Oil replacement done but visably late

[E39 Ian]

Well guys, I eventually got around to changing my oil in the 540. A while ago I bought the oil from Midas on a special - Shell Helix 10W/40 which is similar spec to Mobil 1. So I got the good stuff. Made a plan to get a filter and o rings. I have been experiensing an oil leak from the sump for some time now. So it made sense to drain the oil and replace the sump gasket at the same time to avoid wastage.

Then the project ground to a small halt as BMW does not keep too many spares for the E39 540i in Cape Town. To cut a long long long story very short, I managed to buy a gasket.

See all the sludge:

After a good clean in petrol - like new:

Wow, the engine loves the new oil - So smooth, mmmmmmmmmmm

The morale of the story is don't wait- in hind sight I should have ordered the sump gasket a long time ago, etc, etc

Well worth the effort and now I can clean the driveway from all the oil patches!!

 

[WerriesM5]

How are the sludge levels in the engine?
Did you maby check your oil pump bolts?

 

[E39 Ian]

The plan is to only run the new oil and filter for 5000km, new oil and filter for 12000km intervals

The sludge should be minimal inside the engine forming only on the sump - or do i misunderstand?

Did not check the oil pump bolts - should I have?

 

[rick540]

Oil pump bolts on the M62 are fine, it was the older M60 that came loose, so no worries there.

Leaving the oil that long is just bad---- bad---- bad. Any oil no matter how good can only do it's job for so long till it just becomes plain old carbon.

Yes, good idea do another change in 5000Km if you can afford to remove the remaining sludge, there after every 12000Kms.

I've just changed the oil in a manual gearbox that was left for 200000Kms, when I drained it it was all metalic shiny gold from the synchro wear micro particles, looked really cool but I shudder to think about it's lubrication ability by that stage..... Fortunately the transmission survived totally intact, still need to do two more changes to get piece of mind that all that crap is out of there.

 

[veridico]

@Rick, Im getting my gearbox oil done today, I took a squizz at the quality of the oil (166K km) and it is black, wasnt too happy with that at all.

I do my engine oil changes every 7500kms, I think oil changes should be done as regularly and as often as possible.

 

[rick540]

It's ok for the oil to get black as that means it's cleaning and holding dirt in suspension.

Personally I just hate dirty oil, and have this habit of replacing it the second it starts looking too dark (Probably needless and expensive, but I think the engines really like it) I also do mine about every 7500Km or when there are about two green lights left.

I like doing this because after a few years of it, the engine parts all still look bright silver and new, no varnish at all.

Also do two flushes on the gearbox like I am, as a manual tranny has no filters and relies purely on clean oil. When you get it out shine a light at/through the old oil and just look at the crap that collects in a manual tranny.... frightning! from now on it's regular 15K changes for mine, some manuals take ATF which is basically cheap in relation to the transmission

 

[fastguy]

Hi Guys,

While on the topic, of oil and oil changes, I noticed sludge build up on my oil filler cap.

Is that anything to worry about??

 

[rick540]

Many cars get sluge on the oil cap like some E46's because there is a cover that prevents the oil from "washing" the cap. More regular changes usually solve it.

Hi Guys,

While on the topic, of oil and oil changes, I noticed sludge build up on my oil filler cap.

Is that anything to worry about??

 

[veridico]

Rick do you know which oil would go in my e39 M5's box?

 

[fastguy]

Thanks Rick540

Many cars get sluge on the oil cap like some E46's because there is a cover that prevents the oil from "washing" the cap. More regular changes usually solve it.

Hi Guys,

While on the topic, of oil and oil changes, I noticed sludge build up on my oil filler cap.

Is that anything to worry about??