oil consumption rate extremely high?

[s85e90]

Again, no one seems to be reading that this thread is about abnormally higher consumption during highway driving which there are plenty of theories as to why.

[8k3]

I agree that oil consumption is higher when driving on the highway for very long distances at relatively sustained speeds

[5TAR5CR3AM]

Originally Posted by ruff1017

OP, What is your oil temperature reading while you are doing the hwy trip?

Also check your oil cooler or the radiators to make sure that you do not have debris blocking them.

200-210 with windows down no ac. With AC on full blast, 210-220.

[5TAR5CR3AM]

Ok today I gave the car a good overlook. Only thing I did not get to was pulling the plugs. I ran out of time so that will have to be done friday when I return from work. There are no visible leaks anywhere from underneath or top of the engine.

Also to add in. The car never produces blue smoke. All out from a dig or doing a pull on the highway. I am completely catless as well.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by 5TAR5CR3AM

Ok today I gave the car a good overlook. Only thing I did not get to was pulling the plugs. I ran out of time so that will have to be done friday when I return from work. There are no visible leaks anywhere from underneath or top of the engine.

Also to add in. The car never produces blue smoke. All out from a dig or doing a pull on the highway. I am completely catless as well.

I have the same issue! I noticed it on a 600 mile trip that I had to add a qt by the time i got home. I was 3/4full when I left.

[tareemaa]

Are you checking the oil while car is on a level surface and not moving? I have the same issue, I am running M1 0w-40 and I started doing longer high trips and my oil levels dip to almost the point at which the oil light will go off. Yesterday I got home and let the car run while standing still and induced another oil check, the level went all the way up to the top line. Anyone know what the issue is, I'm thinking it may be a bad sensor.

[Leonardo629]

I'm running M1 0W40 and my car does not burn oil. I do reset the oil reading by holding down the button for a few sec every few weeks. Oil level has been the same for 5538mi before I changed it a month ago.

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by tareemaa

Are you checking the oil while car is on a level surface and not moving? I have the same issue, I am running M1 0w-40 and I started doing longer high trips and my oil levels dip to almost the point at which the oil light will go off. Yesterday I got home and let the car run while standing still and induced another oil check, the level went all the way up to the top line. Anyone know what the issue is, I'm thinking it may be a bad sensor.

Water and condensation burning off while driving at optimal freeway speeds. Once parked you may get a higher reading as well from city driving when water is reintroduced.

[5TAR5CR3AM]

Originally Posted by tareemaa

Are you checking the oil while car is on a level surface and not moving? I have the same issue, I am running M1 0w-40 and I started doing longer high trips and my oil levels dip to almost the point at which the oil light will go off. Yesterday I got home and let the car run while standing still and induced another oil check, the level went all the way up to the top line. Anyone know what the issue is, I'm thinking it may be a bad sensor.

My level does not change, regardless of what I do. All my trips I take, whether it is to work or a road trip the car is properly warmed up. If I would have a bad sensor then my motor would be overfilled with oil and would have stopped working by now.

Originally Posted by Leonardo629

I'm running M1 0W40 and my car does not burn oil. I do reset the oil reading by holding down the button for a few sec every few weeks. Oil level has been the same for 5538mi before I changed it a month ago.

It's a good thing we are talking about my car then...

[5TAR5CR3AM]

Originally Posted by s85e90

Water and condensation burning off while driving at optimal freeway speeds. Once parked you may get a higher reading as well from city driving when water is reintroduced.

The car is always properly warmed up and always reaches operating temps. Rarely, only a few times a month, do I drive it where peak op temps are not reached. Also it is driven nearly every day, so build up of condensation should not be happening.

[tareemaa]

Originally Posted by s85e90

Water and condensation burning off while driving at optimal freeway speeds. Once parked you may get a higher reading as well from city driving when water is reintroduced.

I checked while driving and stand still during the sane drive, I never turned the car off in between both checks

[tareemaa]

Any updates on this issue

[avusm3]

When on the highway the oil level can read incorrectly low. When you are at rest in the driveway and hit the reset button, it gives the correct level reading (full). On the one hand I am glad to know that the engine is not burning a ton of oil (as it indicates on the highway), on the other hand if BMW insists on shipping the car with only an electronic oil measurement system I wish they could come up with a sensor that works correctly.

Our Boxster S has both an electronic measurement and a dipstick. The electronic system on that car is reliable, and of course the dipstick gives direct measurement when needed. This is what BMW should be doing.

I love this engine, but hate this oil level system. I really wish we could get an old school dipstick - 100% reliability!

Originally Posted by tareemaa

Are you checking the oil while car is on a level surface and not moving? I have the same issue, I am running M1 0w-40 and I started doing longer high trips and my oil levels dip to almost the point at which the oil light will go off. Yesterday I got home and let the car run while standing still and induced another oil check, the level went all the way up to the top line. Anyone know what the issue is, I'm thinking it may be a bad sensor.

[aussiem3]

Okay, here is my case. '07 M3 with 45,150 km. Last oil change with 9 litres of oil at 39,550 km and my driving is mainly city - stop-n-go. Oil level dropped to 3/4 on the indicator at 41,974 km - that's five months later. Added 1 litres and it showed full but no overfill. Then in June at 44,745 km the indicator was showing less than half. Added another litre. Now the indicator is showing just under full. This has been my pattern since I owned the car from new, I service the oil yearly ... no go figure,

[M3 Pilot]

Originally Posted by aussiem3

Okay, here is my case. '07 M3 with 45,150 km. Last oil change with 9 litres of oil at 39,550 km and my driving is mainly city - stop-n-go. Oil level dropped to 3/4 on the indicator at 41,974 km - that's five months later. Added 1 litres and it showed full but no overfill. Then in June at 44,745 km the indicator was showing less than half. Added another litre. Now the indicator is showing just under full. This has been my pattern since I owned the car from new, I service the oil yearly ... no go figure,

Are you sure there isn't a hole in your oil pan ?!

My '08 in Perth did not sip a single drop of oil for 10,000km.

My '13 on the other hand drops to about 1/4 every 7000km+.

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by M3 Pilot

Are you sure there isn't a hole in your oil pan ?!

If that's the case there will be oil everywhere in the garage. Probably the engine is showing signs of its age, may be! Probably consistent short trips - work and back, and yet to do a loooong drive. May be time for one

[tareemaa]

Can this be a precursor to rod bearing failure?

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by tareemaa

Can this be a precursor to rod bearing failure?

Interesting thought ... it hadn't even crossed my mind. Who knows?

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by tareemaa

Can this be a precursor to rod bearing failure?

No

[tareemaa]

I'm just wondering if our oil sensor is going nuts because we are starting to have more debris from engine wear, or is it truely burning this much oil, I'm literally filling 1/4 of a liter everytime I fill gas

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by tareemaa

I'm just wondering if our oil sensor is going nuts because we are starting to have more debris from engine wear, or is it truely burning this much oil, I'm literally filling 1/4 of a liter everytime I fill gas

BMW threshold is a liter every 1k IIRC. Or maybe 1500 miles. Pretty sure it's liter every 1k, but even that's high IMO.

[tareemaa]

Originally Posted by s85e90

BMW threshold is a liter every 1k IIRC. Or maybe 1500 miles. Pretty sure it's liter every 1k, but even that's high IMO.

yeah I would say im going through a liter every 1000 miles, which too me is high, and I haven't really noticed white smoke.