Car is consuming oil...ugh! 88 325is

[Stanley Rockafeller]

Just started lately...I've had it for several years, with storage in between seasons. Now that I've moved locations, I have strated using the car as a semi-daily driver. The body is great, and I just had the clutch replaced. Interior is fantastic, and the AC still works too.

I guess my questions is: how long can I get by with an oil burner, considering I live in a place that requires air quality testing be done once every 2 years (or maybe it's yearly...I'm not sure).

thanks in advance

 

[bmwtechguy]

The easiest thing would be to switch to Maxlife oil, either the blend or Full Synthetic if you can find it. 5w30 winter and the 10W-40 syn blend for summer would be ideal for where you are. Give it an oil change or two to see what kind of effect it will have to lower consumption.

 

[SteveSRT8]

depends on rate of consumption. Up to about a quart per tank of fuel is what most cars seem to tolerate well, you've just got to decide what to do with it based on the blue cloud following you!

Have you checked the obvious, like PCV, etc.?

If you don't care, drive on. But the emissions guys will slam you on your next visit. And repairs can be quite expensive. If the car sat a lot it may only need valve seals, but unless you can DIY ...

 

[AuthorEditor]

Second everything above. I've found that MaxLife and now Mobil 1 High Mileage really cut my oil consumption significantly. How much oil is it using?

 

[Challenger71]

Could simply be your oil control rings. That can be addressed without a tear down, if assuming the rings are just carbon locked and not physically damaged. Maxlife is a good choice or any other oil with high detergents and MMO.

As SRT8 stated, have you checked the simple items first such as PCV, valve cover leaks etc?

 

[JHZR2]

Id run maxlife or Mobil 1 10w-40 in that engine. See if it helps swell.

The engine likely does not have a true PCV or EGR, just a breather into the intake. Have you pulled plugs recently? That and the outer valve cover gasket would be my first thought. Get under the car and try to see if you find anything. If not, Id do an MMO interval for 500mi. If that does not help, just keep going with the High Mileage oil.

The latest API SM are designed to minimize impact on cat converters, so you may be able to work it for a long time with consumption if you can kep the internals clean.

 

[ARB1977]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
depends on rate of consumption. Up to about a quart per tank of fuel is what most cars seem to tolerate well

Man I'd poop myself if either vechical consumed that much oil.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Me. too, but I have many years of experience nursing along old beater cars. A few were big oil users of course.

 

[SuperFast]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Me. too, but I have many years of experience nursing along old beater cars. A few were big oil users of course.


half a quart of full quart of MMO if his oil level is to the full mark on dipstick ?

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

Thanks for the replies guys...

So the oil I'm currently running is Castrol Hypuron 15w40. The temps here are about +5C in the winter, and warmer in the summer. The owners manual suggests a thicker oil for the car, that's why i'm running the 15w40.

I've had this car for the past 7 years and used to exclusively run Mobil 1 15w50. Given it's high cost and short intervals, i decided against it and tried other oils (CT Full Synthetic 5w50 etc.)

Just as JHZR2 mentioned, I dont' really have a PCV system, only a tube leading from teh valve cover to the int. manifold. I do have a very small oil spot in my parking spot, so I'll look into that. According to the PO's recipts, he had the valve seals already replaced about 60kms ago.

in regards to my consumption, I'm using about .5 of a litre over the course of 5-6 tanks of gas. In terms of blue clouds of smoke..I have none, only condensation when the engine's cold.

I'm going to take your advice and try some of the High Mileage oils suggested. This is after I run thru my small stash of Castrol Hypuron 15w40. Considering the car has sat for several months, the consumption issues may resolve themselves in time.

thanks again guys

 

[mechtech2]

I'd use fresh oil when you go for testing - try and plan ahead.
I had a BMW that would start to burn oil at about 2K on the oil.
Maybe the timing chain chewing oil up was to blame.

 

[tig1]

I would try the Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w40 for 3-4 OCs. You may have a little ring coking that this oil may help with. Also what about your PVC system?

 

[Vaca]

Originally Posted By: Stanley Rockafeller

in regards to my consumption, I'm using about .5 of a litre over the course of 5-6 tanks of gas. In terms of blue clouds of smoke..I have none, only condensation when the engine's cold.


Consuming approx a quart in 2000 miles is not really a problem, especially in a 22 year old car - heck really in any car. Though, if I had, say, a 2005 Accord burning that much oil, I'd be concerned, but no concern at all in a 1988 325i!

My '88 325ic has nearly 300,000 miles on its all original engine and uses approx the same as you describe. The car has no driveability or smoking or emmissions related problems. runs great.

If I were you, I'd just continue what you're doing, running a good 15w40 in it and enjoy the car and don't think twice about the oil.

 

[widman]

The breather hose could be collapsing when it warms up or is in vacuum (deceleration)(or clogged). Also look carefully at any leaks. might be tightening some bolts or replacing a gasket. Might also be solved with AutoRx.

Remember, 1 drop of oil every 100 yards = 1 quart per 1000 miles.

My 88 325ic has about 200,000 miles without touching the engine except for resurfacing the heads after my wife overheated it. I use a CI-4 5W-40 and change once a year. When I drive it, normally it is 60 miles a day, but often it can sit 5 months without use. Mileage last year was 400 miles. some years I get to 4000, but never add between changes since running the cleaning cycle about 6 years ago.

 

[widman]

Better pics

 

[Vaca]

Like your 325ic Widman...these are great fun little cars. The handling is superb and it feels like you can really feel all 4 contact patches on the road.

Mine is silver with a black roof and red and black interior...all original, even the top. Has a few little scratches here and there, a tiny bit of rust under each door on the inside by the sheet metal seem...these are really well built and extremely sturdy cars. There doesn't seem to be any weak parts on this car...nothing.

 

[MCompact]

My 1995 318ti has 124,500 miles on the clock and it has consistently used 1 quart of Mobil 1 15W-50 or 0W-40 every 2500 miles or so ever since I took delivery of it in November 1995. That rate of oil consumption doesn't concern me in the least.

 

[widman]

Originally Posted By: Vaca
Like your 325ic Widman...these are great fun little cars. The handling is superb and it feels like you can really feel all 4 contact patches on the road.

Mine is silver with a black roof and red and black interior...all original, even the top. Has a few little scratches here and there, a tiny bit of rust under each door on the inside by the sheet metal seem...these are really well built and extremely sturdy cars. There doesn't seem to be any weak parts on this car...nothing.


I repainted it last year and re-dyed the top. Pics under "other cars" on corvair site.
It is fun to cruise through the mountains at 100 or so.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: widman
Originally Posted By: Vaca
Like your 325ic Widman...these are great fun little cars. The handling is superb and it feels like you can really feel all 4 contact patches on the road.

Mine is silver with a black roof and red and black interior...all original, even the top. Has a few little scratches here and there, a tiny bit of rust under each door on the inside by the sheet metal seem...these are really well built and extremely sturdy cars. There doesn't seem to be any weak parts on this car...nothing.


I repainted it last year and re-dyed the top. Pics under "other cars" on corvair site.
It is fun to cruise through the mountains at 100 or so.


Great looking BMW. I love to see well cared for BMW's especially the E30's.

 

[Challenger71]

Beautiful & well kept BMW Widman. I love it when someone cares for a vehicle to that extent. I especially love it when it's an "older" vehicle such as yours that runs with the new crowd without breaking a sweat.

Keep doing what you're doing.