Car consuming too much oil

[vamudzengi]

I have a 2010 E90 320i with 156 000km which has just started consuming oil. At times there is some white smoke from the exhaust when the car is started starts but it disappears once the car is running (or I just don`t see it). The car drives well but just that I may have to top that expensive synthetic oil after every 1000km.
I'm told that if it is not an oil leak, it could be the worn rings that are letting the oil into the cylinder or something like that valve stem seals. So while I prepare for any of these cases, can someone please assist with how much each these jobs could cost. I am in Gauteng in the Eastrand.

 

[Iceman12596]

I think this section here will help you

https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/forumdisplay.php?fid=16

 

[Speed Freak]

Valve stem seals usually do this with cold start, you should not really notice oil consumption. What oil do you use ? I know that Castrol causes oil consumption. Mine did as well, then I changed to Helix Ultra and problem solved. Hope it's not a major issue.

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[abmi0000]

Valve stem seals usually do this with cold start, you should not really notice oil consumption. What oil do you use ? I know that Castrol causes oil consumption. Mine did as well, then I changed to Helix Ultra and problem solved. Hope it's not a major issue.

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Nothing wrong with Castrol at all. Used it for more years than I can remember with zero issues at all. In most cases, incorrect viscosity ratings may cause excessive oil consumption or hardware failure of course.

 

[officially_kage]

As mentioned above, what oil are you using?
Also, see if you get any smoke while driving.
Smoke on decelaration and/or start up = valve seals and/or valve guides
Smoke on acceleration = Rings
I just recently changed the valve seals on my fiesta ST, I would get smoke everytime I would start up

 

[Blue Shirt]

Get the valve stem seals replaced, it is a common failure on these engines.

Leo Haese Bosch in Hatfield Pretoria runs a special on these jobs, budget around R8500 for the repair.

 

[vamudzengi]

As mentioned above, what oil are you using?
Also, see if you get any smoke while driving.
Smoke on decelaration and/or start up = valve seals and/or valve guides
Smoke on acceleration = Rings
I just recently changed the valve seals on my fiesta ST, I would get smoke everytime I would start up

Its mostly on start up. I use the oil from the dealer, don`t know what they use.

 

[Lloyd09]

First check for any visible leaks in areas like the oil filter housing,vacuum pump and valve cover/head gaskets.... If no visible leaks are found go the valve stem seal replacement route ( Common issue on the N46 motor). A thicker viscosity oil may reduce oil consumption but not by alot if the valve stem seals are shot.

 

[officially_kage]

As suggested, check for leaks around filter housings and such however if you topping up every 1000kms I would think it would be dropping on the floor and it would be easy to spot on the garage floor.
If there arent any visible leaks, get a full head gasket kit/set and get a reputable mechanic to fit.
No need to go to the dealers

 

[AdiS]

As suggested, check for leaks around filter housings and such however if you topping up every 1000kms I would think it would be dropping on the floor and it would be easy to spot on the garage floor.
If there arent any visible leaks, get a full head gasket kit/set and get a reputable mechanic to fit.
No need to go to the dealers

Do you perhaps mean valve cover gasket?

As mentioned above - this engine commonly needs Valve Stem Seals replaced.

 

[officially_kage]

As suggested, check for leaks around filter housings and such however if you topping up every 1000kms I would think it would be dropping on the floor and it would be easy to spot on the garage floor.
If there arent any visible leaks, get a full head gasket kit/set and get a reputable mechanic to fit.
No need to go to the dealers

Do you perhaps mean valve cover gasket?

As mentioned above - this engine commonly needs Valve Stem Seals replaced.

Nope, not a valve cover gasket. It's a set of gaskets - head gasket, tappet cover gasket, valve seals and I forgot what else (Im not entirely sure what the kit for the e90 consists of though)

Something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ENGINE-CYL...E91-E92-320i-X3-Z4-2-0-05-06-07-/121058626465

 

[Blue Shirt]

As suggested, check for leaks around filter housings and such however if you topping up every 1000kms I would think it would be dropping on the floor and it would be easy to spot on the garage floor.
If there arent any visible leaks, get a full head gasket kit/set and get a reputable mechanic to fit.
No need to go to the dealers

I sometimes wonder why I bother to give advice.

If you and/or OP has done any research or actually knows anything about the N46 motors, you would not be wasting time replacing head gaskets and avoiding dealers.

The N46 is notorious for leaky valve stem seals. The symptoms are exactly as described, smoky idle, high oil consumption and sometimes a puff of smoke on pull-away.

A simple half-day job at a dealer (or even better at Leo Haese Bosch Hatfield - ex-BMW dealer) will get you a new set of valve stem seals, new vacuum pump seals and a new valve cover gasket without the need to remove the cylinder head. You need some special tools to replace the valve stem seals in-situ, hence you need to find a specialist workshop to do the work.

