Got in our justa Cooper this morning, outside temp about 50. During a short drive I noticed the Low Oil warning. After the car was fully warmed up the warning went away. A status check shows oil OK.

Normal behavior? Have had Hekla for about 2 1/2 weeks, 400 miles or so.

 

Not normal. Did you actually check the oil level?

 

Agree. Something does not seem right. Maybe just a computer/sensor fluke but I would check to be sure. I would consider taking it to a dealer as well. They can read the computer and see the error codes... ask them to check the actual oil level as well. This gives you something in writing that you took preventative actions should there be a problem later down the road.

FWIW: I've not seen this warning on mine and it's been in the low 20's here several times when started for the first time and did not get such message.

 

Pour oil in until you can see it. You don't need no stinking dipstick!

 

That sound like what I tell people re: check engine lights. Pop the hood, check the engine. Still there? Yep... You're good!

 

It's a 2015.

Does it have a dipstick or just the nanny light like on the BMWs?

 

No dipstick. It's like the BMWs.

 

Could it be low oil pressure?

 

In the '15S, the computer can tell your actual oil level.
The engine must be warmed up, parked in a level spot and the car idling. It shows the level in percentages. My previous '12S had a dipstick that was useless.
The gauge on the speedo tells you oil temperature and will show low oil until the engine is warmed up.
The arguments against the computer measurement makes me wonder if some folks would be happier with a dipstick for their gas tank.

 

Taking Hekla in on the 23rd. Short drive this morning, no warnings.

 

One of the many screen displays is an engine temperature gauge. It shows a little engine icon and either LOW, OK, or HIGH. It scared me the first time because I thought it was a "check engine" light or something catastrophic until I read the manual. Could this be what you are taking about?

 

Nope, we're talking about Oil.

BTW, it was colder this morning, no message

 

What I THINK is happening....
The newer BMW motors (which mini has) has a variable volume oil pump...(it is a fuel saving technology).....
And what I think happens is on a cold starts the pump runs harder (as commanded by the ecu), pumping more oil...so with more oil getting squirted, and dripping, less is sitting in the sump...so the sensor will read it as "low" when it is at the lower end of the "full" or OK level....bet if measured it, it is "close" to needing some, even though the sensor does not say to add YET.

 

Exactly +1

 

I want one!

 

You don't rely on a gas gauge in a plane.

 

So, what do you rely on in a plane? And has "running out of fuel " ever caused a plane crash?

 

You must be borderline low and once the oil warms up and expands it's level is acceptable to the oil sensor. Add oil.

 

He only has 400 miles on the car. I doubt it's borderline low, unless it's leaking like few cars that had problems with oil filter housing.

 

A big stick.

Running out of fuel has been a problem since the beginning of aviation.

Famous around here is The Gimli Glider, or The Gimli Goose, they got the math wrong when converting to metric. Nobody stick'd it.

Mostly, fuel starvation is caused by leaks.

 

The fact that you can't check the oil before you start the car is just so stupid. Your MINI is low on oil, but you have to drive it that way for 10 minutes until oil nanny wakes up & tells you to add oil. What a fine piece of high tech that is.

 

You can't feel good about driving your car if you get a "LOW OIL WARNING." ...sorry to hear this.

 

A couple of comments on your comment--you have to drive the car for about 30 miles before you can get to the point where the option to "start measurement" will appear. I was confused by my car because one time it would measure, but the next time it wouldn't (same level place, in my garage). Turned out that even though it had been driven long enough to be plenty warm, and the engine temp gauge said it was warm, 20 miles wasn't long enough. I do get a reading when I drive more than 30.

The other comment is that you don't actually get a "4.5 quarts" kind of measurement. You go through the countdown, and then get a reading that it's okay. Essentially no more information than you already had with the "engine check ok" or "oil level ok" readings you can get while in motion. At least that's how my 2015 MCS is, although it's an early 2015.

 

Thanks for your reply. I believe that our "15S's hold 5 liters of oil and an "ok" level is actually lower than full. I like the computer measurement because it gives a % of full.

 

Hubby put 5 quarts of oil in when he changed the oil and filter a few weeks ago (about 3500 miles). After some time I was able to get the measurement--please see my thread about the problems getting the computer to do this--but I didn't get a % as far as I could tell. I watched the bar go all the way to the right, and 100%, but I interpreted this as a percentage of the measurement, NOT a percentage of the oil level. In other words, even though the capacity is 5.3 quarts, 5 quarts filled it enough to give me a "100%" readout.

Am I missing something here?