E46 Fanatics Forum banner

Slightly modded mildly abused 330 burning oill, thoughts?

11K views 64 replies 22 participants last post by  tkrotchko 
#1 ·
2001 330i with Dinan air box and uuc exhaust - no other mechanical mods save 18" wheels,75k on the clocks. First 50k at hands of owner 1 over course of ten years, purchased in extremely clean shape and looked over thoroughly by qualified BMW shop at 60k with no problems found prior to mods.

Used/abused as daily commuter car these days, driven somewhat hard by most standards but not raced or abused or anything. All maintenance performed on or ahead of time by trustworthy parties using appropriate methods/materials.

It's burning oil, light comes on after about 2k from oil change and it's typically short about a quart of oil at that time. Screw is a little clunky going in and out of pan, mechanic (sound but non BMW specialist) thinks pan should be replaced sometime soon as a result.

Is this symptom simply the result of me modding and driving like a whipped jackass on the freeway m-f occasionally hand shifting auto trans and allowing to sit at higher rev range to bask in drone, accelerating hard off line and generally being an ass, or should I be concerned something bigger is amiss?

I know I'm not adding years to its life but should I be worried it's about to grenade if I don't start being gentle? Is there a mod to address issue?

Common condition? Source for alarm? Reasonable expectation of sacrificing long term durability for short term amusement?

Yes I always change it at 3k ( before recent trend of light coming on early and apparent burning) and use full synthetic and always the same brand/weight etc and change filter etc. No visibly apparent leaks.

I know this, burning oil is not good.

Thanks for any feedback/suggestions.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
The mechanic that wants to change your oil pan is a retard , that the first thing that came to my mind .

So if I get it straight , you burn a quart every 2k miles? What oil is used?

The issue with oil burning is extremely broad and cant be put in simple words as in why and whats the cause. There are many causes why and where can these BMWs burn oil. My personal stand point along with many others has always been the fact that the motor isnt broken in properly when its new. BMW doesnt recommend old school type of break in, they have their own "way" of breaking in the motor but the thing is they'll never explain it to you when you buy the car new UNLESS you ask them how(I think the owners manual has it too but not sure). They claim that these engines are so precise they dont need break in...BS. And the fact that these cars are sold with synthetic oil right from factory doesnt help one bit in breaking in the motor.

In short , oil burning in BMWs is more common then seeing Asians working at the sushi place. BMW has even issues a bulletin saying its absolutely OK to burn upto 1quart every 1k miles, and if you walk into any dealership they will be glad to show that to you and tell you that its Absolutely normal and its all OK. They did a great job at covering up their as$es. But think about it , BMW recommends oil changes every 15 k miles and if the car burns a quart every 1k mile , then you would have already gone through 2 oil changes before you reach your ACTUAL oil change :rofl::rofl: Good thing BMW covered their as$ and you cant sue them for that.

Anyway, many BMW owners have settled on the fact that its ok to burn oil and choose to top up instead of fixing the issue , I still say thats wrong and the car should not burn oil in normal driving conditions . However , if you drive very aggressive(long high revs, high downshifts ) it would be very normal for the car to burn some oil (how much? it'll depend on the situation). Most of not all of oil burning would be because it blows by the valve seals.

If the engine is used under normal driving conditions (normal doesnt mean driving like a grandma, it just means you're not doing endurance racing), the engine should NOT burn any significant amount of oil between changes. NOW, the length of oil changes will vary with everyone, some will change every 15k miles and then we have others who think they should change every 3k miles( the oil change interval SOLELY depends on the oil that you use and nothing else ). I tell you this, your oil will evaporate upto 1litre on a 15k mile oil change. It will in fact evaporate, not burn, so you should absolutely expect to loose a liter on a 15k miles change regardless. Now if your car also burns some oil, it'll be much more.

What oil you use? Mileage on the car?
 
#65 ·
I've been going through a quart of oil every 600-800 miles and have been for 2 years. I can smell oil burning when I'm on a hill, which means its hitting the exhaust (I think). I never see any oil on the ground.

Did you replace the valve cover gasket because of the oil leaking? Did you see it leaking?

