Is this too much sludge

Angelcma · 01-20-2020, 02:23 PM

Bought an e90 n52. 100k kilometers. This is what it looks like inside de oil cap.
Should I worry about something?

iqraceworks · 01-20-2020, 03:25 PM

Looks fine to me.

Phil325i · 01-21-2020, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Looks fine to me.

+1

But at that mileage and if you don't know much about the car's history, then I'd recommend an oil and filter change with a good quality fully synthetic oil.

Oolien · 01-21-2020, 09:03 PM

if you are worried about it just do an oil change every month with a good quality syn oil it should get rid of it.

Korz55 · 01-23-2020, 07:10 AM

I have 95000 Miles on mine and it looks nothing like this. Make sure you change the oil and filter and a very regular basis - you might want to carefully try an oil additive (cleaner) nothing too aggressive.

lowrydr310 · 01-24-2020, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oolien

if you are worried about it just do an oil change every month with a good quality syn oil it should get rid of it.

I have 240K miles on my car and it looks somewhat like that under the oil cap. There's some crust on the springs but everything else looks cleaner (no black). I have been doing short oil change intervals (4000-5000 miles) using quality LL-01 synthetic oil and it hasn't cleaned up at all. It would be nice to see it sparkly clean but I think the only way to do that would be remove the valve cover and spend a lot of time soaking/wiping/polishing.

King Rudi · 01-24-2020, 01:46 PM

Yes.....worry about bears. Those bastards are vicious!

As to your sludge, I think you're alright.....but I'm also no mechanic, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.

CTinline-six · 01-24-2020, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oolien

if you are worried about it just do an oil change every month with a good quality syn oil it should get rid of it.

+1

Good synthetic oil will clean that up, don't put any additives in the oil as that has the potential to loosen too much stuff all at once and clog up oil passages/oil pump pickup screens.

That really isn't bad anyway, I've seen much much worse. What is your oil change interval? Might want to shorten it a bit depending on your driving. Getting the car good and hot on a nice highway drive helps burn off moisture that may be in the oil.

Angelcma · 03-02-2020, 11:16 PM

Just did the oil change. I will upload a picture in a few more miles to see if it is cleaner

Mark963 · 03-04-2020, 07:37 PM

Pennzoil Platinum claims to be good for cleaning and it's cheap.

iqraceworks · 03-09-2020, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark963

Pennzoil Platinum claims to be good for cleaning and it's cheap.

I've always heard Rotella T6 is great for cleaning also..lots of cleaning additives for diesel motors.

NinetyEight740 · 03-13-2020, 11:18 PM

Any sludge is bad... that looks bad for that low mileage. Shorten up those intervals and make sure engine is getting to operating temperature to get the oil really flowing.

Boosted12a · 03-18-2020, 09:24 PM

Royal purple is a good detergent oil. I put it in my n54, changed it at 3k and it was black. Every oil change since then has been only slightly darker than fresh oil. I use rotella t6 5w40

01-20-2020, 02:23 PM	#1
Angelcma Private First Class 37 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW e90 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Is this too much sludge Bought an e90 n52. 100k kilometers. This is what it looks like inside de oil cap. Should I worry about something? Attached Images
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01-20-2020, 03:25 PM	#2
iqraceworks Brigadier General 2109 Rep 3,811 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Missouri iTrader: (0)	Looks fine to me.
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01-21-2020, 09:03 PM	#4
Oolien Enlisted Member 3 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 08 bmw 335xi n54 Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	if you are worried about it just do an oil change every month with a good quality syn oil it should get rid of it.
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01-23-2020, 07:10 AM	#5
Korz55 Enlisted Member 30 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 2009 328xi MT Coupe Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	I have 95000 Miles on mine and it looks nothing like this. Make sure you change the oil and filter and a very regular basis - you might want to carefully try an oil additive (cleaner) nothing too aggressive.
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03-02-2020, 11:16 PM	#9
Angelcma Private First Class 37 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW e90 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Just did the oil change. I will upload a picture in a few more miles to see if it is cleaner
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03-04-2020, 07:37 PM	#10
Mark963 Private 32 Rep 79 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 328 [0.00]	Pennzoil Platinum claims to be good for cleaning and it's cheap.
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03-13-2020, 11:18 PM	#12
NinetyEight740 Major General 237 Rep 5,691 Posts Drives: 2 - 2013 535i msport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange County California iTrader: (2) Garage List 2010 E91 [0.00]	Any sludge is bad... that looks bad for that low mileage. Shorten up those intervals and make sure engine is getting to operating temperature to get the oil really flowing.
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03-18-2020, 09:24 PM	#13
Boosted12a Second Lieutenant 69 Rep 210 Posts Drives: BMW 335i x Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Va iTrader: (0)	Royal purple is a good detergent oil. I put it in my n54, changed it at 3k and it was black. Every oil change since then has been only slightly darker than fresh oil. I use rotella t6 5w40
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