320i using alot of oil

[Dave -320]

Hi Guys

I am a new memeber to this awesome forum and am seeking help. Ok heres the deal, i have a 2003 320i individual and its a manual. Has about +/- 148K on the clock and its using oil like crazy!! i find my self having to top it up with a liter of oil evey +/- 1000 kms. have checked the car for oil leaks and cant seem to see anything , no signs of smoke on start up or high revs either. Not sure what else to check or where specifically to look for leaks. Your help will be highly appreciated.

Thanks guys
Rgds Dave

 

[tivoli786]

Is the oil maybe being burnt through the breather pipe ? could be valve stem seals or rings. No smoke is weird cos you would of seen smoke if it was rings at high rpm? Did you get someone to drive behind you and floor it?

 

[Mike1]

What oil are you using?

 

[Dave -320]

@ Tivoli786 , ye had my bro drive it while i followed him
@ Minimike using castrol 5w30

 

[tivoli786]

hmm castrol could be the oil I know magnatec gets eaten like nobody's business

 

[Dave -320]

do you suggest i try a different oil? and if so which one?

 

[Dr Evil]

Magatec is definitely not the correct oil to use. Magnatec is 10W40 and takes too long to protect on cold starts every morning.

I have been told by my mechi who is a BMW neurosurgeon to use Shell Syntium in my 330 as I was going through Castrol Magnatec quicker than I was going through petrol. It is more expensive but it definitely lasts and even the petrol attendant said to me "this one is the boss, sir" when I asked for it.

don't you mean engen syntium? to my knowledge shell makes helix

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[Legacy]

These oil threads are always a joke. How can you say Magnatec is not the correct oil to use? Magnatec is the default oil for most older BMW's. Call Sav or RGM and they will tell you to use Magnatec 10w40 in E46's (non M3), E36's inc M3 etc.

I have never heard of Shell Syntium in a grey bottle with a Ferrari badge on it. I am pretty sure you are thinking of Shell Helix Ultra 5W40:

If a car uses oil like crazy, changing oil is not the solution but it is simply covering the cause of the problem...

 

[Bazza]

These oil threads are always a joke. How can you say Magnatec is not the correct oil to use? Magnatec is the default oil for most older BMW's. Call Sav or RGM and they will tell you to use Magnatec 10w40 in E46's (non M3), E36's inc M3 etc.

I have never heard of Shell Syntium in a grey bottle with a Ferrari badge on it. I am pretty sure you are thinking of Shell Helix Ultra 5W40:

If a car uses oil like crazy, changing oil is not the solution but it is simply covering the cause of the problem...

RGM is the last person I will call for BMW advice. The only guy who charges 15K to take power away from an E46 M3, anyway, that's another story, I will go past the Shell on my way home and get you a bottle and post a pic.

 

[Legacy]

These oil threads are always a joke. How can you say Magnatec is not the correct oil to use? Magnatec is the default oil for most older BMW's. Call Sav or RGM and they will tell you to use Magnatec 10w40 in E46's (non M3), E36's inc M3 etc.

I have never heard of Shell Syntium in a grey bottle with a Ferrari badge on it. I am pretty sure you are thinking of Shell Helix Ultra 5W40:

*Image

If a car uses oil like crazy, changing oil is not the solution but it is simply covering the cause of the problem...

RGM is the last person I will call for BMW advice. The only guy who charges 15K to take power away from an E46 M3, anyway, that's another story, I will go past the Shell on my way home and get you a bottle and post a pic.

The fact that RGM charges outrageous prices doesn't make them ignorant it makes them greedy. I will never use them for anything but that doesn't mean they don't know their BMW's. If you have proof that RGM's mods makes a car slower post up the proof and share it with the rest of the forum.

Also you disagree that changing oil to solve excessive oil usage is covering up the actual problem?

Which BMW approvals do this Shell Syntium have? LL-01/LL-04? Are you sure it is not this oil:

 

[Bazza]

These oil threads are always a joke. How can you say Magnatec is not the correct oil to use? Magnatec is the default oil for most older BMW's. Call Sav or RGM and they will tell you to use Magnatec 10w40 in E46's (non M3), E36's inc M3 etc.

