[stickypaws]

For those of you using oil, your motors are barely broken in. Wait until after 10k miles or so when everything has finally seated. Also you should change out your break-in oil (the factory fill) early and rid the case of all the metal particles and silicon (from the sealers.) I changed my oil out a few times before 10k and had a UOA done each time. Lots of metals and silicon. Later you can choose to go with longer OCIs (7.5k-10k), but always let your UOAs determine that for you.

fwiw, the 6.2L V8 in my E63 AMG ate oil up until 12k. Now it's tight as a drum and hasn't used any add oil whatsoever since then (now at 22k.)

Oil consumption is normal early on. If you still use oil after say, 15k miles, then I'd look into it. Although some motor designs use oil nonetheless. My Porsche uses oil like breakfast cereal.

[raleedy]

If the BMW motor doesn't have filters and magnets for particle impurities, then it's pre-1950's technology. There is no mfr's recommendation for early oil changes. They are unnecessary and wasteful.

[Calgary Agent]

My '08 335 "consumed" oil at the rate of a liter every 4000km. BMW specs don't warranty an issue with this level of consumption (as I recall you needed to use > 1 liter / 1200km before they considered this unusual).

Before you get all cranked up about this remember that these turbocharged engines do NOT have a PCV valve to allow oil blowby vapour to be routed back into the engine. Instead any oil vapour(s) are blown into the turbos and through the intercooler where most of it condenses. I saw this myself when I upgraded the IC on my 335 .... there was a significant amount of oil (film & liquid) inside the old IC.

Still that doesn't amount to 1 liter per 4000km. The rest of the oil likely is being burnt and spat out the exhaust. This is considered normal for most turbocharged engines *and is why at least one aftermarket manufacturer designed an oil catch can for the 3liter N54 turbo engine*

My 550i has 9500km on it now and hasn't yet consumed any oil.

[raleedy]

I'd be surprised if an engine burning a liter of oil every 4k kms could pass a contemporary emissions test.

[Calgary Agent]

Originally Posted by raleedy

I'd be surprised if an engine burning a liter of oil every 4k kms could pass a contemporary emissions test.

Indeed .... . Well it was certainly going somewhere (seals were all good ... no signs of any leaks) and there was never any indication that it was burning oil. And yet, every 3500-4000km I'd need to add a liter.

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by raleedy

If the BMW motor doesn't have filters and magnets for particle impurities, then it's pre-1950's technology. There is no mfr's recommendation for early oil changes. They are unnecessary and wasteful.

Do you do UOAs with your oil changes? If not, you might be surprised. At the very least a UOA will tell you what's going on. Not a bad investment, imho.

Anyway, it's what I do and I like to know how my motor is breaking in. As I mentioned, I later go to the longer OCIs after seeing my initial reports when the motor is young. I have cars with performance motors and those motors are a big part of them. Just the way I do it. If I had 'normal' cars I probably wouldn't care so much. But I'm usually running at fairly high rpms as it is. And I change my oil after doing DEs at the track; heat will degrade oil faster.

New (or rebuilt) engines do shed a lot of metal. Metal in a new motor's oil is to be expected. Oil from the filter housing will have a visible sheen to it. The silicon is from engine sealers. Both will diminish eventually (unless you have a problem motor.) My initial UOA showed lots of metal content. And that's with high quality fleece filters. (my Porsche has a dry sump, fwiw.)

As the engine is running the oil knocks particles loose from all surfaces exposed to oil splash. Also, as the engine is running the oil between components is under pressure. Hydraulic drag tears any loose particles free and over time the oil can become quite loaded with metal.

It's wise to change the initial oil early and do a UOA, imho.

But it's your motor and your choice. No biggie. And no reason to change the oil if you're just leasing the car and have no intention of keeping it. But a lot of Porsche owners (and BMW owners, too) recommend an initial change and doing UOAs as a monitor.

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by raleedy

I'd be surprised if an engine burning a liter of oil every 4k kms could pass a contemporary emissions test.

p.s., this is common on the DFI 997.2 motors and the Porsche spec is 1.6 quarts per 622 miles. The average is about 1 liter every 1.5k miles.

