Where does the oil go?

[Raptor251]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

1 quart every 1k miles is way too much!!

That means if you followed the factory intervals (15k), you would have had your oil changed 1.5 times just from replacing oil That's even more oil than the early 2000 e39 m5's ate!

Mine seems to burn less than all of my friends that have M3's here.. They all followed the break in, I followed my own break-in procedure. Not sure if it makes a difference but I have an inclination it does.

Ya think!?! The best part is the dealer told me its normal as it's a "race car" Whatever they say...

[Xof711]

Originally Posted by Mthrice

Every five thousand or so miles I add a quart of oil to my M3. I don't notice black smoke billowing from the exhaust, so where is this oil going? I know M3s are known for burning oil, but this is ridiculous!

High performance engines tend to consume more oil... Esp when the engine can go up to 8,400 RPMs

[yoelev]

What oil do you guys use in a pinch to top off? We all have gotten the "10w 60, are you sure" comments.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by yoelev

What oil do you guys use in a pinch to top off? We all have gotten the "10w 60, are you sure" comments.

I need to add a quart but don't want to go to the dealer ... best option recommended?

[Superfly_M3]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

I need to add a quart but don't want to go to the dealer ... best option recommended?

Buy the oil and add it yourself.

My car with 19,000km and last oil change 7,000km ago, just asked me for a quart last night. The orange oil symbol appeared on the DIC and there was a warning that oil level is at minimum. I stopped, added the oil, and drove away. 15 minutes later, the level was measured 1/8 from full. Problem solved.

The thing I like about BMW is that they foresee stupid little things. I bought a carrying case (for a quart) from BMW and it came with two paper funnels and a alcohol wetnap inside. Thank you BMW.

[DARK_M3]

My +1 quart light just came on AGAIN tonight. lol

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Superfly_M3

Buy the oil and add it yourself.

My car with 19,000km and last oil change 7,000km ago, just asked me for a quart last night. The orange oil symbol appeared on the DIC and there was a warning that oil level is at minimum. I stopped, added the oil, and drove away. 15 minutes later, the level was measured 1/8 from full. Problem solved.

The thing I like about BMW is that they foresee stupid little things. I bought a carrying case (for a quart) from BMW and it came with two paper funnels and a alcohol wetnap inside. Thank you BMW.

cool, what kind / weight did you use?

[Superfly_M3]

What BMW specs say Castrol 10W60 Synthetic.

Dude, do you even own an M3??? These kind of questions should not pop up from owners. You should always have a quart with you.

[serranot]

Originally Posted by Singletrack

Into the combustion chambers.

You aren't going to see such a tiny amount of oil being burnt off. You need to reset your expectations. A qt every 5k miles is totally fine.

+1

[img]

My 08 burnt a quart every 6-7k miles

[canadian stig]

The thing I like about BMW is that they foresee stupid little things. I bought a carrying case (for a quart) from BMW and it came with two paper funnels and a alcohol wetnap inside.

which you probably overpaid for by a factor of about 1000%

My car also burns oil. I add a litre about every 3-4000 km. I added about 2.4 litres of oil in total from the last oil change in may to the oil change i did a week ago. Total distance travelled was about 10000 km. Of course I do track the car usually twice a month or so not to mention revving the engine a lot during spirited drives.

[Crypty]

Mine needs a quart about every 4k miles but I autocross a lot, go near-redline regularly. Just got a top off yesterday actually.

[808@702]

I change my oil every 5K. Never have needed to top it off. I do drive it hard mostly. Is it possible that how the car was driven during break in affects the oil consumption? Seem like there is a lot of variation between cars on this forum.

[Mike Benvo]

Originally Posted by img

My 08 burnt a quart every 6-7k miles

Same here. It would religiously give me the warning about 500 miles before my 7,500mi oil changes. So I would add a quart for 500 miles and then change the oil.

And this includes HARD driving with track events. 8700+ RPM too. Some cars burn more than others, I suppose it has to do partially with break-in.

I did not follow the factory procedure. I followed my own procedure which has worked well on every BMW I've owned because I add less oil than everyone else!

[flagger]

Some engine builders like "wet" engines (Italians are good for this) and some like "dry" engines (Toyota). I would place the M3 somewhere in the middle.

If I extrapolate out my oil consumption, it would be about a quart every 8K miles on my 08; however, it usually gets changed before I have to add a full quart. Car has 40K miles.

I used to drive an Alfa Romeo Spyder ('80). It burned a quart every 1,500 miles from the day it was new. Sold it with 130K miles and it still burned a quart every 1,500 miles. My Toyota truck oil doesn't budge on the dip stick (somedays I go out and just look at the dip stick - sure do miss it on my M3).

I would not worry as long as the consumption stays constant. If it starts to increase, then you may have an issue.

[Dannys M3]

I guess my 2008 is out of the ordinary. She consumes 1 to 1.5 liters per oil change every 15,000 miles. 91,000 miles and counting.

[///Mperative]

I'm in a 2011 and I've only put 1 quart in the car so far (16k miles currently). I had to add the qt around 2.5k miles.

[ortho281]

31,000 miles and I have never had to add any oil btw changes. The oil gauge stays pegged at max the entire time btw changes.

[img]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Same here. It would religiously give me the warning about 500 miles before my 7,500mi oil changes. So I would add a quart for 500 miles and then change the oil.

And this includes HARD driving with track events. 8700+ RPM too. Some cars burn more than others, I suppose it has to do partially with break-in.

I did not follow the factory procedure. I followed my own procedure which has worked well on every BMW I've owned because I add less oil than everyone else!

+1

Even my built motor was broken in hard so the rings can sit in there tight

I intentionally put 10k miles on the new motor using 10W60 and i burnt 1/2 a quart with serious hard driving and revving up to 8800rpm

[ilya335]

I'm at 13k miles right now and only have to add a quart of oil once. This is with two track events and occasional spirited driving on back roads.

I didn't exactly follow the BMW break-in procedure either.

[S65B40V8]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Same here. It would religiously give me the warning about 500 miles before my 7,500mi oil changes. So I would add a quart for 500 miles and then change the oil.

And this includes HARD driving with track events. 8700+ RPM too. Some cars burn more than others, I suppose it has to do partially with break-in.

I did not follow the factory procedure. I followed my own procedure which has worked well on every BMW I've owned because I add less oil than everyone else!

So Mike, what is your "secret" break-in procedure?

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by yoelev

What oil do you guys use in a pinch to top off? We all have gotten the "10w 60, are you sure" comments.

Lubro Moly. The oil burning stops totally after I top off with that.