What was your oil consumption before and after the gasket replacement?
 
#4 ·
Use advanced/title search for 'losing oil,' 'burning oil,' 'wtf is my oil going?'

Oh, also read oil threads or use LL-01

XL50 and mirror helps too. But the best help you'll get comes from reading fanatics, searching for symptoms, and watching the diy vids on whatever you're planning on doing. There's one out there with Marisa Tomei doing the FSR but I haven't found it yet.
 
#7 ·
if your burning oil and have to add a qt every 1/2k miles, its most likely your crank case vent valve. And DEF change all your breather tubes too(4).

In the first pic...pop that lil breather tube off and look how much build up there is in the tube. If its clogged, then change all.
 

Attachments

#8 ·
You guys are fantastic thanks so much for the replies and intel ( and yes I searched and read some other threads but still thought it prudent to throw my question out there given my precise scenario/setup, sorry to waste the personal/philosophical/electronic bandwidth for people thus concerned but I figured anyone who took the time to read and reply didn't mind doing so, apologies to anyone who could not resist replying for cutting into your designated timeframe for online hardcore tranny chat... No I'm kidding and thanks for the recommends)...

I'll take a look at the described issue. BlockedOut your answer is very intriguing as well and a big thanks and gtk.

Ftr I'm running 10w-40 (Chevron as it was on sale by the case, I think my mech is merely not schooled at all in bmws and I am now motivated to locate a good local shop of which there seem many).

Thanks for all your input, will poke around and see if there's any of described conditions... Much appreciated.
 
#9 ·
OP. Don't bother checking into anything. I absolutely know for sure what your problem is. It's not your oil--don't read oil threads, don't search for LL01. It's not your CCV.

It's your valve stem seals. They're hard and dried. Can keep topping up or get a top end rebuild. This seems to be a problem on S52B32 and M54B30 engines and I don't know why.
 
#13 ·
OP. .

It's your valve stem seals. They're hard and dried. Can keep topping up or get a top end rebuild. This seems to be a problem on S52B32 and M54B30 engines and I don't know why.
Cripes that's not good to know, but yet it is. Fork. I've looked into just about everything else mentioned here and don't see any signs of leakage etc.

I guess it's time to get a real mechanic and see what they think. I haven't had to fix nearly anything on this car since I bought it, but this is what you get for modding and flogging and I've done both (hangs head in shame).

Time to pay the piper ...

So, while he's in there, if it is a rebuild... What should I upgrade? :)
 
#16 ·
Cool thanks for the G2 everyone, I'll source the preferred oil and see what happens after next change, I've only been swapping the stuff at such short intervals because I'm always afraid there's exponential degradation once it gets low and I figured it was not worth messing around with (sorry mother earth). Since I just swapped in fresh juice it will be a month or so based on mileage.

Thanks again to all, this is precisely the reason I posted vs merely reading, opinions/impressions vary and only time and close inspection will surface the true culprit.
 
#17 ·
The "G2"? Sorry, that sounds like a code you think I should know, but I don't.

CCV is a decent bet and common reason for oil loss without evidence of dripping/leaking, so look at that seriously. Of course, Mango could be right about valve stem seals, but even the best guessers here only top out at around 3-4% correct! I'm at 2.34% and quite proud of my record! Mango, I've been running the numbers on, and he's at an incredible 4.28%--it's an admirable record he's got, but he is still just an Internet person!

Good luck!
 
#20 ·
even the best guessers here only top out at around 3-4% correct! I'm at 2.34% and quite proud of my record! Mango, I've been running the numbers on, and he's at an incredible 4.28%--it's an admirable record he's got, but he is still just an Internet person!
I prefer to think of Mango slightly differently. In the basement of the BMW North America headquarters, there is a large steel door with the seemingly innocuous title "knowledge continuity" stenciled on it. Behind this door you will find a dark room filled with life support equipment fashioned mostly from BMW coolant systems. In the center, resting on a custom made cradle of beige alacantara, is the disembodied head of BMW mechanic Hanz Jemango, who was aged 24 when Bavarian Motorwerkz was founded in 1917. He is currently 119 years old but is kept in top condition due to regular preventative maintenance. Since his body failed in 1963, he has been connected to BMW's mainframe computer assisting in the most challenging cases of mechanical troubleshooting. But he was never personally fulfilled by this work, until sometime in 1993 an unsuspecting network administrator hooked up a dialup modem to the mainframe computer, and Hanz was able to connect to the nascent world wide web and begin his long odyssey of helping enthusiasts understand the precious machines they drive. You can understand his special affinity for the coolant systems as they are the very implements sustaining his life.
 
