X6 5.0 twin-turbo burning engine oil

[igorbmwx6]

I have 56k miles on my 09 X6 5.0 twin turbo. Today low-oil level (yellow) warning light came on the dashboard. I ran the engine and selected oil level check from CIC computer, as a result after a few minutes of checking the level, it came back with "below minimal" level. I will add another quart when I get home tonight, it's not a big deal. My question is, is this normal? Should I start worrying and checking into turbos, leaking oil leaking gaskets? Has anyone else experienced similar problem? I replaced engine oil about a month ago (1k miles ago), together with filter and filled it to a normal level for this 8-cylinder 5.0L engine

[MaX6]

Burning off some oil is normal- however you are going thru a quart every 1k miles? That is not normal.. That is extreme..Do you not have a detectable leak within the engine bay or is all going out the tailpipe? How long have you been having to add oil?? What about the previous 1k miles?

A

[ddk632]

I had to top off a quart at 5k and an due again now just over 10k, on an X6M but its the same base engine. It is apparently normal.

However, with your car having 56k miles you should have noticed it before. Maybe it was just taken care of at dealer services before you noticed?

[rodell]

I use a quart every 1800-2000 miles with 21,000 miles on my 2010 5.0. The service advisor says "it will get better". It hasn't in the last 6,000 miles.

[igorbmwx6]

Originally Posted by MaX6

Burning off some oil is normal- however you are going thru a quart every 1k miles? That is not normal.. That is extreme..Do you not have a detectable leak within the engine bay or is all going out the tailpipe? How long have you been having to add oil?? What about the previous 1k miles?

A

This is the first time that I had to add 1qt of oil since I bought this car and changed oil on it. Approximately after 2k miles. There are no visible leaks, so most likely all of it is being burnt through tail pipes. I will see how many miles it will last before I get another warning message of low level engine oil. Just wanted to hear from other twin-turbo 5.0 engine owners if this is something common for BMW high-performance engine or should I start worrying

[igorbmwx6]

Originally Posted by rodell

I use a quart every 1800-2000 miles with 21,000 miles on my 2010 5.0. The service advisor says "it will get better". It hasn't in the last 6,000 miles.

Well, if the service adviser at the BMW dealership says "don't worry about it, it will get better", then I probably should not get alarmed about it. Considering this is a high-performance engine, it is possible that twin-turbos have something to do with this issue. My previous X5 3.0L 6-cyl engine did not have this issue what so ever, but then I did not enjoy driving my car as much as I do with this 8-cyl 5.0 twin-turbo I am willing to invest into 1qt of oil every 5k miles or so, even if that is normal for high-performance BMW engines. We will see how it goes ...

[ddk632]

Also as a quick point the V8 TT is a 4.4 liter engine, not a 5.0 - that part is marketing on BMW's part in the "50i" model designation.

[MaX6]

If you did a proper oil change and filled the crankcase correctly you should not be down a quart after 1k miles.. something is wrong.. You have a bad seal or piston ring allowing that much oil to burn.. My 2011 50i with 22k miles has barely moved oil level in last 2k miless.. I believe 1/5 of a quart or so every 1k miles is normal after 50k miles on the motor.... Keep an eye on the "burn rate" and confirm the interval before you get another warning light.. IF it is indeed only 1k miles I would have it checked out. that is not just normal engine wear/oil burn...

[wd]

I have 89K miles on the X6M and and on average I am adding 1/2 quart of oil every 5K miles. Oil changes per on board computer are every 16-17K miles and car is consistently burning about 1.5 quarts of BMW synthetic 5/30 oil between changes.

[igorbmwx6]

Thank you

[igorbmwx6]

I am now reading a lot of posts from N54 owners regarding turbo seals going bad and needing replacement. Also turbos themselves going bad and needing replacement (apparently BMW extended warranty period on their turbos to 72K or so)

[TonySCV]

One quart every 5-6k miles is normal on the non-M 4.4 as well. My 2013 needed a quart at 6k. No need to make an appt. assuming your BMW service is halfway decent. I swung by on a Saturday, one of the porters added a quart and I was on my way. Took all of 5 minutes.

