320i using alot of oil

[Dr Evil]

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

see, i told you you kwaai

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[Philip Foglar]

Just to clarify something:

Castrol Magnatec Professional 5W30 is LL01 and used by BMW, so technically nothing wrong with using this! Both my 330i and my Wife's 320i (same as OP) are currently using this, and so are both of my father in law's cars (E46 328i and Z4 3.0i).

Now with my Wife's car, there is a leak at the oil filter housing, so need to still replace the gasket. Oil usage is not massively bad but still a problem, and more annoying is the horrible hot burning off oil smell since it is leaking onto the side of the engine right where the combustion chambers are.

So, before considering changing oil brand and spec (last thing to do at the moment IMO), check for leaks around the oil filter housing (have to remove the air filter box to see properly), the valve cover gasket (usually along the exhaust side but also feel around the back of the engine with the particle filter and housing off), and finally, check the lower engine covers for traces of oil dripping (less likely based on the amount of oil disappearing).

Do you not ever smell a hot burnt oil smell coming from the front of the car?

 

[frikkieh]

Oil can't just dissapear into thin air, it must go somewhere :idea:

 

[Philip Foglar]

Oil can't just dissapear into thin air, it must go somewhere :idea:

Precisely! Has to either be leaking and dripping which you would then see, or slowly burning off which you would also see in most cases but definitely smell. Many years ago my ex-Corolla had this thing where it would use some oil (also well within spec) and after a while I was aware of a hot oil smell after slowing down to a stop while the engine was running under compression! Never ended up getting it fixed since the car was "purchased" from in front of my house while we were sleeping the day before Christmas a few years ago...

 

[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:

Firstly, just want to apologise, it is Shell Helix Ultra, my bad! I don't know where I got Shell Syntium from, I use Helix Ultra.

Secondly, here's your proof...



The RGM run was with their cold air induction kit and uni-q, the one that says "non", is with a standard airbox and filter. The only thing that changed between these two tests was the removing of the RGM air filter and fitting the standard box. Runs were on the same day and were about 5 minutes apart. RGM test was run first.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Forsdicks Tygervalley use (well at the time they did) Engen Syntium 3000 5W30 LL01... :thumbs: