BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > E90/E92 M3 Technical Topics > Mechanical Maintenance: Break-in / Oil & Fluids / Servicing
 
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-19-2014, 07:18 PM   #1
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Angry So much for BMW's Oil Change Intervals...

I usually change my oil, but this time around due to some work/life/family issues as well as for me wondering what would happen (or how bad the oil get) if I followed BMW's 15,000 mile oil change interval I ended up waiting longer than usual. Long story short, I only waited 12,000 miles as the car started acting strange (rough starts etc) and changed my oil today (so 12,000 miles ago BMW changed the oil, now I did, and 3,000 miles later BMW will again). I have never seen engine oil that smelled so much like gasoline before. It was so thick and horribly bad smelling to the point anyone would say you have gasoline in your oil drain pan, absolutely terrible. The sample is going to blackstone soon and I hope they are not going to find anything wrong with it.

Anyways, I don't know if I should be worried at this point, not sure a permanent damage has happened to the engine
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2014, 07:23 PM   #2
LucWerkz
Banned
No_Country
78
Rep
1,237
Posts

Drives: e70 X5 4.8i (Temporarily)
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DC/VA/MD/PA

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Track Dude View Post
I usually change my oil, but this time around due to some work/life/family issues as well as for me wondering what would happen (or how bad the oil get) if I followed BMW's 15,000 mile oil change interval I ended up waiting longer than usual. Long story short, I only waited 12,000 miles as the car started acting strange (rough starts etc) and changed my oil today (so 12,000 miles ago BMW changed the oil, now I did, and 3,000 miles later BMW will again). I have never seen engine oil that smelled so much like gasoline before. It was so thick and horribly bad smelling to the point anyone would say you have gasoline in your oil drain pan, absolutely terrible. The sample is going to blackstone soon and I hope they are not going to find anything wrong with it.

Anyways, I don't know if I should be worried at this point, not sure a permanent damage has happened to the engine
From your username I assume you track the car? Did you track it at all during this time frame?
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2014, 07:36 PM   #3
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Red_Baron View Post
From your username I assume you track the car? Did you track it at all during this time frame?
I actually have never been to a race track, the name has a different meaning that my friends use that I'd rather not talk about here I should probably change it.

I baby my car but as much as I am careful with it I drive it really hard redlining it once a day at least. That being said, I think the extremely cold weather this year may have something to do with it. I'm guessing this extreme smell was most likely due to car running rich, the question is was the reason not changing the oil (and thus oil getting thicker and thicker in cold weather) or was it something else? I am really worried now.
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2014, 08:04 PM   #4
LucWerkz
Banned
No_Country
78
Rep
1,237
Posts

Drives: e70 X5 4.8i (Temporarily)
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DC/VA/MD/PA

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonTDude View Post
I actually have never been to a race track, the name has a different meaning that my friends use that I'd rather not talk about here I should probably change it.

I baby my car but as much as I am careful with it I drive it really hard redlining it once a day at least. That being said, I think the extremely cold weather this year may have something to do with it. I'm guessing this extreme smell was most likely due to car running rich, the question is was the reason not changing the oil (and thus oil getting thicker and thicker in cold weather) or was it something else? I am really worried now.
Yeah that could be it, this cold temps from this winter have been pretty bad . From my personal experience, there was one time when I didn't change my oil until 15,000 miles. The oil looked and smelled as if I changed it at 7,500 intervals. Even during the 15,000 mile interval the car didn't do anything odd and I redlined it pretty frequently.

Best of luck to you!
Appreciate 0
      01-19-2014, 10:08 PM   #5
White 13
Second Lieutenant
42
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: A 2013 Alpine White E92
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: N Cal

iTrader: (0)

Gas smell in the oil is probably means it has gas getting in there somehow. I think fuel injected engines usually don't get much rich mixture time to where you would smell it and then it should burn off quickly once the oil heats up.

If it is fuel in the oil that should thin the oil not cause it to thicken. Old age and mileage could thicken it. From what I have read different oils thin and then thicken with mileage but that is really getting to the end of the oils life. I would think good synthetic should last pretty long.

