Yet another post about oil consumption

wilsjay · 07-06-2012, 08:37 AM

Sorry, as I know there are tons of posts on e90 oil consumption, but I have not seen much specific to the N54 engine. My car is an '08 335xi with about 46K miles on it now and the iDrive genreally tells me i need to add a quart around every 1500 miles. That consumption rate seems a bit excessive to me. I don't race or beat my car too much. Seems like the standard rate I have seen others post online is usually about a quart every 4-5K miles. My car is completely stock, I have never seen/smelled any smoke, nor seen a drop of any fluids on my garage floor. The car runs/drives fantastic. I use full synthetic Mobil 1 oil. Change every 5-10K miles.

Any ideas/anything to check to make sure everything is alright? I really don't want to have to buy a new engine anytime soon/ever!

FYI- My car is out of warranty. So anything done to it is on my dime.

flexinator · 07-06-2012, 08:53 AM

I hate to bring up the oil. But I'm pretty sure that most mobil one is not the correct oil for your car. As I recall, the 0w-40 european one is ok. That being said here is bmw's list:
BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market:

Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30

Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40

Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30

Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30

I also have an 08 335xi, it doesn't usually eat a drop of oil between the 15k oil changes. I'm at 58k miles now. I think once, somewhere around 30k miles it did need one quart just before an oil change.

wilsjay · 07-06-2012, 12:53 PM

Thanks for the info. I believe it is Mobil 1 5w-30, but I am not home right now to read the label to verify. My consumption rate still seems pretty excessive to me, but I am not a mechanic. I have seen it posted (several times) that folks have said BMW says they can consume up to a quart per 800 miles, which I find pretty unbelievable.

pits200 · 07-06-2012, 01:01 PM

Yes, 1 qt every 1500 miles is extreme especially considering you're not modded. If it's not coming out of the tailpipe, I'd be afraid to see what your intercooler and valves look like.

themyst · 07-06-2012, 01:53 PM

One of your gaskets are leaking.

wilsjay · 07-06-2012, 01:55 PM

Any ideas on what to look at/for? I would think with that much oil it would leave a stain on the garage floor and/or smell like burning oil.

benzy89 · 07-06-2012, 02:04 PM

Gasket leak and/or a PCV leak

wilsjay · 07-06-2012, 05:52 PM

Thanks please keep the info coming as it is much appreciated. Anything more specific? I am not sure how to check for a pcv leak/where all the pcv components are even located. :-)

FYI- I checked and the oil I am using is Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5w-30 SAE.

wilsjay · 07-09-2012, 11:58 AM

Bump

hemi to e90 · 07-09-2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsjay

Sorry, as I know there are tons of posts on e90 oil consumption, but I have not seen much specific to the N54 engine. My car is an '08 335xi with about 46K miles on it now and the iDrive genreally tells me i need to add a quart around every 1500 miles. That consumption rate seems a bit excessive to me. I don't race or beat my car too much. Seems like the standard rate I have seen others post online is usually about a quart every 4-5K miles. My car is completely stock, I have never seen/smelled any smoke, nor seen a drop of any fluids on my garage floor. The car runs/drives fantastic. I use full synthetic Mobil 1 oil. Change every 5-10K miles.

Any ideas/anything to check to make sure everything is alright? I really don't want to have to buy a new engine anytime soon/ever!

FYI- My car is out of warranty. So anything done to it is on my dime.

techinically this isnt a post, since you started a thread.

hence

"Yet another thread about oil consumption"

thank you

GeorgiaTech335coupe · 07-09-2012, 12:32 PM

If your car has 46k miles and you haven't changed your valve cover gasket or oil filter housing gasket, I would check those. That mileage is right around the time where they usually need to be changed. They won't always leak down to the floor. Check around the engine and see if you see some dirt crud in there.

benzy89 · 07-09-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsjay

Thanks please keep the info coming as it is much appreciated. Anything more specific? I am not sure how to check for a pcv leak/where all the pcv components are even located. :-)

FYI- I checked and the oil I am using is Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5w-30 SAE.

PCV is under the engine cover. If the OEM piece is leaking, you have to replace the entire component it's housed in. If you want, this may be a good opportunity to upgrade to the Rob Beck PCV (google it, he's selling it off N54Tech with an DIY install/pics).

