Burning Oil

[01'325rip]

Hey guys,

I have had to top my car off with oil probably 5 times in roughly 11k miles, over a 13 month period. I have taken it to the dealer they said its normal car loves oil. I insisted they look at it.

They found the oil plug for the pan was stripped and they replaced it, but it seems as if my issue continues. I just put in another quart yesterday and its been between 2 and 3k miles since the last one. I had my car in for service 2 weeks ago and everything seemed normal to them. They mentioned nothing.

Anyone shed some light please.

FYI i do not drive hard, car has not been tracked.

Anyone experience this ?

Thanks

[Mike van D]

Only 3/4 liter added in 6k miles here.

[py0413]

That is a bit unusual. My engine would consume 1L every 4-6k km and I have no problem living with that. Do you track your car very often or do you drive real aggressively all the time? Those are the only 2 causes I can think of when a engine consumes so much oil over that mileage you have. Get the dealer to check it again and if not, visit another dealer. You always want to be safe than sorry.

[01'325rip]

thanks guys. I have never tracked the car. Average shift is prob around 3500 rpm.

[Foodle]

I haven't had the car long, but it wanted its first quart at about 3k miles.

I keep an extra quart of 10w-60 in the garage just in case the dealer is closed when the car is thirsty for oil. No big deal except the oil is hard to find.

[shendrick]

Although these cars are known to consume some oil - this sounds excessive. The only time I seem to consume oil is at high sustained RPMs like on multi-hour trips. Even then, its only been 1.5L over 23,000 miles. However, I did break the engine in very carefully. Your car is brand new and assuming you too broke the engine in as BMW suggests - then I would suggest documenting your oil consumption is case you want or need to push it up the BMW channels later.

[01'325rip]

Originally Posted by shendrick

Although these cars are known to consume some oil - this sounds excessive. The only time I seem to consume oil is at high sustained RPMs like on multi-hour trips. Even then, its only been 1.5L over 23,000 miles. However, I did break the engine in very carefully. Your car is brand new and assuming you too broke the engine in as BMW suggests - then I would suggest documenting your oil consumption is case you want or need to push it up the BMW channels later.

Thanks guys, Im going to take it to another dealership and see if they find anything different.

[PhillyNate]

I've had to add oil only twice. Strangely only when the car has nothing but Castrol TWS 10w60 in it. When I top off with Lubro Moly Syntech 10w60(BMW approved in Europe) the car stops consuming oil until it gets changed and filled with Castrol again. Go figure.

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by shendrick

The only time I seem to consume oil is at high sustained RPMs like on multi-hour trips.

Interesting. Mine asked for its first quart at the end of two 5 hour road trips.

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by shendrick

The only time I seem to consume oil is at high sustained RPMs like on multi-hour trips. Even then, its only been 1.5L over 23,000 miles.

Originally Posted by Foodle

Interesting. Mine asked for its first quart at the end of two 5 hour road trips.

Ditto for me. I think this is very normal. But once I top off with the other stuff in my garage, the consuming is done. That's a little strange.

[Hurricane]

Did you buy the car new? How many miles are currently on the car?

[nchan50]

I generally only need to top off once during the summer and not any other point during the year (usually just 0.5-1qt). I do oil changes ever 7500 miles but really don't put that many miles on it as it's not a daily.

[mdosu]

5 bottles in 11k miles? This is excessive. Keep track of what it is the next 6k miles...

My last 10k miles, I didn't have to refill, I burned about 1/4 bottle of oil, so I didn't refill as I was due for an oil change. The 10k miles before that, I burned 1 bottle of oil in 9 months, I refilled, and it didn't drop for the remaining 3 months up to the oil change. My car averages about 10k miles a year.

[01'325rip]

Originally Posted by Hurricane

Did you buy the car new? How many miles are currently on the car?

No bought it used.

Had an inspection on it no accidenta clean history, and service.

Has 27k on it now.

[Foodle]

OP, can you tell us a little about the kind of driving you do? City? Highway? Long or short trips? Etc.

[tjsabec]

Mines seems to burn 1 quart every 3500 miles... i find it annoying but believe its normal... My 08 vw gti burns a quart every 3000.

[yoelev]

this is i believe a huge risk to buying these cars used. the break in process is SO important. i think the potential that someone broke your car in like (to quote kenny powers) a "dck head" may be the reason why your baby is drinking oil like i drink fine single malt scotch.

too much

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by PhillyNate

I've had to add oil only twice. Strangely only when the car has nothing but Castrol TWS 10w60 in it. When I top off with Lubro Moly Syntech 10w60(BMW approved in Europe) the car stops consuming oil until it gets changed and filled with Castrol again. Go figure.

Same here, switched to lubro-moly 10w60 and have noticed less oil consumption. 53k on the clock, change every 7.5k and try to redline once a day once warmed up.

I burn about 0.5 qt every 5-6k.

[tjsabec]

Where is a good place to find find Lubro Moly Syntech 10w60?

[S65V8]

I probably avg. 1 quart every 5-6k miles. I drive the car very hard every weekend. If you're putting a FULL quart every 2-3k miles, that does seem very unusual.

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by tjsabec

Where is a good place to find find Lubro Moly Syntech 10w60?

I mispoke earlier. It's called Lubro Moly Synthoil Racetech 10w60. I got a 5 liter jug from BavAuto for about $39. It also comes with a very nifty colapsable pour nozzle built into the jug. I bought mine about 8 months ago.

[m3an]

my car drinks oil like gasoline. I just was @ BMW and they advised that 1 qt every 700 miles is acceptable and the threshold. I think that's way too much but that's what I was told. All my Ms have burned lots of oil.