M54 Engine Oil Consumption (3.0i/2.5i/2.2i - Not si/M)

[EdButler]

Hi All, I was just interested in doing a little survey on how much oil our cars consume... Mine uses around 1L per ~2000 miles which is reasonable-ish, and probably due to the way I drive it, however i'm very interested if everyone shares the same consumption figures. I've included a poll and differentiated between MANUAL/AUTO Transmissions to see if the engine braking factor of driving a manual may be causing this*

If you do have some oil use, please feel free to add comments to how the car is driven, which oil you use etc. if you so wish.

*Im thinking due to inlet manifold high vacuum on high-revving overrun (engine compression braking) which could be sucking oil through the valve guides.

 

[chris]

The valve stem seals were a problem on early m54 engines, but were supposed to be better on post 2002 ish cars. As they used two seals instead on one.

Pains me to see a thread like this, as when I got mine there was a receipt for a new head as oil level had run low with no warning light, and all was replaced by BMW (not cheap).

In my old 330 I used castrol edge diesel 5w40 or mobil one I found the best to prolong usage.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Never had a need to top it up between oil changes, which I do every 5,000 to 7,500 miles

Same on the X5 which is an identical engine, but has 90k+ on the clock

 

[EdButler]

Cheers CJ...

Chris, I know how you feel mate, but I don't believe for one minute BMW fully fixed the problem! I think the seals are now upto triple to compensate, but even the double seals cannot seem to cope on Manual Transmission cars at high RPM overrunning with high intake vacuum load... How does your Zed do for oil?

 

[chris]

Well i topped it up when i first got it, as it was just above min on the dipsick, and see how many miles i get.

On the e46 on certain oil it was 500 miles to 1ltr!!! Then i tried mobil and it went to 1000miles but still poo. BMW do say its within their tolerances to do 1 litre per 1000 miles though, and they aint the only ones!

But castrol edge (petrol) was the worst i found, especially 0w40, but they had difference viscosity for earlier models. As these engines ahould be 0w30 iirc. Weird how the M3 uses 10w60 to cope with it.

 

[craig3.2]

Mine use aprox Half a Litre every 3,000mls
(2005 3.0i),so not alot,given i do just 7000mls a year!

 

[PawnSacrifice]

Use very little on mine mate, in 4 years I've only needed to add a little. Otherwise make it to the oil change each time.

 

[gannet]

I dont really keep a check on the mileage or amounts, but I have had to put in about 3 litres over an above the oil changes in about 26k miles...

 

[peddy]

I'm the same as you Ed...

 

[EdButler]

I'm the same as you Ed...

Thank goodness theres someone! :lol:

 

[EdButler]

Bump

 

[sk93]

I'm the same as you Ed...

Thank goodness theres someone! :lol:

same here too

 

[Gerry]

Resurected thread this may help,,,,

 

[EdButler]

I was about to write a new thread on this, but i found the source of my 1L/1500mile usage...

It was the Oil Filter Housing (where it bolts to the engine).... If you use a good torch and look between the oil filter and the inlet manifold, you can see that the engine block is bright gold coloured from the leakage. Its a pretty common problem on the M54 and just usually needs a new gasket.

It is often caused by over tightening of the oil filter cap - i always thought 25NM seemed too much - 15NM can secure it tight. Also DO NOT USE a spanner/wrench to tighten: it is a bad idea due to the angle of the force on the cap which may distort the gasket where it reaches the block.

 

[CUREthe]

My Zed, with M54 2.2 engine, have the same issue... 1l for 1500 miles.

 

[pokeybritches]

Agree on the oil filter housing gasket. My M54 had been using oil for years, yet nothing came out of the tail pipe. I had the oil filter housing gasket changed, and the consumption stopped.