Hi,

The other day my oil level indicator displayed at the min level so I added some oil. When I went to recheck, I got the following message:

"Oil display available after 2 minutes. Engine must be warm and switched off." I followed instructions, then when I checked. I got the following message:

"Switch engine on to configure system."

So I did, and as you might suspect I am caught in an endless do loop.

I saw Mark in Cincinnati's suggestion on another thread, tried that, and it didn't work.

Why, I've even read the manual, but no help.

Any advice?

Jeff in Knoxville (formerly of Cincinnati, Mark)

 

Yeah, buy a dipstick Other than that, eventually the car will tell you the oil level but first it's got to determine if you're a threat to homeland security and check your credit score.

It's too bad that the oil level indicator doesn't work more like the gas gauge.

 

Well,

I must have passed both the credit and security check, because tonight it worked!

Jeff

 

lol "do loop"? Are you a software developer by any chance? btw, my oil indicator decides for itself when it wants to work or not. I don't know of any surefire way to get it to behave consistently.

 

Two days ago I checked my oil level and the gauge indicated half full. So I added some oil. When I went to check the level again, it said that no information was available at this time. Well, this has been the message for two days now. I check when the engine is hot, when it's cold -- nothing (of course it's not running).

Well, I am planning on taking a 600-mile (round trip) drive in a couple of days, I sure would like to know what my damn oil level is!

I think Audi was wrong not to include a dipstick with this engine.
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Did you add the oil using the following EXACT steps:

#1 put car in "on" condition with engine NOT running
#2 open hood
#3 push CAR button on MMI
#4 toggle to oil and select
#5 leave MMI display showing min oil level
#6 add oil (about a pint)
#7 view MMI oil level display
#8 either add more or stop adding
#9 rinse lather repeat until you are satisfied

Put the oil cap back on, start the car (engine running)
Close the hood

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Then wait one or two days (assuming normal daily driving) -- during this time, do not open the hood again during this time.

Check oil level "normally" using MMI.

I have 34,000 miles on mine and have added, life to date three or four quarts of oil and the last couple I have followed the above procedure.

What a stupid-*** system (a technical term). But, it does work.

Why not use a dip stick.

Beats me.

Drive it like you live.

 

I just went and followed your steps exactly, and I still get the same message that no information is available at this time. Now what?
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I think it is based on opening the hood, it resets the MMI -- or maybe it is opening the oil filler cap.

 

It is important that the MMI indicator is working or has worked immediately prior to activing it with the engine turned off but the ignition in the run position -- THEN open the hood. The oil level indicator will (or should be) working before you start the process outlined.

It is a stupid system and I'll be the first to admit, that it seems to work sometimes and not others. But, when it stops working seems to be related to how recently the hood was opened.

Mine is working as of this morning and it is showing the oil is at 75% full and the status is OK.

I believe if I were, right now, to go out to the car and open the hood, close the hood and start up and drive away, it would stop working for a day or two until sufficient "settling time" had passed.

Probably someone even more detail oriented than I has actually figured out if it is opening the hood or twisting off the oil filler cap or both that resets the damn thing.

I do know that using the proc I outlined, my MMI bar becomes "real time" and if I add oil and look at the bar it raises it closer to "full."

If someone here on AW who has used this procedure successfully (besides me, of course) would chime in, I, for one, would appreciate knowing what triggers the MMI reading to STOP working. That is, is it opening the hood or twisting off the oil filler cap or WHAT?

God, what a stupd-*** system -- great in concept, but a pain in the butt in practice.

 

Or get a $15 dipstick and avoid all this nonsense.