JamesM3M5 · 07-09-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsjay

Thanks please keep the info coming as it is much appreciated. Anything more specific? I am not sure how to check for a pcv leak/where all the pcv components are even located. :-)

FYI- I checked and the oil I am using is Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5w-30 SAE.

That is probably a good portion of your consumption. Mobil 1 5W30 is not ACEA A3 approved, and hence, not suitable for use in our engines. Mobil 1 0W40 product data sheet
Mobil 1 5W30 product data sheet

Use Motul 5W40 X-cess, Mobil 1 0W40, Castrol Edge, etc.

07-06-2012, 08:37 AM	#1
wilsjay Private 34 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2008 335XI Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	Yet another post about oil consumption Sorry, as I know there are tons of posts on e90 oil consumption, but I have not seen much specific to the N54 engine. My car is an '08 335xi with about 46K miles on it now and the iDrive genreally tells me i need to add a quart around every 1500 miles. That consumption rate seems a bit excessive to me. I don't race or beat my car too much. Seems like the standard rate I have seen others post online is usually about a quart every 4-5K miles. My car is completely stock, I have never seen/smelled any smoke, nor seen a drop of any fluids on my garage floor. The car runs/drives fantastic. I use full synthetic Mobil 1 oil. Change every 5-10K miles. Any ideas/anything to check to make sure everything is alright? I really don't want to have to buy a new engine anytime soon/ever! FYI- My car is out of warranty. So anything done to it is on my dime. Last edited by wilsjay; 07-06-2012 at 08:51 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-06-2012, 08:53 AM	#2
flexinator Captain 88 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 2011 335xi coupe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: US iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335xi [0.00]	I hate to bring up the oil. But I'm pretty sure that most mobil one is not the correct oil for your car. As I recall, the 0w-40 european one is ok. That being said here is bmw's list: BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market: Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30 Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40 Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30 Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30 I also have an 08 335xi, it doesn't usually eat a drop of oil between the 15k oil changes. I'm at 58k miles now. I think once, somewhere around 30k miles it did need one quart just before an oil change.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2012, 12:53 PM	#3
wilsjay Private 34 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2008 335XI Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info. I believe it is Mobil 1 5w-30, but I am not home right now to read the label to verify. My consumption rate still seems pretty excessive to me, but I am not a mechanic. I have seen it posted (several times) that folks have said BMW says they can consume up to a quart per 800 miles, which I find pretty unbelievable.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2012, 01:01 PM	#4
pits200 Colonel 552 Rep 2,598 Posts Drives: 09 335i X-Drive Black Sapphire Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh iTrader: (1)	Yes, 1 qt every 1500 miles is extreme especially considering you're not modded. If it's not coming out of the tailpipe, I'd be afraid to see what your intercooler and valves look like.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2012, 01:53 PM	#5
themyst Major General 189 Rep 6,631 Posts Drives: '16 MK7 GTI Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (8)	One of your gaskets are leaking. __________________ E90 LCI N54 6AT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2012, 01:55 PM	#6
wilsjay Private 34 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2008 335XI Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	Any ideas on what to look at/for? I would think with that much oil it would leave a stain on the garage floor and/or smell like burning oil.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2012, 02:04 PM	#7
benzy89 Banned 83 Rep 2,396 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [7.50]	Gasket leak and/or a PCV leak
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2012, 05:52 PM	#8
wilsjay Private 34 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2008 335XI Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	Thanks please keep the info coming as it is much appreciated. Anything more specific? I am not sure how to check for a pcv leak/where all the pcv components are even located. :-) FYI- I checked and the oil I am using is Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5w-30 SAE.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-09-2012, 11:58 AM	#9
wilsjay Private 34 Rep 78 Posts Drives: 2008 335XI Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH iTrader: (0)	Bump
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-09-2012, 12:32 PM	#11
GeorgiaTech335coupe Lieutenant Colonel 81 Rep 1,883 Posts Drives: Black BMW 335i coupe Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If your car has 46k miles and you haven't changed your valve cover gasket or oil filter housing gasket, I would check those. That mileage is right around the time where they usually need to be changed. They won't always leak down to the floor. Check around the engine and see if you see some dirt crud in there. __________________ Legal Disclaimer: Anything I or anyone else says about my vehicle on this website(e90post.com or any affiliated or nonaffiliated sites), pertaining to modifications, is only to gain acceptance from my/our peers, and does not actually represent anything actually existing on my car, and thus, cannot be held against me in any issues, i.e. warranty claims, that may arise.
	Appreciate 0 Quote