a few seconds every time I switched the engine on and then it would go off; I asked a mechanic a month ago to check this out, he said it wasn't anything to be concerned with...
It isn't - as long as you keep your oil checking regime going using the dipstick.Oil light coming on for a few secs then going off is a standard 330i trick, it seems.
In terms of original mechanical rattle, however, mine does do something that I've never got to the bottom of. Only from stone cold and only for a few seconds then. Seems to be related to engine speed; maybe belt or viscous fan link? Don't know anything about how the latter works though.
Does your car have a dipstick? - Not being funny as the E60 M5 doesnt and I dont know which model 330 you have? E90/1?
The PCV is the pressure control valve which allows the excess oil pressure within the engine to escape after 3 to 4 k revs and above.
I wouldnt know how they would break though.
The PCV is the pressure control valve which allows the excess oil pressure within the engine to escape after 3 to 4 k revs and above.
I wouldnt know how they would break though.
noneedtolift said:
Most "new" BM high output engines have no dipstick as you can check oil levels through your MFD. Loads of trouble with this when it was introduced, leading to customers overfilling, or worse, running on low oil levels.
What a step backwards. Cant really see the point, cant exaclty save money to omit a dipstick. The warranty claims for over/under filled must far outway the benefits of not having one. Mine's a 2000 330i and has a dipstick. This is the first I've heard of newer BM's not having one.
Given the shortcomings of the oil light on my dash (i.e. it comes on, as mentioned, for a few seconds on start-up, then goes off, even when the oil level is smack on max on the dipstick) I'd be extremely perturbed about not having a secondary 'manual' way of checking exactly how much was really in there.
Given the shortcomings of the oil light on my dash (i.e. it comes on, as mentioned, for a few seconds on start-up, then goes off, even when the oil level is smack on max on the dipstick) I'd be extremely perturbed about not having a secondary 'manual' way of checking exactly how much was really in there.
Neil.D said:
noneedtolift said:
Most "new" BM high output engines have no dipstick as you can check oil levels through your MFD. Loads of trouble with this when it was introduced, leading to customers overfilling, or worse, running on low oil levels.
What a step backwards. Cant really see the point, cant exaclty save money to omit a dipstick. The warranty claims for over/under filled must far outway the benefits of not having one. That'll be...........
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