318i oil consumption

[ZOMBIE]

Oil was full when I got the car in June and hardly drove it, now the oil level is on the min mark, a bit wet underneath the car, I checked for leaks at the vacuum pump nothing, nothing from the top, can it be the oil separator ccv or something, when i startup in the morning there is some smoke/steam, blueish in colour also once I pulled away fast a puff of smoke was seen, the head was done sometime ago, mileage is about 166000km. My e36 318is with 300000km's uses about 500ml every six month. This consumption on my e46 cannot be normal, anyone experience this?

 

[Sankekur]

Possible leak on the oil filter housing? They seem to have a tendency to leak quite badly.

But the smoke sounds like valve stem seals.

 

[ZOMBIE]

will the car not smoke all the time, or only when cold for valve stem seals? I have checked by the filter housing no leaks!

 

[Chucky]

Valve stem seals,
Car will smoke every time after Engine has been idling, E.g. every time you pull away from a stop go situation I.E. Traffic or city driving you will notice either a puff or a cloud of smoke following you but on the open road or constant accelaeration there is no smoke then its more then likely you valve stem seals.

 

[ZOMBIE]

Damn which means the head needs to come off! Damn could it no be the oil separator?

 

[P1000]

Damn which means the head needs to come off! Damn could it no be the oil separator?

Valve stem seals can be done without removing the head. Google is your friend.

 

[Chucky]

Yeah they can be done with-out the head coming off, my Mech told me on the N42/N46 (2002-2005 318i Motors) the head has to come off, its a laborious expensive process,

Car service city gave me a quote of 17K to redo the head, bearing in mind that's labour and all sundries included, so i asked the guy is there any alternative he said i can drive with the valve stem seals like that im just going to have to check oil every trip i do and have a smokey BMW which is not a good look, found an independent BMW mech that did the whole job for under half that price + a major service and a decat:thumbs:.

Get it to a BMW mech they will let you know what has to be done or replaced I hope its just the oil separator in your case if the head has to come off in the case of the seals might as well replace other parts while your cars guts are exposed.

 

[ZOMBIE]

The car does not smoke all the time, only blueish smoke when standing all day, almost as if oil is getting into the cylinders whilst standing last night I removed the dipstick whilst idling and it started idling irraticly is this normal on these models my 318is does not do this!

 

[Chucky]

Aah then your problem might be the CCV and not your valve stem seals still go get it checked out.

 

[Jacques Motorem]

Check the cheap things first

For smoke
PCV pipes - they don't last forever and form air leaks
PCV itself - sludge collects and blocks it up

For oil consumtion
oil filler cap - starts leaking oil due to excess pressure from blocked PCV
oil filter housing seal - can leak too but unlikely

 

[ZOMBIE]

Gonna check the pcv, I assume the oil separator/pcv is the same thing?

 

[Smith]

Hi All, I have a 2002 318ti which seems to be showing the same issues caused by cracked valve stem steals. I have no visible oil leaks (or at least I have no oil in my drive-way), but I am using about 1 pint of oil every 750km.

Do you guys have any details for mechanics who can help with this issue?

Thanks in advance,

B