#19 ·
I agree, it is really worth it to just start with the little things before you go crazy ripping into the motor. Is it possible it is the valve stems? Yeah it is, it is also possible it is the rings burning some oil, caused my improper break-in or just abuse over time. You could have a leak down test performed by a trusted mechanic to test for rings, but I myself would start looking EVERYWHERE for leaks.

Take your plastic shield off the bottom, and check for leaks for a week or so on the ground.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Dear useless troll...



Man, you're super smart. And funny... quite the combo as they say.

I bet everyone who reads that post will shake their heads slowly, smile sort of wryly and think to themselves... "damn, that jdstrickland may come off in a sexually frustrated, passive aggressive, nothing-better-to-do-but-troll-the-interwebs kind of way, but doggunit, he's pretty special... ain't he?"

Well maybe just the folks in Carolina.

Lulz. I'm just being an ass myself now, but, what is it about your life that blows so hard as to force you to sit around in front of a computer spreading such virtual feces on the electronic byways of life? Did mommy pull the teat too early? So sad. Me sorry.

Ummmm... noshit.

Thanks for the contribution (to the wasting of our collective lives). If burning oil didn't stop me from wringing my cars neck on the boring freeway straight line commute after another 12 hour day at the office killing myself before going home to my three screaming kids and constantly PMS-ing wife, you can bet your snarky little interwebs comment will. **** man, it's like, WOW, I feel SO stupid now, dammit, you're just insightful AND cool and like erudite and all eloquent and stuff too, damn you make me hate myself, I'm such a dummy!

Thanks for proving once again that no matter how innocent, self deprecating (or defecating?) and harmless someone's thread may be, someone bored at work and mad at life will show up to share some negativity.

I'll smile thinking of you tonight with my foot stuck to the floor, m'kay?

Bye bye times. :blah:
 
#27 ·
hizhi,

You're not that new here, but you probably haven't read as many posts as me. Don't take an insult from someone asking you to check for leaks, nor go easier on the throttle.

We have virtually certified morons here...a small group of us keeps a list! Neither of those who tried to help you while entertaining us is on that list. One has been nominated, but he didn't come close to making the final cut.

I'll give you +1 for your attempt, but you lose that point because you showed you cared too much. Now they'll see your weakness and come back!

We tell people here everyday to look for leaks...and pretty often they find them, without them dripping on the ground. Probably a qt. of fluid could collect in your underskirt before dripping down...and it'd get blown off when you drive.

Oh, usually when guys have their first dispute here, it's customary to make it up to everyone with a pic of Marisa Tomei. I'm not sure who started that custom, but I personally like it a lot!
 
#28 ·
hizhi,
Oh, usually when guys have their first dispute here, it's customary to make it up to everyone with a pic of Marisa Tomei. I'm not sure who started that custom, but I personally like it a lot!
OK, it's true, you got me, I was trying to play like I was joking, but, I really was hurting on the insides... a lot. And I do care, but you can never care too much.

I'm just....

I'm just so sorry....
 

Attachments

  • Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18
    46.6 KB Views: 129
#31 ·
Try German Castrol. Seriously, there is a reason it has a cult following. You can find it at almost any Autozone. It has solved the oil consumption issues on my 323i, Z4, Miata, and a friend's e39 530i.

Oh, and OE BMW oil isn't even a true full synthetic, GC is. Read the FAQ thingy in my sig.
 
