Author Topic: oil! were is it all going? (Read 2901 times)

kristofer_turner · « **on:** March 21, 2008, 08:43:40 AM »

Hello my first post here

Having had a trouble free e30 is and then sold it for no reason at all. I set out for a new m42 powered bmw, i laid myself on an e36 due to the better intake and more power. I got such a good deal that i just snapped the keys and off i went.

later I noticed that i was loosing oil. So i decided to give the car a fresh oil change (or in my case a top up). I took the car for a long drive to were my parents recide. and a quick oil check after the car had cooled down reviled that oil had just vanished :confused: i had approx 1 liter of oil in the car ! after looking underneath it seems that there isnt a puddle of oil and not so much a sign of a leak apart from the usual road gunk . But i have yet to put the car on the ramps to have a closer look.

if anyone can shed a light on this i would most appreciate

swiss318is · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:46:29 AM »

welcome to the forum! man gr�sst ganz herzlich! it could be that you burn your oil through the pistonrings... but be sure that you checked your engine... clean the outside with brakecleaner and then fill it up with oil and go driving around... then you see if and where it looses oil... good luck

kristofer_turner · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2008, 12:28:07 PM »

thanks for the info that is exactly what i will do.

My intention for the car are not yet certain but since the car has been lowered and has a full m3 body kit and k&n filter and alpina replica wheels, im still in the stages of discovering what this car has and needs . the idea is to get the engine perfect in stock form before i decide on which direction to take. thanks a million

magnum2066 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2008, 02:38:52 PM »

If it is burning that much oil wouldn't it cause the engine to perform and sound odd?

Also, would topping off the oil when the engine was hot and checking it again when it has cooled make that much of a difference?

<-- BMW noobie, Subaru scootie!

ChItalian1027 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2008, 12:12:51 AM »

i think check it when its running see if u can see anything while running also check ur oil pan see if there is a crack this happened to me and it was just my oil pan it had a crack where the screw was the crack was about a millimeter wide and and inch long got a new pan an runs just fine.

kristofer_turner · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2008, 03:50:36 PM »

Quote from: magnum2066;45268

If it is burning that much oil wouldn't it cause the engine to perform and sound odd?

Also, would topping off the oil when the engine was hot and checking it again when it has cooled make that much of a difference?

<-- BMW noobie, Subaru scootie!

not really it performs fine as far as im aware.it really surprises me but maybe i need to get it on the rams and have a closer look at the sump when im back from holiday.Bfore and after checks seem identical,offcourse after the oil has returned. but i did notice again how oil is going,but this time i lost half a litre in a 200 mile journey

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2008, 05:30:14 PM »

Check your spark plugs and see if there is any oil on them. If there is and you can't see any external leaks then you most likely have internal engine issues. Have a look below.

There are a few possibilities here:
1. You have got a leak somewhere on the engine
2. You've got worn valve stem seals - you would get blue/grey smoke from exhaust
3. You've got worn piston rings.
4. Head-gasket leaking oil - I had a friend that had a leaking head gasket on his Toyota
It would be pissing out oil and he would have to top up oil after every trip.
5. You got very bad oil consumption due to a bad engine block - possibly out of round cylinders.