Really bad oil consumption not normal?

krnshinsa · 03-15-2010, 06:17 PM

I've been bringing my 335i to the dealer to check my oil consumption since its been getting to the minimum every 1000 or so miles. This has been going on about 4 trips with oil top offs ever trip. They haven't been able to find any leaks. This isn't normal for a 335i is it?

galahad05 · 03-15-2010, 06:23 PM

A quart every 1000 miles? That's excessive. Did they check your coolant and your spark plugs? These can be great tell-tales.

coolant--->for blown head gaskets
oil-fouled plugs---> worn/damaged piston rings (or valve guides equivalent)

krnshinsa · 03-15-2010, 06:25 PM

Well this is the "2nd official" time they've looked at it and they've told me nothing was wrong. They want to monitor it one more time for their records before things get "serious." It better get serious.

HoustonScott · 03-15-2010, 07:28 PM

Is this an automatic transmission? If so you may have a rear main seal leak and the oil that has leaked is in the transmission bell housing.

HS

DrGP · 03-15-2010, 07:42 PM

PURE DEALERSHIP BS. They don't WANT anything to be wrong since it is likely to cost them big bucks. AND unfortunately, BMW and most other car makers, set the tolerances for oil consumption so high that they will almost never have to fix it (new engine block). This is NOT normal. But I have seen it happen too many times, but not only with BMW. MY guess is that you followed the owners manual or drove very conservatively during the first 1500 miles. One of the consequences of doing such is that the piston rings don't seat COMPLETELY and you burn oil. You're either burning it or you're leaking it. You say they can't find a leak. If that is so, YOU'RE BURNING OIL. BTW, there are many of us whose engines have consumed little or no oil. Some who followed the easy break in will also consume very little oil. BUT there will be some(like you) that will find out the hard way why the easy break in is IMHO, not the way to go.

So what to do now. Document mileage and amount of oil, added. I would want to talk to the service manager and call BMW custome relations to open a case on your behalf regarding the excessive oil consumption. The real problem is that BMW considers Consuming 1 qt/1200 miles to be within acceptable tolerence. BS! Acceptable to whom? Aceptable to BMW since they don't have to fix anything. And believe me , they don't want to fix it because it will cost them big money!

Oulixes · 03-15-2010, 08:11 PM

Your engine oil consumption is not normal. If it were, it would not make sense to change engine oil at 15,000 miles, which BMW recommends. Take the car to a different dealer.

03-15-2010, 06:17 PM	#1
krnshinsa Captain 71 Rep 606 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: el ay iTrader: (2)	Really bad oil consumption not normal? I've been bringing my 335i to the dealer to check my oil consumption since its been getting to the minimum every 1000 or so miles. This has been going on about 4 trips with oil top offs ever trip. They haven't been able to find any leaks. This isn't normal for a 335i is it?
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03-15-2010, 06:23 PM	#2
galahad05 Brigadier General 158 Rep 3,158 Posts Drives: '07 335i e90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (0)	A quart every 1000 miles? That's excessive. Did they check your coolant and your spark plugs? These can be great tell-tales. coolant--->for blown head gaskets oil-fouled plugs---> worn/damaged piston rings (or valve guides equivalent) __________________ Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. --Mark Twain
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03-15-2010, 06:25 PM	#3
krnshinsa Captain 71 Rep 606 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: el ay iTrader: (2)	Well this is the "2nd official" time they've looked at it and they've told me nothing was wrong. They want to monitor it one more time for their records before things get "serious." It better get serious.
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03-15-2010, 07:28 PM	#4
HoustonScott Lieutenant 21 Rep 436 Posts Drives: 2010 335d, montego Blue Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Houston, Tx iTrader: (0)	Is this an automatic transmission? If so you may have a rear main seal leak and the oil that has leaked is in the transmission bell housing. HS
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03-15-2010, 07:42 PM	#5
DrGP Lieutenant Colonel 137 Rep 1,914 Posts Drives: Sapphire 335i coupe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SE, PA iTrader: (0)	PURE DEALERSHIP BS. They don't WANT anything to be wrong since it is likely to cost them big bucks. AND unfortunately, BMW and most other car makers, set the tolerances for oil consumption so high that they will almost never have to fix it (new engine block). This is NOT normal. But I have seen it happen too many times, but not only with BMW. MY guess is that you followed the owners manual or drove very conservatively during the first 1500 miles. One of the consequences of doing such is that the piston rings don't seat COMPLETELY and you burn oil. You're either burning it or you're leaking it. You say they can't find a leak. If that is so, YOU'RE BURNING OIL. BTW, there are many of us whose engines have consumed little or no oil. Some who followed the easy break in will also consume very little oil. BUT there will be some(like you) that will find out the hard way why the easy break in is IMHO, not the way to go. So what to do now. Document mileage and amount of oil, added. I would want to talk to the service manager and call BMW custome relations to open a case on your behalf regarding the excessive oil consumption. The real problem is that BMW considers Consuming 1 qt/1200 miles to be within acceptable tolerence. BS! Acceptable to whom? Aceptable to BMW since they don't have to fix anything. And believe me , they don't want to fix it because it will cost them big money!
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03-15-2010, 08:11 PM	#6
Oulixes Lieutenant Colonel 22 Rep 1,938 Posts Drives: 330xi, 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Terra Borealis iTrader: (0)	Your engine oil consumption is not normal. If it were, it would not make sense to change engine oil at 15,000 miles, which BMW recommends. Take the car to a different dealer.
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