#32 ·
Thats what I thought on the GC as well. Marvelous oil. Absolutely the best. But my car still consumes. I even posted a thread that it fixed my issues, but for some reason I think it was a fluke. I saw no drop for a few weeks but then it started dropping. I still use GC. I just chalk it up as part of driving the car and move on with it. It'll get another engine thrown at it one day. One I want to rebuild myself. By hand. Over a period of months
 
#35 · (Edited)
I agree with Blocked Out regarding proper break-in. I am the original owner of my car and followed the break-in procedure as outlined in the owners manual. I'm at 110,000 miles and I have never added any oil to my engine between oil changes (except about a half quart at around 4000 miles which I attribute to the engine wearing in). I think a lot of engines get abused early in life that are on lease.

I've been changing the oil at either 5000 or 7500 miles and am currently using Renewable Lubricants Inc 10W-40 - fantastic oil! Out of curiousity, I poured a small amount of BMW 5W-30 and RLI 10W-40 each into a small cup and left them outside over night during the winter. Temps got to right around freezing. The next morning I poured them out to see which one would "flow" quicker out of the cup. The 10W-40 easily poured faster out of the cup compared to the BMW 5W-30. I was amazed.
 
#36 · (Edited)
My 2006 325ci brand new from the dealer was redlined gear to gear consistently since the day I drove it off the lot. Had 8 miles on it when I bought it. Didn't burn a drop of oil in between changes. Never any smoke, etc. The break-in procedure has more to do with the oil control rings on the pistons sealing, less to do with valve stem seals. My current E46 has perfect service records from the dealer since day 1. It was serviced by BMW in Germany the first year of its life (ED) It still burns oil. Go figure.

I also know a handful of other people with newer BMWs including E60 M5s who terrorized the crap out of their cars right off the showroom floor. Bouncing rev limiters from day 1. No oil consumption. I know BMW runs the engines on engine dynos and chassis dynos before leaving the factory. This likely contributes to the most essential break ins. Not 100% sure though. This oil consumption business with M5X and S5X engines is something i'd like clarification on.

There's an extremely deep discussion going on BF.C about M5X oil consumption. Some have went as far as modifying the CCV system as to lessen the amount of oil that is"sucked" past the valve stem seals at high vacuum situations. They basically run a vacuum line from the CCV to the intake manifold. (where the nipple is usually plugged on the CCV)

This is an extremely deep topic. I'll follow up with bf.c to see how their consumption problems are panning out after the mod.
 
#63 · (Edited)
My car was unquestionably babied, barely driven (50k in 10 years) and its reward for this was being put into the hands of an inept psychotic Bostonian unleashed upon the pre and post rush hour hell of CA 101 5-6 days a week. There's no more satisfying way for me to start burning off the stress of another day of verbal abuse and metaphsyical ass raping per the world of IT startup marketing than planting my foot in it and bombing the entire route home in as fast order as possible so I can take a 45 min dump and then get changed and go back to work at my laptop until my brain gives out.

Sorry JDS, I was trying to be a bit self deprecating and humorous and then punced on you for taking me literally, and perhaps underestimated the ability for oil leakage under the car that does not end up in the driveway... but the first thing I did when the light started to come on was take a long hard look underneath every morning and night, and that, combined with the sweet and unmistakable scent of scorched 10w-40 after a prolonged and prodigious flogging has informed me that the shart is burning off...

Sorry to be a douche. (But you were trolling a bit too, come on... see that wasn't hard was it>?)

What's big and round and soft and tastes like warm apple pie? (see below)
 

Attachments

#41 ·
OP, We've Come to fix your car.
 
#43 ·
:lmao:
Oh, usually when guys have their first dispute here, it's customary to make it up to everyone with a pic of Marisa Tomei. I'm not sure who started that custom, but I personally like it a lot!
Figured i'd liven it up...!

Besides, who wouldn't want 5 mechanically inclined super models to fix their bimmer! :D
 
#47 ·
switched to mobile 1 5w30 once and it burned a quart every 2k miles. Went back to 0w40 european formula (LL01 spec oil). only top off once in between 7500 mile oil change interval... yeah 15k my ass.

Could be the oil you are using. These cars are super sensitive tot he type of oils you use. My g35 was the same way.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top