Amsoil Euro car 5w-40, 9000 miles, 1995 BMW M3

[scotth]

Amsoil 5w-40
1995 BMW M3, 3.0L I-6 , 7200k redline
Miles on oil- 9k, time on oil- 1 year. Mahle (OEM) oil filter also changed at mid-interval. This car is a daily driver (25 miles roundtrip, 50/50 highway/city) with a few spirited driving trips thrown in there.

Here are the reports from Blackstone and Dyson. Previous oil was Mobil1 15w-50. I don't know what to think about the possible coolant leak, it seems too small to worry about right now, I will keep an eye on it. The car runs great, no other problems. I am wondering if I have a pinhole leak in the casting or something.

What do you guys think about lube control (LC, FP) products?

[ July 14, 2006, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: Bio-T ]

 

[unDummy]

Looks excellent for 1 year and 9k of usage.
Change the coolant and thermostat, add a stop leak product like BG44k, Alumaseal, Barsleak.... and keep on driving!

Why would you want to go more than a year? IMO, the oil/filter is doing well. Yearly maintenance should be mandatory. If you want to drive more than a year on an oil, purchase and install a bypass filter.

I don't think that you need to use ANY oil additives with this engine! Just stick with the yearly OCI. Keep the oil topped off if there is consumption. And, don't bother with the midyear filter change.

 

[scotth]

Coolant, thermostat and radiator have been changed in the last year or so for preventative maintenance. I am wary of stop leak products clogging up small passages, maybe my fears are unfounded??

I don't want to go more than a year or 9k miles, I guess I did not underunderstand what the question meant on the Blackstone slip. I was going to change it at 8k but it crept up to 9k. The filter is really easy to change on this engine and costs about $6, so it seems like cheap insurance. It is an element only oil style filter on the top of the engine.

 

[Pablo]

The oil thickened a bit, because you have a bit of a coolant leak. I would have the cause diagnosed, if you don't have the tools.

 

[scotth]

I talked to a independent BMW shop, and they said such a small leak would probably not be detected in a coolant system pressure test. But I should probably have it tested anyways to see if something shows up.

 

[windnsea00]

E36 cooling systems are notoriously weak but if you replaced the whole system within a years time then maybe the results are showing the leaking from before that time. You must be chipped also for that 7.2k redline unless you did a euro motor swap

 

[TooSlick]

The fuel contamination is also contributing to the mild thickening/solids level in this sample, as well as to the low FP.

TS

 

[scotth]

Unfortunately no euro motor...it has the 3.5" Euro HFM, 24lb injectors, euro airbox, and chip for those components.

I have replaced all the weak cooling components over the past two years or so, none of them ever failed. The weak components are the radiator, thermostat and thermostat housing. None of those even if bad can leak into the oil. So I suspect it is a small leak in a the head gasket, or maybe a pinhole casting leak. I am not sure what I am going to do, I am not very motived to pull the head until the problem gets worse. I might try a couple of those GM cooling system sealant tablets.

 

[buster]

Quote:

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The fuel contamination is also contributing to the mild thickening/solids level in this sample, as well as to the low FP.

TS

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Right. Going back and looking at older B/S labs reports, they all pretty much say <.5% fuel. Obviously the FP says otherwise.

 

[Pablo]

Quote:

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Quote:

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The fuel contamination is also contributing to the mild thickening/solids level in this sample, as well as to the low FP.

TS

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Right. Going back and looking at older B/S labs reports, they all pretty much say

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Not to mention a coolant leak.....

 

[scotth]

I just posted a newer UOA, sodium keeps going down, not sure what to think, no coolant loss, no other signs, factory compression levels. I am just going to keep running it till I see more sodium. I talked to a BMW shop about it, they said to not worry until something comes up. I would hate to do a head gasket just to find out it is a pinhole in the block or head.

 

[Pablo]

Maybe next analysis go through Terry D. and have him home in on antifreeze.

 

[scotth]

Will do.