I'm hoping someone familiar with these engines reads this. After a year or so of chasing down leaks - installing a new CCV and associated lines, installing a new VANOS line, installing a new oil filter housing gasket... there is zero loss of oil externally (ie nothing on the floor or anywhere on the engine that I can see). I am still having to add some oil, probably 1/2 qt. every 700-800 miles. I have used 5w30 synthetic mostly (Mobil or Castrol). I read on one of the BMW forums that these engines do have some record of burning oil, and that switching to a -40 might help. Does anyone have any thoughts they'd like to share?
Oil Consumption Issue: BMW M54 Engine (2002 325xi)
- Thread starter SteveP
- Start date
- Status
How many miles on the clock, because if you are past 100K then most folks would think about moving up to an X/40? Are you still burning oil, because if you are then think about using an approved piston soak and switching to a 10w40 High Mileage oil with a short first OCI? The rings are probably not going to benefit from a direct application cleaner or soak if you do mostly highway miles, but if you get stuck in traffic or short trip a lot an annual clean up can help to clear out the carbon.
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
SteveP:
Mobil doesn't make a readily-available 5w30 that is of the appropriate weight for your engine. You need to be using an LL-01 oil, as called for very specifically in your owners manual. If you are just using off-the-shelf Mobil 1 5w30 and Castrol 5w30, you are running an oil that is thinner than what is specified by the manufacturer, which denotes an HTHS of >3.5cP.
You should be using GC 0w-30, Mobil 1 0w-40, Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w40....etc, any of the LL-01 oils.
Also, what kind of interval are you running with regards to oil changes?
Mobil doesn't make a readily-available 5w30 that is of the appropriate weight for your engine. You need to be using an LL-01 oil, as called for very specifically in your owners manual. If you are just using off-the-shelf Mobil 1 5w30 and Castrol 5w30, you are running an oil that is thinner than what is specified by the manufacturer, which denotes an HTHS of >3.5cP.
You should be using GC 0w-30, Mobil 1 0w-40, Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w40....etc, any of the LL-01 oils.
Also, what kind of interval are you running with regards to oil changes?
Originally Posted By: SteveP
I'm hoping someone familiar with these engines reads this. After a year or so of chasing down leaks - installing a new CCV and associated lines, installing a new VANOS line, installing a new oil filter housing gasket... there is zero loss of oil externally (ie nothing on the floor or anywhere on the engine that I can see). I am still having to add some oil, probably 1/2 qt. every 700-800 miles. I have used 5w30 synthetic mostly (Mobil or Castrol). I read on one of the BMW forums that these engines do have some record of burning oil, and that switching to a -40 might help. Does anyone have any thoughts they'd like to share?
not to sound like a total [censored] but how are you reading on the bmws fourm's and not know the proper fluid to use? 5w30 m1 or castrol is to thin and the wrong oil to use in your car thats maybe a reason why your burning oil.if you "read the Oil Thread's" you need to be using BMW LL01 apporoved oil. one of the main reasons it leak's is the rear main seal a very common issue on bmw.
that being said. you should also buy a new power steering reservoir and hose's they are notorious for leak's. have you also checked your valve cover gasket it also a very common leak there to.
I'm hoping someone familiar with these engines reads this. After a year or so of chasing down leaks - installing a new CCV and associated lines, installing a new VANOS line, installing a new oil filter housing gasket... there is zero loss of oil externally (ie nothing on the floor or anywhere on the engine that I can see). I am still having to add some oil, probably 1/2 qt. every 700-800 miles. I have used 5w30 synthetic mostly (Mobil or Castrol). I read on one of the BMW forums that these engines do have some record of burning oil, and that switching to a -40 might help. Does anyone have any thoughts they'd like to share?
not to sound like a total [censored] but how are you reading on the bmws fourm's and not know the proper fluid to use? 5w30 m1 or castrol is to thin and the wrong oil to use in your car thats maybe a reason why your burning oil.if you "read the Oil Thread's" you need to be using BMW LL01 apporoved oil. one of the main reasons it leak's is the rear main seal a very common issue on bmw.
that being said. you should also buy a new power steering reservoir and hose's they are notorious for leak's. have you also checked your valve cover gasket it also a very common leak there to.