I have never heard of Shell Syntium in a grey bottle with a Ferrari badge on it. I am pretty sure you are thinking of Shell Helix Ultra 5W40:

*Image

If a car uses oil like crazy, changing oil is not the solution but it is simply covering the cause of the problem...

RGM is the last person I will call for BMW advice. The only guy who charges 15K to take power away from an E46 M3, anyway, that's another story, I will go past the Shell on my way home and get you a bottle and post a pic.

The fact that RGM charges outrageous prices doesn't make them ignorant it makes them greedy. I will never use them for anything but that doesn't mean they don't know their BMW's. If you have proof that RGM's mods makes a car slower post up the proof and share it with the rest of the forum.

Also you disagree that changing oil to solve excessive oil usage is covering up the actual problem?

Which BMW approvals do this Shell Syntium have? LL-01/LL-04? Are you sure it is not this oil:

I don't disagree at all with that. I merely implied that you should use the right oil and, by changing oils with zero effect on the problem should be an indication that there is something wrong with your motor.

This is my opinion and I shared what worked for me. If giving your opinion on this forum is wrong then members should be limited to APPROVED BMW mechanics and specialists only!

 

[Legacy]

If an oil is BMW approved or not has nothing do to with which mechanic or specialist you use. BMW test the oils in certain applications and then the oil receives a rating or approval. This does not mean that your engine will blow up when you use another oil it just means that the possibility exists that harm can be done to your engine, why else would the oil not be approved, I just prefer to use oils in my cars which carry this approval.

 

[msm]

have checked the car for oil leaks and cant seem to see anything

When the car is slightly warm, rub your hand along the left of the engine above the exhaust headers/branches - be careful though, don't burn yourself.

A common issue is the valve cover gasket. Since it's just above the headers/branches (which gets very hot), the oil dries fairly quickly before reaching the bottom. Hence, while you drive the oil burns off and you can't see any leak.

 

[ajonker]

What about liqui moly oil? Used it in my car and engine is running more quiet.

 

[Mike1]

I am going to refrain from commenting in this thread. Must... Refrain...

 

[Dr Evil]

I am going to refrain from commenting in this thread. Must... Refrain...

but your knowledge on oil is extraordinary

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[frikkieh]

This is an oil thread :drama: :rollsmile:
Have been using magnatec all these years in my e46 323i, and no issues thus far. A am considering switching to Helix, due to the motor now standing on 275 000km's and reports of sludge build up. No need to top up between oil changes at all (I will propably be crusified if I tell you that interval is 25 000km's :fencelook.

Get someone to drive behind you and see if it smokes when you floor it on an uphill run. You say there are no smoke when revving the motor, but the oil has to go somewhere.
Piston rings ?

Aah my first post on an oil thread :rollsmile::bravo:

 

[Funky Toyz]

have checked the car for oil leaks and cant seem to see anything

When the car is slightly warm, rub your hand along the left of the engine above the exhaust headers/branches - be careful though, don't burn yourself.

A common issue is the valve cover gasket. Since it's just above the headers/branches (which gets very hot), the oil dries fairly quickly before reaching the bottom. Hence, while you drive the oil burns off and you can't see any leak.

Either the above or have your vacuum pump checked out. This pump is known to leak oil. There will be no smoke, no wet engine bay etc. The pump sits behind the head/motor so you'll have to remove all the covers etc to get visibility of the pump.

Hope u get sorted :thumbs:

With regard to the comments about the oil to use...I use Shell Helix Ultra which is fully synthetic. BMW obviously recommends Castrol. In the N46 motor only use a Fully Synthetic oil. If yours is, I'd suggest not changing brands. I believe that sticking to a particular brand is good whilst changing brands is the opposite.

 

[Mike1]

In the context of this discussion the burning of oil is not a function of the oil but of the engine - Changing the oil will not reduce consumption significantly enough to consider the issue at hand resolved.

Mike

 

[frikkieh]

In the context of this discussion the burning of oil is not a function of the oil but of the engine - Changing the oil will not reduce consumption significantly enough to consider the issue at hand resolved.

Mike

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