It will be interesting to see what Blackstone says.
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 07:48 AM   #6
Thik
First Lieutenant
140
Rep
371
Posts

Drives: 2010 Space Grey E92 M3 6spd
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

You really can't judge the oil by smelling it. Just wait until Blackstone analysis comes back and post it.
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 07:51 AM   #7
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Another thing I have been noticing for about 2 months now is my mileage has gotten very bad. To give you an example, I usually get around 18 mpg city/hwy 50/50 mixed, I get around 16 in city exclusive and 23 or so in highway. Those numbers are about 3-4 mpg under where they should be unfortunately. In city for example, I cannot get over 10-11 mpg and this is with conservative driving. Highway is more like 18-19. I always thought its because of the way gasoline is changed in cold weather so it burns faster, but I don't know if that much change can be attributed to that. This is about 25-30% or so reduction in mpg.

I'm worried that BMW may have used wrong oil last time around AND/OR me driving in extremely cold weather (unfortunately I had to do this several times this year) with old oil (10k miles). There were many instances where I drove when it was 2-3F outside.

Last edited by JasonTDude; 01-20-2014 at 08:04 AM..
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 08:38 AM   #8
W///
Lieutenant General
W///'s Avatar
7436
Rep
12,293
Posts

Drives: F82GTS, E36/E92M3, Z4M
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SC

iTrader: (13)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonTDude View Post
Another thing I have been noticing for about 2 months now is my mileage has gotten very bad. To give you an example, I usually get around 18 mpg city/hwy 50/50 mixed, I get around 16 in city exclusive and 23 or so in highway. Those numbers are about 3-4 mpg under where they should be unfortunately. In city for example, I cannot get over 10-11 mpg and this is with conservative driving. Highway is more like 18-19. I always thought its because of the way gasoline is changed in cold weather so it burns faster, but I don't know if that much change can be attributed to that. This is about 25-30% or so reduction in mpg.

I'm worried that BMW may have used wrong oil last time around AND/OR me driving in extremely cold weather (unfortunately I had to do this several times this year) with old oil (10k miles). There were many instances where I drove when it was 2-3F outside.
Low mileage could be due to cold weather, all my cars' MPG has gone down.

Switch to a shorter interval this time, but I'd wait to see what Blackstone says. Don't know how many miles on your car, but it might be worth checking spark plugs too.
__________________
Current:
16 F82 M4 GTS, Black Sapphire/Black, DCT
08 E92 M3, Sparkling Graphite/Bamboo Beige, 6MT
07 E85 Z4M Roadster, Alpine White/Red, 6MT
99 E36 M3, Techno Violet/Dove Grey, 6MT
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 08:53 AM   #9
apecush
Lieutenant
Canada
30
Rep
521
Posts

Drives: 2008 E90 M3
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Edmonton

iTrader: (2)

Fuel dilution of the oil is from not bringing the oil up to temperature. This will happen from multiple short trips.
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 09:48 AM   #10
Dougeefresh
Second Lieutenant
76
Rep
268
Posts

Drives: 2011 E92 JB
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Earth

iTrader: (1)

4 mpg seems like a big difference in fuel economy. Cold weather does not affect the mpg that much. I am seeing about 1 mpg difference at most between summer and winter (that's 80+ temp difference in Chicago) with same driving habit.
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 10:01 AM   #11
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dougeefresh View Post
4 mpg seems like a big difference in fuel economy. Cold weather does not affect the mpg that much. I am seeing about 1 mpg difference at most between summer and winter (that's 80+ temp difference in Chicago) with same driving habit.
Thats what I thought as well and that's how it always has been for me.
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 10:04 AM   #12
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by apecush View Post
Fuel dilution of the oil is from not bringing the oil up to temperature. This will happen from multiple short trips.
I don't do short trips with the car. My daily commute is 10 miles each way mixed city/highway and I dont drive the car if I'm going somewhere thats walking distance. I always bring it up to 210F before I go above 4500 rpm.

For the oil change, I drove the car for 30 minutes in city and highway, made sure I drove her "properly".