 

[individj]

yes i think its like R7000 & you will use oil as stated above this has been documented here & tons of guys have had it done

 

[Blue Shirt]

https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=74058&page=4

 

[Lizzard]

OP, how much oil are we talking about here that you need to top up every 1000km?

You see it all depends on the driving as well, if you race the car, drive to the 4 - 5k rpm every time you start it then it will consume a lot of oil. But it depends on the definition of how much you add. Topping up oil could mean 100ml, cause you want to keep the oil at FULL on the oil dipstick (not sure if you have this electronic dipstick thing that the 6 pots has) or is the car telling you to add oil like 1.5Lt of the stuff. How much is much?

I have read in the manual that it depends on driving habits etc. How much oil do you top up after the 1000km drive? Also white smoke is it from overnight, i.e the exhaust has water condensation inside and that steams away creating the white smoke on start up or is this during the day when parked at work and starting it to drive home you also have this white smoke. Isnt white smoke, evaporation of water and grey smoke oil consumption :fencelook:

 

[vamudzengi]

Now I have to top 500ml but this is just 2 weeks after an oil service. I took the car for on 30 September for the R590 oil service special. My only worry is that this thing started after this oil service from the dealer, I never had this problem before this. I don`t even race the car or press to such high revs.

OP, how much oil are we talking about here that you need to top up every 1000km?

You see it all depends on the driving as well, if you race the car, drive to the 4 - 5k rpm every time you start it then it will consume a lot of oil. But it depends on the definition of how much you add. Topping up oil could mean 100ml, cause you want to keep the oil at FULL on the oil dipstick (not sure if you have this electronic dipstick thing that the 6 pots has) or is the car telling you to add oil like 1.5Lt of the stuff. How much is much?

I have read in the manual that it depends on driving habits etc. How much oil do you top up after the 1000km drive? Also white smoke is it from overnight, i.e the exhaust has water condensation inside and that steams away creating the white smoke on start up or is this during the day when parked at work and starting it to drive home you also have this white smoke. Isnt white smoke, evaporation of water and grey smoke oil consumption :fencelook:

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I hope it doesn`t come to this but it seems like the most likely. These valve seals are big culprits with this oil thing.

As suggested, check for leaks around filter housings and such however if you topping up every 1000kms I would think it would be dropping on the floor and it would be easy to spot on the garage floor.
If there arent any visible leaks, get a full head gasket kit/set and get a reputable mechanic to fit.
No need to go to the dealers

I sometimes wonder why I bother to give advice.

If you and/or OP has done any research or actually knows anything about the N46 motors, you would not be wasting time replacing head gaskets and avoiding dealers.

The N46 is notorious for leaky valve stem seals. The symptoms are exactly as described, smoky idle, high oil consumption and sometimes a puff of smoke on pull-away.

A simple half-day job at a dealer (or even better at Leo Haese Bosch Hatfield - ex-BMW dealer) will get you a new set of valve stem seals, new vacuum pump seals and a new valve cover gasket without the need to remove the cylinder head. You need some special tools to replace the valve stem seals in-situ, hence you need to find a specialist workshop to do the work.

 

[Speed Freak]

I haven't heard of valve stem seals just breaking, they deteriorate over time. As your problem started since the oil change, I suggest you change the oil, this would be the cheapest option, if your problem stay, start looking at other options like valve stem seals. I can't see how BMW can do a oil service for such an amount. The last time they quoted me R 5 000 for a oil service and all filters, now they ask this... I think they used cheap oil to start with. Remember, it's all about making money and I can't see how they made money out of that deal.

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[Solo Man]

Did you check the oil level when you got the car back from the service? It often happens that too much oil is put in which could be bad for the engine so i assume it could also happen that not enough oil was put in leaving it below the top mark on the dipstick which led to you adding oil when you checked it (after two weeks). Hence my question, did you check the level when you got the car back from the service and if so was it on the full mark?

 

[Iceman007]

I have a 2010 E90 320i with 156 000km which has just started consuming oil. At times there is some white smoke from the exhaust when the car is started starts but it disappears once the car is running (or I just don`t see it). The car drives well but just that I may have to top that expensive synthetic oil after every 1000km.
I'm told that if it is not an oil leak, it could be the worn rings that are letting the oil into the cylinder or something like that valve stem seals. So while I prepare for any of these cases, can someone please assist with how much each these jobs could cost. I am in Gauteng in the Eastrand.

Valve stem seals and oil seperator. Have them replaced and problem solved. Gonna cost you about 12k at a dealer for the e90 facelift. maybe if you know someone at the dealer 6.5k

 

[Waseem 333i]

Damn. Some of these comments are straight out of facebook.

OP you said you are from the East Rand, go visit Nige Auto on Cranbourn Ave in Benoni town.

Its valve stem seals.