Maybe Maxlife really does work?

[fdcg27]

I've put about 2K on the 318i since I changed its oil on 6/3 (Well, 1960 miles).
The dipstick oil level is now about 2/3 of the way down to the add mark, so figure another 500 miles or so before I need to add oil.
Incidentally, the OM specifically notes that the oil should not be topped off regularly, and that oil should only be added when the level reaches the add line on the dipstick.
This is the lowest oil use/leakage that I have seen with this engine in the 25K+ that I've had it.
The first summer, I used Tection Extra 15w40 and needed a quart every 1500 miles.
Last summer, I ran M1 15W-50, and got about 2K/qt.
The car is now on its third run of Maxlife 10W-40, about 9K total, and I have never seen such low oil use from it.
Since the engine is not fixing its own leaks or consumption, I have to credit the oil

 

[oggb]

Burning a quart of 15w40 every 1500 miles? That's Saturn territory!

 

[tstep]

Very interesting. My son's Jetta 2.Slow is one of the oil eaters from the early 2000s. We were thinking of giving maxlife or maxlife ng a few rounds and see what happens.

 

[boosted]

After the guy I work with kept adding shaeffers to his chevy 5.7 vortec and getting sick of it he finally switched to maxlife as I suggested, he also is adding less oil between oci's and loves the stuff, good to hear other people having luck with it also, for me I just use good old dino, no leaks here on any of my vehicles

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: JRed
Burning a quart of 15w40 every 1500 miles? That's Saturn territory!



The Saturns have a built-in ring problem, so they tend to consume oil.
Old German car like to leak oil, and many BMWs have low tension rings, which lead to consumption until the engine is fully warm.
Of the five old German cars we've had (a Vanagon, two gas Benzes, two Diesel Benzes, a 733i and our current 318i), all leaked and/or consumed oil to various degrees.
It isn't necessarily poor maintenance, either.
I have the service records for the 318i going way back, and the car was properly looked after.

 

[Cooker]

I have also had good luck with MaxLife cutting consumption in my 3.8l Caravan. I switched from 10w30 to 5w30 this change. I'm curious to see if my consumption increases.

After the free NextGen MaxLife is gone I'm switching to the almost free Defy and well see how that does with comsumption.

 

[fdcg27]

If Maxlife has worked for you, I'd stay with it.
I've got a jug of Defy, which I was going to use in our leaky Impreza, but I think I'll give it Maxlife instead, based upon its performance in the BMW.

 

[JTK]

Almost fell out of my chair!

Thought this was in regards to ATF and you put it in your Accord!

I'm kidding. Good to hear the oil worked out. I've never tried the motor oil that I recall.

Joel

 

[JZiggy]

I'm currently seeing the same thing on my 218k mile Civic. Every oil (5w30 and 15w40) for the last 20k has shown steady 2k/qt consumption. The current fill of Maxlife Nextgen is at nearly 1k and the reading on the dipstick is down maybe 1/8.

 

[LeakySeals]

What helps consumption depends on why it consumes. Tired/worn rings? Plain old thick oil will work as good as HM oil. Bad valve seals? HM oil is the way to go. Hopefully puffs them back up a little.

 

[mechtech2]

It may the first half faster than the second.
it may not like being so full, and the rings can't control it.
Let her go down and see.

 

[Merkava_4]

You got the best brand and the correct viscosity for a BMW. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[fdcg27]

I think you're right about that.
Once the fill gets down to about halfway between full and add on the dipstick, consumption does seem slower.
Maybe I should take this as a clue for future fills, and just omit that last half quart or so?

 

[fdcg27]

Lord no!
Wouldn't have an automatic four cyl Honda.

 

[Norm Olt]

I've opined this before but I'll repeat: if the motor runs good, passes smog/licensing inspection and gas mileage is anywhere near what it was after it was 1st broken in, the use of a reasonable amount of additional oil between OCI's is not a crucial defect or flaw.

It is surely better than spending hundred$ (more likely, thou$and$!) breaking down top ends (or bottom ends, for that matter) just to save the cost of a couple quarts of oil every 3-5-7-? K miles.

For some engines it is already a known fact that the factory expects a certain amount of consumption, some with much more than others. The age and miles driven also come into play: a 100K+ car that uses a quart of oil in a 5K OCI may run to 200K without any problems.

Just my $0.02's worth.

Cheers!

 

[Bgallagher]

Originally Posted By: JRed
Burning a quart of 15w40 every 1500 miles? That's Saturn territory!

 

[sirgerman]

Originally Posted By: Bgallagher
Originally Posted By: JRed
Burning a quart of 15w40 every 1500 miles? That's Saturn territory!

Hey dont make fun of my 2 saturns , I love then , best 2 cars I ever had

 

[KCJeep]

Oil disappears from my son's 2.4 Chrysler pretty fast, but it doesn't burn it I think it's the pcv system on those, we have Maxlife in it now for the first time will be interesting to see if it makes a difference.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Oil disappears from my son's 2.4 Chrysler pretty fast, but it doesn't burn it I think it's the pcv system on those, we have Maxlife in it now for the first time will be interesting to see if it makes a difference.


If its PCV system related, all roads lead to the combustion chamber (unless its really really old)

 

[uart]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: KCJeep
Oil disappears from my son's 2.4 Chrysler pretty fast, but it doesn't burn it I think it's the pcv system on those, we have Maxlife in it now for the first time will be interesting to see if it makes a difference.


If its PCV system related, all roads lead to the combustion chamber
Yep kcjeep, not sure where else you thought that oil going to end up.

Quote:
(unless its really really old)
LOL that brings back memories. The old breather pipe running down the side of the engine and straight out into the air underneath the car. Those were the days. Of course we thought we were doing the right thing back then, trying to stave off global cooling and all.