Last edited:
ADDINOL Super power MV 0537 SAE 5w30 Addinol Lube Oil GmbH
Agip Formula LL B 01 SAE 0w30 ENI S.p.A.Refining and Marketing Division
Agip Sint 2000 Evolution SAE 5W-40 ENI S.p.A.Refining and Marketing Division
Agip TECSINT SL SAE 5W-40 ENI S.p.A.Refining and Marketing Division
Aral SuperTronic SAE 5w30 Aral
AXCL S-Class Motor Oil SAE 0w30 AXCL Gulf FZE
BP Visco 7000 SAE 0W-40 BP Oil International
BP Visco 7000 Special SAE 0w30 BP Oil International
BP Visco 7000 Turbo Diesel SAE 0W-40 BP Oil International
SBS 5.0 "Longlife-01" BMW AG - TIS 26.12.2004 21:36
Castrol Formula SLX LL01 SAE 0w30 Castrol Limited
Castrol Formula SLX Turbo Diesel SAE 0w30 Castrol Limited
Castrol Formula RS Power and Protection SAE 0W-40 Castrol Limited
Castrol Syntec SAE 0w30 Castrol Limited
Castrol Super Racing 0W-40 SAE 0W-40 Castrol Limited
Castrol TXT Softec LL01 SAE 5w30 Castrol Limited
Cepsa Star Mega Synthetic SAE 0w30 Cepsa Lubricantes S.A.
Elf Excellium LDX SAE 0w30 Total
Formula Shell Ultra AB SAE 5w30 Shell International Petroleum Company
Gulf Formula TLX SAE 0w30 Total
Havoline Synthetic BM SAE 0w30 Texaco
Igol Process Compact P SAE 5w30 Igol France S.A.
Jet Top Level SAE 0W-40 ConocoPhillips GmbH
Labo RC SAE 0w30 Fuchs Labo Auto S.A.
Liqui Moly Longlife High Tech SAE 5w30 Liqui Moly
megol Motorenöl New Generation SAE 5w30 Meguin GmbH
Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40 ExxonMobil
Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel SAE 0W-40 ExxonMobil
Motorex Profile B-XL SAE 0w30 Bucher AG
Motorex Select SP-X SAE 5w30 Bucher AG
Motul Specific LL-01 SAE 5w30 Motul S.A:
OMV Full Synthetic plus SAE 5w30 OMV AG
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra SAE 5w30 Pennzoil Quaker State
Pentospeed 0w30 VS* SAE 0w30 Deutsche Pentosin-Werke
Petronas Syntium 3000 LL SAE 5w30 Petronas
Q8 Formula Special SAE 0w30 Kuwait Petroleum
Quaker State European Formula Ultra SAE 5w30 Pennzoil Quaker State
Satoil LazerWay B SAE 5w30 Svenska Statoil AB
Shell Helix Ultra AB SAE 5w30 Shell International Petroleum Company
Titan Supersyn SL SAE 0w30 Fuchs Petrolub AG
Valvoline SynPower MXL SAE 0w30 Valvoline
Veedol Powertron LL01 SAE 5w30 Veedol International
Veedol Syntron SAE 0w30 Veedol International
Wintershall VIVA 1 Longlife SAE 5w30 SRS Schmierstoff Vertrieb GmbH
Yacco VX 1600 SAE 5w30 Yacco S.A.S.
Agip Formula LL B 01 SAE 0w30 ENI S.p.A.Refining and Marketing Division
Agip Sint 2000 Evolution SAE 5W-40 ENI S.p.A.Refining and Marketing Division
Agip TECSINT SL SAE 5W-40 ENI S.p.A.Refining and Marketing Division
Aral SuperTronic SAE 5w30 Aral
AXCL S-Class Motor Oil SAE 0w30 AXCL Gulf FZE
BP Visco 7000 SAE 0W-40 BP Oil International
BP Visco 7000 Special SAE 0w30 BP Oil International
BP Visco 7000 Turbo Diesel SAE 0W-40 BP Oil International
SBS 5.0 "Longlife-01" BMW AG - TIS 26.12.2004 21:36
Castrol Formula SLX LL01 SAE 0w30 Castrol Limited
Castrol Formula SLX Turbo Diesel SAE 0w30 Castrol Limited
Castrol Formula RS Power and Protection SAE 0W-40 Castrol Limited
Castrol Syntec SAE 0w30 Castrol Limited
Castrol Super Racing 0W-40 SAE 0W-40 Castrol Limited
Castrol TXT Softec LL01 SAE 5w30 Castrol Limited
Cepsa Star Mega Synthetic SAE 0w30 Cepsa Lubricantes S.A.