[igorbmwx6]

Originally Posted by TonySCV

One quart every 5-6k miles is normal on the non-M 4.4 as well. My 2013 needed a quart at 6k. No need to make an appt. assuming your BMW service is halfway decent. I swung by on a Saturday, one of the porters added a quart and I was on my way. Took all of 5 minutes.

Hard to believe that it is true, but I guess that everyone, including BMW service have the same opinion. Adding 1qt of oil every 5-6k miles is normal for this engine. I am just not used to this, but I guess I will have to adjust to this fact and live with it. I also read that 15k interval between oil change is twice as long as it should be. It seems like the highly and most commonly recommended interval for this engine is 1/2 the period stated in BMW user manual, every 7k miles

[igorbmwx6]

Took it in to the local BMW dealership and here is what was suggested in order to fix the problem:

Replace vacuum pump (Found multiple oil leaks at engine
vacuum pump, crank case vent valves (PCV) and intake seals
at both turbo chargers)
$2,199.15

Replace intake tube seals at turbo chargers (Found
multiple oil leaks at engine vacuum pump, crank case vent
valves (PCV) and intake seals at both turbo chargers)
$513.62

Replace crank case vent valves on both valve covers and
other tubes (Found multiple oil leaks at engine vacuum
pump, crank case vent valves (PCV) and intake seals at both
turbo chargers)
$1,417.70

[aas5]

Originally Posted by igorbmwx6

Took it in to the local BMW dealership and here is what was suggested in order to fix the problem:

Replace vacuum pump (Found multiple oil leaks at engine
vacuum pump, crank case vent valves (PCV) and intake seals
at both turbo chargers)
$2,199.15

Replace intake tube seals at turbo chargers (Found
multiple oil leaks at engine vacuum pump, crank case vent
valves (PCV) and intake seals at both turbo chargers)
$513.62

Replace crank case vent valves on both valve covers and
other tubes (Found multiple oil leaks at engine vacuum
pump, crank case vent valves (PCV) and intake seals at both
turbo chargers)
$1,417.70

I hope you are not planningto pay for this unless your car is out of warranty coverage.

I have a 2011 x6 5.0 and have been adding oil every 5K as well pretty much from the beginning (now have 22K miles). I've been told it happens with most BMW V8 engines. You can really do it yourslef, it takes 5 minutes. Just buy a couple of quarts and carry them in the back with the spare kit. I haven't heard of any V8 issues at all while there have been many well documented issues with the inline 6 engines on 3 series I think related to oil pumps.

[igorbmwx6]

Originally Posted by aas5

I hope you are not planningto pay for this unless your car is out of warranty coverage.

I have a 2011 x6 5.0 and have been adding oil every 5K as well pretty much from the beginning (now have 22K miles). I've been told it happens with most BMW V8 engines. You can really do it yourslef, it takes 5 minutes. Just buy a couple of quarts and carry them in the back with the spare kit. I haven't heard of any V8 issues at all while there have been many well documented issues with the inline 6 engines on 3 series I think related to oil pumps.

My car is 09 with 55k miles on it. I am talking to BMW of NA, keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that they will pickup the tab. If they will not, I will find a local shop that specializes in BMWs and take it there. Not ready to invest over $4k to replace some leaking gaskets

[igorbmwx6]

Just received good news from my service consultant at Peter Pan BMW, BMW of NA is going to pickup 100% of the parts cost and 50% of the labor cost of this job. This is considering that age-wise car is still under warranty and miles-wise it is out of warranty period. I just realized, this is why I will not even look at another brand. BMW is #1 in my book

[UAxDEATH(NYC)]

When I had 5.0i, I was burning a lot of oil. Its all depends how you drive, I drove like I stole it.

[igorbmwx6]

Originally Posted by UAxDEATH(NYC)

When I had 5.0i, I was burning a lot of oil. Its all depends how you drive, I drove like I stole it.

Uhhhh, it is very difficult not to drive it "like you stole it"