increasing oil consumption

[sparkyjonze]

open the oil filler or dipstick tube and put a bag over it, it should deflate.

Wow. great shortcut. I did and it did deflate and with decent authority. Eliminates PCV system?

 

[sparkyjonze]

I’ve checked them before by placing my hand over the oil filler hole to see if there is a slight suction. This while the engine is idling. A really dirty air filter element can cause an engine to use more oil as well as elevated operating temps. Sludge clogging the oil drain back passages in the head will allow oil to flood/puddle around the valve stems and be drawn in the cylinders via the valve guides. The rings could be stuck. Berrymans down the intake while running and a can poured in the fuel tank. In the end, the engine/rings just could be worn to the point of loss of oil control. IN MY OPINION.

Thank you for that. There is suction and I'm pretty good about the air filter. I'm now on to your sludge possibility theory and how to approach it. How much more effective is an "engine flush" vs. the Berrymans additives?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I've noticed a steady increase in oil burning over past couple years. 1200-1300 miles between adding quarts a couple years ago to now 700. What are the most likely suspects? Seems to be more consumption/burning than leaking while idle because at one point recently it was not driven for awhile and I noticed no change in oil level at all. Plus this decrease in oil efficiency has been remarkably steady and gradual.

2006 525XI, 140,000 mi, and I use 5W-30 synthetic.

Do you see a puff of bluish smoke on start up or once you rev the engine after it has been idling for awhile? IF so that could be valve guide seals.

Are you driving the vehicle at autobahn speeds? You'll see an increase in consumption at these speeds.

Do you drive the highways often?

Do you remember how the valvetrain looked when you replaced the valve cover gasket? How does it look under the oil cap?

Do you smell oil burning inside the cabin? If so that's typically indicative of an oil leak at the valve cover gasket (Passenger side towards rear).

Other oil leaks check out? Rear main seal, oil pan, oil filter housing gasket?

 

[sparkyjonze]

Then there is one reply which offers little help. Where I come from, you check the easy , cheap areas first before you condemn the engine. Make sense?? He didn't mention a decrease in performance which I would expect from worn out rings. Worn valve seals would be much more likely than worn out rings .

I really don't see any decrease in performance. Just the increased thirst for oil, more frequently anyway. How would you remedy the worn valve seals?

 

[PontiacHO]

Thank you for that. There is suction and I'm pretty good about the air filter. I'm now on to your sludge possibility theory and how to approach it. How much more effective is an "engine flush" vs. the Berrymans additives?

Two different additives. Berrymans addresses possible stuck rings. Then there are additives for engine flushes. Probably can look down the oil fill hole to see if there is a “lake” of oil building during idle which would indicate clogged drain back holes. May need to remove the cam cover to rake out the sludge if that’s the case. Not sure the flush would work….

 

[adams355]

Thanks. I assume this one?
https://www.amazon.com/Liqui-Moly-2...ocphy=9002057&hvtargid=pla-591801227274&psc=1

Yep.

 

[Lubener]

I really don't see any decrease in performance. Just the increased thirst for oil, more frequently anyway. How would you remedy the worn valve seals?

Replace them.

 

[doublebase]

open the oil filler or dipstick tube and put a bag over it, it should deflate.

What a great idea, I’ve never heard or seen this before, but it makes perfect sense.

 

[Jetronic]

What a great idea, I’ve never heard or seen this before, but it makes perfect sense.

I have my moments.... especially in the morning after my 2nd cup of coffee and before my third...

 

[demarpaint]

If there are no leaks and the PCV is operating properly I would do compression and leak down tests, post the results and go from there. As mentioned the valve stem seals can be bad, I'd look at those after doing a compression and leak down test, and that's only if troubleshooting took me that far. The troubleshooting often stops after visual inspection and/or the PCV valve replacement. Regarding PCV valves I only use OE, twice with Ford products, and one Mopar I tried aftermarket PCV valves and started using oil, switching to OE stopped the problem instantly.

 

[sparkyjonze]

Replace them.

And since that is costly to do, what would a smart person do as a last resort (even out of desperation) before going down that road? Engine flush?

 

[sparkyjonze]

I have my moments.... especially in the morning after my 2nd cup of coffee and before my third...

Sure may have saved me a lot of time wasted.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

And since that is costly to do, what would a smart person do as a last resort (even out of desperation) before going down that road? Engine flush?

Answer post #23

 

[sparkyjonze]

Answer post #23

Yes, I appreciate the help. Just need a chance to run it. Have answers this afternoon. Many thanks.

 

[sparkyjonze]

If you're running any run of the mill 5w-30, I suggest you look for an oil with LL-01 or LL-01FE approvals.

Mobil1 5W-30 full synthetic is what I have been using.

 

[GSCJR]

I got that from your initial post, but are using a Mobil 1 product with the recommended approvals?

 

[kschachn]

I got that from your initial post, but are using a Mobil 1 product with the recommended approvals?

There is no Mobil 1 5W-30 product with a BMW approval.

 

[GSCJR]

Good to know! Maybe an oil with BMW approval may help curb consumption?

 

[ProbeGT]

Plus this decrease in oil efficiency has been remarkably steady and gradual.
2006 525XI, 140,000 mi, and I use 5W-30 synthetic.

Sounds like gradual engine wear to me. What is your typical oil change interval? High Mileage oil may reduce the oil burning rate.

 

[PimTac]

Good to know! Maybe an oil with BMW approval may help curb consumption?

A good point. The OP should have been running an oil with the approvals dictated in the owners manual. @edyvw might have more insights on this.