Running hot and burning oil

[akkando]

Originally Posted by bvrider1

What version oil cap are you swapping at this interval?

people say the e46 m3 cap fits better

[Johal E32]

Originally Posted by akkando

people say the e46 m3 cap fits better

I ran the E46 M3 cap and my car still leaked oil from the filler. The "new" style oil filler cap with the tabs bent seem to do an okay job. I still see a light oil film after a few hundred miles of driving but it isn't anything terrible.

[DL335D]

Is this the revised cap? My car is a 2013 with 49k. Is it really due for a new oil filler cap?

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...Lw_wcB#fitment

[pbonsalb]

I don’t think E9xM3 caps have hinged bases. My E61 535xi does.

[CTMike]

E93 is at the shop awaiting a new fan...

—
Check coolant level-good. No apparent leaks.

DTC 27B8 DME:Electric fan, activation

Attempt to activate cooling fan-will not run.
—

Hopefully that takes care of things!

[CTMike]

Radiator fan was replaced.

Drove it for about an hour on the highway with no issues (engine temp 175, oil temp 207 per BimmerLink)... came off the highway, let it idle in the driveway... temps started to steadily climb... fan is clearly not operating. Got first overheating warning as engine temp approached 234 and turned it off.

Back to the shop this week

[pbonsalb]

That is a bummer. Seemed the most likely suspect, but these cars are electrically complex and a lot of the electric accessories are in turn controlled by an electronic module. I assumed the shop used a high level scan tool to check for that. And you reported they tested the fan and found it independently to be bad so maybe you had 2 problems.

[Redd]

Originally Posted by Johal E32

I ran the E46 M3 cap and my car still leaked oil from the filler. The "new" style oil filler cap with the tabs bent seem to do an okay job. I still see a light oil film after a few hundred miles of driving but it isn't anything terrible.

It's not just the cap, it's also the valve cover. When I replaced my oil cap with the E46M unit, it still wept a bit of oil (much less than the original cap). After I replaced the valve covers, no more leaks from the oil cap.

[Dave07997S]

1 litre of oil every 2k mil s is not excessive with these cars. BMW considers it excessive 1 litre every 750 miles. Also, check the valve cover where the oil cap goes. Where the rubber gasket from the cap seats against on the valve cover. If its chipped the oil cap will still weep.

[Scrippy]

Thermostat and or worn water pump impeller? I mean if my car was over heating I would check as it's not that hard (3of10 difficulty). I would drain the coolant with the intent in putting it back in unless it's mixed with oil or really old. Or take it to BMW and pay Overheating can be real bad for soft metal motors.

[L4ces]

My fan wouldn't turn on and all I remember at this moment was replacing the thermostat, and while I was there, I replaced the water pump and hoses.

The fan was pretty easy to remove and insert.

I did it in a friends driveway.

[L4ces]

The burning oil issue could be PVC valve related. Mine were clogged consequently caused more pressure resulting in a leaking valve cover (so they said).

I still loose oil like you do. It can be full and then I'll need to add a quart. That could occur within a drive or over months. The difference is how I drive.

Twenty straights minutes at 80MPH will cause the oil meter to drop. Enough of that in a day will burn a lot. I suppose the pressure is different with sustained high rpm driving. I have 205K miles on it too. Note: since owning it with 20K miles on it, I recall having to top off the oil once in a while. Enough to make me carry two extra quarts while I drove from Oregon to NJ (mileage was about 47-48K.
BTW, the car sustained higher speeds than mentioned above for far longer periods through the Midwest without issue.

I never noticed smoke until the time I downshifted to second and stomped it. Poof, black smoke. Mileage was probably around between 180K.

I think I've convinced myself that it is something called blow-by.

[CTMike]

Originally Posted by CTMike

Radiator fan was replaced.

Drove it for about an hour on the highway with no issues (engine temp 175, oil temp 207 per BimmerLink)... came off the highway, let it idle in the driveway... temps started to steadily climb... fan is clearly not operating. Got first overheating warning as engine temp approached 234 and turned it off.

Back to the shop this week

Shop owner was very apologetic and offered to pick it up right away.

Fan relay replaced (under passenger footwell)

They tested it, said they were able to see the radiator fan running after car had warmed up, no overheating.

I picked it up tonight, drove it for about 15-20 min at normal highway speeds... got home, let it idle...

Fan didn’t kick on. Overheating warning at 231 degrees engine temp. Shut it off.

Sigh.

I searched for months, PPI was a must have... car seems to be in good shape overall but 2 months of E93 ownership and I feel a little cursed.

What’s left? Electrical gremlin or thermostat? Battery was replaced after the PPI... perhaps another clue? Just want to get it resolved so I can get to enjoying my first M instead of worrying...

Thanks,
Mike

[pbonsalb]

Whatever electronic module oversees the fan?

[CTMike]

Originally Posted by CTMike

Shop owner was very apologetic and offered to pick it up right away.

Fan relay replaced (under passenger footwell)

They tested it, said they were able to see the radiator fan running after car had warmed up, no overheating.

I picked it up tonight, drove it for about 15-20 min at normal highway speeds... got home, let it idle...

Fan didn’t kick on. Overheating warning at 231 degrees engine temp. Shut it off.

Sigh.

I searched for months, PPI was a must have... car seems to be in good shape overall but 2 months of E93 ownership and I feel a little cursed.

What’s left? Electrical gremlin or thermostat? Battery was replaced after the PPI... perhaps another clue? Just want to get it resolved so I can get to enjoying my first M instead of worrying...

Thanks,
Mike

Got the car back from the shop yesterday and everything seems to be good now. Car was warmed up, I let it idle in my driveway... radiator fan now kicks on as needed. I’ll have to go find a traffic jam to really test it.

They inspected the fan circuit again and found an overheated contact by the rear fuse carrier, near the battery. They think a high draw from the failing (old) fan was the cause. They restored said contact and things are running as expected.

TL;DR- new radiator fan, new fan relay, wiring contact restored... hopefully we are all set for a good long while now.

Mike

[DL335D]

Got the car back from the shop last week. No leaks, compression test came back with flying colors, fan works, no codes. I guess it's just super thirsty. 3L every 5k.

[CTMike]

Originally Posted by DL335D

Got the car back from the shop last week. No leaks, compression test came back with flying colors, fan works, no codes. I guess it's just super thirsty. 3L every 5k.

Holy moly... thirsty indeed!!

[acarr6]

Every 2k miles is not really a lot.. many many guys consume more with 0 issue.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by DL335D

Got the car back from the shop last week. No leaks, compression test came back with flying colors, fan works, no codes. I guess it's just super thirsty. 3L every 5k.

Maybe oil separators could be the issue?

[anerbe]

I'm pretty sure it isn't your case, but before my RB spun, it was eating a lot of oil. Have you done an oil analysis to check if metals are in check?

[roastbeef]

Do you let the car warm up before driving it, or do you just start it and go hop on the freeway?

[DL335D]

I do. I let it run in the driveway for about 5 min then I drive it very cautiously keeping the rpm's below 2,500. Never lugging the engine. Sometimes I do have to jump directly on the freeway, but I keep my speed below 65. Hope I'm not screwing anything up. I've warmed up pretty much all my cars this way.