m42 using alot of oil

[e30-86]

hi guys.

my e30 318is m42 engine is using alot of oil . i do alot of driving highway mostly on a weekly basis travelling to and from work / start and stop in traffic :mad:

i noticed that is uses alot of oil since from the last 2 services ive done .. im finding myslef topping up at least once each fornight. the motor has 310,000km (190000miles) on the motor doesnt blow any blue smoke. and the motor sound and runs strong.

i use 15w-60 full syn on the motor.

any ideas?

[Janne]

hi guys.

my e30 318is m42 engine is using alot of oil . i do alot of driving highway mostly on a weekly basis travelling to and from work / start and stop in traffic :mad:

i noticed that is uses alot of oil since from the last 2 services ive done .. im finding myslef topping up at least once each fornight. the motor has 310,000km (190000miles) on the motor doesnt blow any blue smoke. and the motor sound and runs strong.

i use 15w-60 full syn on the motor.

any ideas?

Hi! Try 5w-40 full syn oil. I think this 15w-60 is too thin.

[nicknikolovski]

15W-60 might be a touch thick. I would use 15W-40. When the engine is cold it is at 40 weight and then as the oil heats up it thins to 15 weight. A 5W oil on 310,000km is way too thin. It will push through old gaskets, seals and clearances with ease. So I don't think your oil use is the problem.

What could be affecting your motor is loss of engine oil through an oil leak somewhere. Inspect your motor throroughly and let us know if you find anything. Also you could do a compression test on the engine, write down your readings, then put some oil drops into the cylinders and recheck. If your compression readings are now higher you have worn piston rings or excessive clearances within the engine block and its components.

Hope this helps.

[DesktopDave]

+1 on the compression test.  At high mileage it's prudent to have it checked out.  Mine has more mileage than yours, so don't worry too much.  When you say 'topping off' how much are you talking about?  If it's like a liter every month, I'd be concerned enough to get it fixed promptly.

+1 on the oil.  You're too thin & too wide.  I'd use regular old 5w30 or 10w40.  I try to keep the visco range as tight as possible - wide ranges like 5w60 add more polymers...that means less lubricant.  I also use a blended synthetic.  Here in the USA they're allowed to sell blends as 'full synthetics' but that's typically what I use...Mobil1 or Castrol Syntec 10w40 or 5w50 year-round...whatever's on sale.  The dino 'carrier' oil keeps the thin synthetic from leaking out of my seals...and the M42 is famous for oil leaks.

Hopefully it's just a few weak valve seals or oil seals and you're blowing it out the exhaust.  It's hard to detect burning oil if it's a little at a time, you'd need a diagnostic exhaust gas analyzer to be sure.

You can also send a sample of your motor oil out for chemical testing - they'll let you know with a very high degree of accuracy about what the motor needs.  Blackstone labs in the USA charges about $40 IIRC.

[e30-86]

thanks for the replies . ill get a comp and leak down test done on it asap . and will report back .. ive got some money put aside for when the motor lets go .. but i dont really wanna be spending it too soon , because im also saving up for a motorsport course next year and need every cent for it.

just to give you guys an idea .. i did a oil service like 5days ago (5L), have done about maybe 124miles
(250km) . and check the dip stick last night . it was on low, so i went down to the local petrol station and bought a 1L bottle .. and it only just bearly shows on the dipstick.

i might try 10w40 regular nothing speacil oil too.

[nicknikolovski]

Have you checked your sump plug. It might be loose. There's no harm in double checking. Just a suggestion anyway. And visually inspect your motor for leaks.

[B318M42W]

oil cap back on properly?