BMW 525i -concern with oil miles & lifter tapping

[Russell]

I have a warm idle lifter clicking/tapping in my 95 BMW 525i with hydralic lifters that comes on after a few seconds of idle. Goes away when engine is revved.

It seems as if every time I change my oil, all synthetic, the tapping lifter noise goes away for about 3,000 miles. the longer I run the oil, the more constant the tapping. Last oil/filter fill was at 5,000 miles.

What gives here?

 

[Gary Allan]

Sounds like visc is decaying over time. Can be fuel dilution (not knowing your driving habits) ..or shearing. Any UOA on this engine?

What oil are you running?

 

[oliveoil]

I bet you have a little crud built up inside the lifters. What have your OCI's been? Typical BMW 10-15K? What type of oil have you been using? I'd probable do a run of Auto Rx to clean things up and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Sounds like visc is decaying over time. Can be fuel dilution (not knowing your driving habits) ..or shearing. Any UOA on this engine?

What oil are you running?


I agree, fuel dilution may be an issue. Previous used oil analysis showed some dilution with higher than desired lead levels. Dilution/lead was reduced with 3 Auto-rx treatments. Tried MMO on last change. May have made noise worse. Car is commute vehicle 30 mileseach direction with 60% open road.

Previous change was with mobil 1 10w40. Current fill is Castrol Syntec 5w50. I just may change oil more often. I have driven the car for 100,000 miles. Pervious owner drove it 72,000 changing oil only when service indicator lights came on, about very 7,000 miles.

 

[Russell]

see my response to Gary. I also thought crud. Even tried MMO. Change oil/filter every 4,000 to 5,000 miles

 

[PT1]

I would try some fuel system treatment like techron or redline SI-1. You may have some dirty injectors. See if that helps reduce the fuel dilution.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Did it tap with the M1,or just the Syntec?

 

[mechtech2]

Gary Allen gave a fine answer.
It's one of the two given possibilities.
Solution? A used oil analysis could tell .
Or simply go up a grade in viscosity and see what happens.

 

[aquariuscsm]

If you had tick with the Syntec,go back to M1 and see if it goes away.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Ok since we are talking Lexiton KY and they have seriously mild winters this is what I would try. I would fill it with Mobil 1 15W50 if you want synthetic or Delvac 15W40 if you want dino. SInce you have already done 3 auto rx treatments and one MMO I am going to guess that this engine is as clean as it is going to get. I could be wrong it could be sludge up badly but 3 auto-rx treatments are some strong medicine.

Now one of the good things about going this viscous is that the viscosity in all of the above should not be able to decay to a point that the lifter would tap so if you still get tap we will know it is a mechanical issue and not oil related. Second if you wanted to add a quart of MMO to either of the above again it is not going to thin them out to the point that they would be weak.

So by enough 15W50 or 15W40 to completly fill the crank case. Keep 1 quart of MMO on hand just in case! Leave 1 quart out of the engine on purpose. Put a good qaulity oil filter on as well like something from Baldwin,Donaldson,Puralator etc....Start car up and drive it around so you can get it warmed up listen while cold for the tick if the tick is gone cold then keep driving until you warm it up maybe go visit a friend or take a [censored] drive it is Sunday after and their is some beautifulc ountry in Lexington to see. Stop get out of the car once it is hot pop the hood and listen for the tick. If it is gone hot and could add the last quart of motor. If on the other hand it is their cold and it is still their hot add the 1 quart of MMO again and lets see what we see.

I am thinking your engine engine holds 6.5 quarts or more correct? So you should be good to go. No matter what happens with or with out the MMO do a used oil analysis so we can see if theiris anything in the used oil analysis to key use in. With he crankcase capacity your engine has 1 quart of MMO should not matter much for a 5000-7000 mile OCI!

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Did it tap with the M1,or just the Syntec?

Tapped with the mobil 1 after about 3,000 miles. Just filled with Syntec and no tapping when warm or cold. However, it will around 3,000 miles if past experiences hold true.

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
Ok since we are talking Lexiton KY and they have seriously mild winters this is what I would try. I would fill it with Mobil 1 15W50 if you want synthetic or Delvac 15W40 if you want dino. SInce you have already done 3 auto rx treatments and one MMO I am going to guess that this engine is as clean as it is going to get. I could be wrong it could be sludge up badly but 3 auto-rx treatments are some strong medicine.

Now one of the good things about going this viscous is that the viscosity in all of the above should not be able to decay to a point that the lifter would tap so if you still get tap we will know it is a mechanical issue and not oil related. Second if you wanted to add a quart of MMO to either of the above again it is not going to thin them out to the point that they would be weak.

So by enough 15W50 or 15W40 to completly fill the crank case. Keep 1 quart of MMO on hand just in case! Leave 1 quart out of the engine on purpose. Put a good qaulity oil filter on as well like something from Baldwin,Donaldson,Puralator etc....Start car up and drive it around so you can get it warmed up listen while cold for the tick if the tick is gone cold then keep driving until you warm it up maybe go visit a friend or take a [censored] drive it is Sunday after and their is some beautifulc ountry in Lexington to see. Stop get out of the car once it is hot pop the hood and listen for the tick. If it is gone hot and could add the last quart of motor. If on the other hand it is their cold and it is still their hot add the 1 quart of MMO again and lets see what we see.

I am thinking your engine engine holds 6.5 quarts or more correct? So you should be good to go. No matter what happens with or with out the MMO do a used oil analysis so we can see if theiris anything in the used oil analysis to key use in. With he crankcase capacity your engine has 1 quart of MMO should not matter much for a 5000-7000 mile OCI!


Taps when cold (in winter) with 15w50 oils. BMW mechanics say the oil passages to the lifters are very samll on this engine family and tend to clog on older engines.

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: PT1
I would try some fuel system treatment like techron or redline SI-1. You may have some dirty injectors. See if that helps reduce the fuel dilution.
Excellent point, this car has the original injectors. That said, I use mostly Chevron 93 octane gas and often use Techron, redline or Regane injector cleaner.