Elf Excellium LDX SAE 0w30 Total
Formula Shell Ultra AB SAE 5w30 Shell International Petroleum Company
Gulf Formula TLX SAE 0w30 Total
Havoline Synthetic BM SAE 0w30 Texaco
Igol Process Compact P SAE 5w30 Igol France S.A.
Jet Top Level SAE 0W-40 ConocoPhillips GmbH
Labo RC SAE 0w30 Fuchs Labo Auto S.A.
Liqui Moly Longlife High Tech SAE 5w30 Liqui Moly
megol Motorenöl New Generation SAE 5w30 Meguin GmbH
Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40 ExxonMobil
Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel SAE 0W-40 ExxonMobil
Motorex Profile B-XL SAE 0w30 Bucher AG
Motorex Select SP-X SAE 5w30 Bucher AG
Motul Specific LL-01 SAE 5w30 Motul S.A:
OMV Full Synthetic plus SAE 5w30 OMV AG
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra SAE 5w30 Pennzoil Quaker State
Pentospeed 0w30 VS* SAE 0w30 Deutsche Pentosin-Werke
Petronas Syntium 3000 LL SAE 5w30 Petronas
Q8 Formula Special SAE 0w30 Kuwait Petroleum
Quaker State European Formula Ultra SAE 5w30 Pennzoil Quaker State
Satoil LazerWay B SAE 5w30 Svenska Statoil AB
Shell Helix Ultra AB SAE 5w30 Shell International Petroleum Company
Titan Supersyn SL SAE 0w30 Fuchs Petrolub AG
Valvoline SynPower MXL SAE 0w30 Valvoline
Veedol Powertron LL01 SAE 5w30 Veedol International
Veedol Syntron SAE 0w30 Veedol International
Wintershall VIVA 1 Longlife SAE 5w30 SRS Schmierstoff Vertrieb GmbH
Yacco VX 1600 SAE 5w30 Yacco S.A.S.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
SteveP:
Mobil doesn't make a readily-available 5w30 that is of the appropriate weight for your engine. You need to be using an LL-01 oil, as called for very specifically in your owners manual. If you are just using off-the-shelf Mobil 1 5w30 and Castrol 5w30, you are running an oil that is thinner than what is specified by the manufacturer, which denotes an HTHS of >3.5cP.
You should be using GC 0w-30, Mobil 1 0w-40, Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w40....etc, any of the LL-01 oils.
Also, what kind of interval are you running with regards to oil changes?
+1. This is a MAJOR consideration.
SteveP:
Mobil doesn't make a readily-available 5w30 that is of the appropriate weight for your engine. You need to be using an LL-01 oil, as called for very specifically in your owners manual. If you are just using off-the-shelf Mobil 1 5w30 and Castrol 5w30, you are running an oil that is thinner than what is specified by the manufacturer, which denotes an HTHS of >3.5cP.
You should be using GC 0w-30, Mobil 1 0w-40, Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w40....etc, any of the LL-01 oils.
Also, what kind of interval are you running with regards to oil changes?
+1. This is a MAJOR consideration.
How does the tail pipe look? Is it covered in oily soot? This would indicate heavy oil burning. Or is it covered in black, dry soot? This would ndicate running rich, mostly short trips or city use.
Thank you for the verbal admonishment, which I wholly deserve. I must apologize; I wrote before I checked with my shop and they are using LL01 oils in the car (I change my truck oil which uses Mobil 1 5W30 sometimes). And yes I have been guilty of slipping some of that in the BMW now and then. I do a lot of the mx on the car, but don't do the oil changes typically.
So, I presume I should add some thicker oil now, then maybe look at other options come next oil change, which is only a short time away?
So, I presume I should add some thicker oil now, then maybe look at other options come next oil change, which is only a short time away?
Having owned 3-series for the last 15 years, I'm not completely convinced that the car is going to die if it doesn't have LL-01 in the engine. Would I run a non-LL-01 according to the SI? No. Would I run a non-LL-01 oil for extended periods of 100+ mph driving? Again, no.
But for the low-stress driving that most do, and given that we tend to change the oil far more often than it was designed for, I wouldn't sweat it that much.
But for the low-stress driving that most do, and given that we tend to change the oil far more often than it was designed for, I wouldn't sweat it that much.
Originally Posted By: SteveP
The car has 136K on it. 90% city driving, 22 miles daily roundtrip to/from work for my wife. Tailpipe is sooty, but no moreso than my truck.
90% city use is not good for many of the German cars, so keep the OCI short and use an oil that cleans well, like an HM 5w40, as your oil consumption is high.
If you have not cleaned out the cylinders of carbon then it's worth doing with a piston soak or direct spray in cylinder cleaner. Ask on the BMW forum or at a dealer which one is best.
Once you get the engine and cylinders clean make sure you do at least one highway session on a Sunday each month for a few hours to clean out the carbon from in city driving and use a major brand fuel additive if you are using cheap fuel.
Hybrid engines are about the only type that don't mind inner city conditions, unless you short trip and let them cool off between stops.
BMW like to sell their own oil, but there is nothing special about their specs, so most major brand 0 or 5w40's are fine, in fact I think they are less fussy than VW TDI's in particular.
The car has 136K on it. 90% city driving, 22 miles daily roundtrip to/from work for my wife. Tailpipe is sooty, but no moreso than my truck.
90% city use is not good for many of the German cars, so keep the OCI short and use an oil that cleans well, like an HM 5w40, as your oil consumption is high.
If you have not cleaned out the cylinders of carbon then it's worth doing with a piston soak or direct spray in cylinder cleaner. Ask on the BMW forum or at a dealer which one is best.
Once you get the engine and cylinders clean make sure you do at least one highway session on a Sunday each month for a few hours to clean out the carbon from in city driving and use a major brand fuel additive if you are using cheap fuel.
Hybrid engines are about the only type that don't mind inner city conditions, unless you short trip and let them cool off between stops.
BMW like to sell their own oil, but there is nothing special about their specs, so most major brand 0 or 5w40's are fine, in fact I think they are less fussy than VW TDI's in particular.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: skyship
Originally Posted By: SteveP
The car has 136K on it. 90% city driving, 22 miles daily roundtrip to/from work for my wife. Tailpipe is sooty, but no moreso than my truck.
90% city use is not good for many of the German cars, so keep the OCI short and use an oil that cleans well, like an HM 5w40, as your oil consumption is high.
If you have not cleaned out the cylinders of carbon then it's worth doing with a piston soak or direct spray in cylinder cleaner. Ask on the BMW forum or at a dealer which one is best.
Once you get the engine and cylinders clean make sure you do at least one highway session on a Sunday each month for a few hours to clean out the carbon from in city driving and use a major brand fuel additive if you are using cheap fuel.
Hybrid engines are about the only type that don't mind inner city conditions, unless you short trip and let them cool off between stops.
BMW like to sell their own oil, but there is nothing special about their specs, so most major brand 0 or 5w40's are fine, in fact I think they are less fussy than VW TDI's in particular.
HM is just a swell's up seal's I dont think they make any HM Euro spec oil that is LL01 approived.. not that i have seen.... bmw Oil is great Oil even tho its a group III synthetic. I would never use it mine. not because it's hot a good enough I just Like having the 0W for added protection for cold start's.
Originally Posted By: SteveP
The car has 136K on it. 90% city driving, 22 miles daily roundtrip to/from work for my wife. Tailpipe is sooty, but no moreso than my truck.
90% city use is not good for many of the German cars, so keep the OCI short and use an oil that cleans well, like an HM 5w40, as your oil consumption is high.
If you have not cleaned out the cylinders of carbon then it's worth doing with a piston soak or direct spray in cylinder cleaner. Ask on the BMW forum or at a dealer which one is best.
Once you get the engine and cylinders clean make sure you do at least one highway session on a Sunday each month for a few hours to clean out the carbon from in city driving and use a major brand fuel additive if you are using cheap fuel.
Hybrid engines are about the only type that don't mind inner city conditions, unless you short trip and let them cool off between stops.
BMW like to sell their own oil, but there is nothing special about their specs, so most major brand 0 or 5w40's are fine, in fact I think they are less fussy than VW TDI's in particular.
HM is just a swell's up seal's I dont think they make any HM Euro spec oil that is LL01 approived.. not that i have seen.... bmw Oil is great Oil even tho its a group III synthetic. I would never use it mine. not because it's hot a good enough I just Like having the 0W for added protection for cold start's.
- Status
Similar threads