Many high performance motors do, and will, use oil. Even my dry sump 993 uses more than 'a liter every 4k kms' and it passes emissions with flying colors every time. And that's in California where emissions tests are stringent.

[bmedude]

I created post similar to this not too long ago. Had to add a quart around 3000 miles. Seems normal for this car

[Autojack]

I have about 1,050 miles on my F10 550 - oil level still full.


1/26/11 update: At 1400 miles, the oil display now shows it is a little low, but no oil service light yet

At 2650 miles, low oil warning light came on - the dealer added a quart - no charge.

[cookiesowns]

stickypaws, do you happen to know a decent place for some UOA's done? I'm located in Southern California ( 92606 )

[72M4]

3500 miles and still exactly at level it began

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by cookiesowns

stickypaws, do you happen to know a decent place for some UOA's done? I'm located in Southern California ( 92606 )

I send them out. Although I'm sure there are places in SoCal (I live here too.) But I think most are geared towards aviation and heavy machinery industries who do lots of UOAs on a more regular basis.

Two places I use are:

L&N Engineering http://www.lnengineering.com/oiltesting.html

Blackstone Labs http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

With both places you simply fill a small plastic bottle (at about mid-stream in your drain) and then mail it. Blackstone is very quick and emails you a full UOA in a .pdf

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by cookiesowns

stickypaws, do you happen to know a decent place for some UOA's done? I'm located in Southern California ( 92606 )

There are tons of UOA's on the internet for the N54, check them out for reference. I have had good experiences with Blackstone as well.

[BestManWins]

I have done just 1350km and when I checked the Engine Oil Level today, I was surprised to see that it has lowered. Wondering if it has to hit the Min. mark to trigger a fault/warning message? How much engine oil to top-up from Min to Max?

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by BestManWins

I have done just 1350km and when I checked the Engine Oil Level today, I was surprised to see that it has lowered. Wondering if it has to hit the Min. mark to trigger a fault/warning message? How much engine oil to top-up from Min to Max?

I wouldn't add oil yet. I have seen this in my car on certain drives, then later in the day it will show full again. I would fill if the mark gets to the 1/2 level on the screen. Then start adding 1/4 quart at a time. (you can always add more, but you can't remove it if you fill it too much, without opening the drain plug.)

[JOHNBMWM5]

550i M Sport 2011, 600 Miles NO Oil used yet.

[cidair]

Originally Posted by cidair

Had to fill up with 1 L of oil after 9000 km ( 5600 miles ).

And again 1L of oil today, after another 5000km ( total of 14500km )!

[bmedude]

Originally Posted by BestManWins

I have done just 1350km and when I checked the Engine Oil Level today, I was surprised to see that it has lowered. Wondering if it has to hit the Min. mark to trigger a fault/warning message? How much engine oil to top-up from Min to Max?

Attachment 478205

from the "min" mark, the car will literally tell you to add one quart. This will get you to "max"

[F11-Diesel]

At 6500 km (4000 miles) the oil level is still on maximum mark.

[ghueser]

Originally Posted by BestManWins

I have done just 1350km and when I checked the Engine Oil Level today, I was surprised to see that it has lowered. Wondering if it has to hit the Min. mark to trigger a fault/warning message? How much engine oil to top-up from Min to Max?

Attachment 478205

Iv'e noticed on my car that this is a typical reading untill the motor oil temp gauge climbs to the normal position it takes. When you see this (which looks like a 1/4 low) just wait a little longer and it may climb to full. If not, only add an 1/8th of a quart, or as Gatoman suggests, wait until the 1/2 mark, then add a 1/4 quart at a time.

I like technology and such, but having a dipstick in addition to this electronic method would really make this a lot easier.

[BestManWins]

Thank you guys for the heads up Appreciate all your inputs.

Will monitor the oil level often to see how she drinks - have informed service manager at dealer and could hardly believe my ears when he said he hasn't had any customers going in for this problem!!

[JOHNBMWM5]

1000 miles covered now, NO Oil used, started openning her up now