Is there a chance that a permanent damage happened to the engine? I am going to do the next oil change in 5000 miles and see what happens.
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 11:10 AM   #13
aus
Major General
United_States
890
Rep
9,031
Posts

Drives: Odysse
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Seal Beach, CA

iTrader: (10)

What oil did you put in? I'd put in Mobil 1 0W40 if its cold where you live
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 12:11 PM   #14
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by aus View Post
What oil did you put in? I'd put in Mobil 1 0W40 if its cold where you live
I put in 10W60. Where I live is usually not extremely cold (Northeast), but this year has been just terrible.
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 02:17 PM   #15
Law
Global Moderator
Law's Avatar
United_States
6377
Rep
2,309
Posts

Drives: E90 M3 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2011.5 BMW M3  [10.00]
2004 BMW M3  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonTDude View Post
I put in 10W60. Where I live is usually not extremely cold (Northeast), but this year has been just terrible.
& here we are in Cali complaining about 45°F (night) weather

I do see the cold & moisture as a potential factor in the oil problem. That & the BMW recommended 15,000 mile interval is just that, BMW recommended. Nobody else recommends this. Simply a BMW's tactic to save on their "free maintenance" costs that certainly didn't help your situation.
All the BMW indy shops i've spoken to have advised against that interval & it was a general consensus with the E46 M3s that changing the oil at 7500 vs 15000 yielded significantly cleaner engines (there was a thread with photographs). I'm sure the S65 motor in our E9Xs are no exception to this.

Sorry to hear what happened. Get that oil analysis done & change your oil more often!
__________________
2011.5 E90 ///M3 | 6-Speed Manual | Slicktop | Jerez Black | Fox Red

E9x M3 Press/Media Archives Thread | S65-based Racing Engines Thread
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 06:37 PM   #16
M3PO
Colonel
M3PO's Avatar
83
Rep
2,792
Posts

Drives: '08 IB E92
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: OC

iTrader: (7)

My used oil analyses have shown the detergents are almost used up around 8-10K miles. So for the remaining 5K miles, you are gumming up the engine.
__________________
2008 IB E92 M3| BBS | KW | Arkym | Platte Forme A.G. | Active Autowerke | K&N | Fabspeed | Dinan | Evolve-R
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 06:38 PM   #17
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M3PO View Post
My used oil analyses have shown the detergents are almost used up around 8-10K miles. So for the remaining 5K miles, you are gumming up the engine.
Detergants?
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 06:53 PM   #18
M3PO
Colonel
M3PO's Avatar
83
Rep
2,792
Posts

Drives: '08 IB E92
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: OC

iTrader: (7)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonTDude View Post
Detergants?
Yes, the detergents in the additive package that keep carbon deposits and sludge from building up in the engine.
__________________
2008 IB E92 M3| BBS | KW | Arkym | Platte Forme A.G. | Active Autowerke | K&N | Fabspeed | Dinan | Evolve-R
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 07:05 PM   #19
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M3PO View Post
Yes, the detergents in the additive package that keep carbon deposits and sludge from building up in the engine.
I'm sorry, this stuff is in the standard 10W60 oil or added extra?
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 07:06 PM   #20
M3PO
Colonel
M3PO's Avatar
83
Rep
2,792
Posts

Drives: '08 IB E92
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: OC

iTrader: (7)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonTDude View Post
I'm sorry, this stuff is in the standard 10W60 oil or added extra?
All oil. Some more than others.

edit: All engine oils. As far as I know. At least I hope there isn't one sold without it...
__________________
2008 IB E92 M3| BBS | KW | Arkym | Platte Forme A.G. | Active Autowerke | K&N | Fabspeed | Dinan | Evolve-R
Appreciate 0
      01-20-2014, 07:10 PM   #21
JasonTDude
Banned
3
Rep
29
Posts

Drives: E90 M3
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Sandy Hook

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M3PO View Post
All oil. Some more than others.

edit: All engine oils. As far as I know. At least I hope there isn't one sold without it...
Got it thanks.
Appreciate 0
      01-22-2014, 08:26 AM   #22
dparm
Stop the hate, get a V8
dparm's Avatar
United_States
3848
Rep
8,625
Posts

Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Frisco, TX

iTrader: (1)

There are non-detergent oils, such as the stuff for lawnmowers.
__________________
Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan
Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:48 AM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST