Oil Sludge help

[mattk]

Hi Guys,

Just picked up a problem with oil leaking out the Eccentric Shaft sensor , so set about replacing it.

Car is a 2006 E91 320i (n46)

Opened up the Camshaft cover and found that the engine didn't quite look like what I'd seen it should on the forums.

It seems the oil is burnt and there are thick dark solid bits everywhere (see pics)

What would have been the cause of this? and what should I do about it?

I'm guessing the wrong oil was used?

should I be concerned?

Any advice appreciated...

 

[tivoli786]

Have you owned the car for long?

Who services the car?

What oil; has been used or implied to be used?

 

[mattk]

Have you owned the car for long?

Who services the car?

What oil; has been used or implied to be used?

Had the car a while - 7 years, and only serviced at BMW (Auric & SMG) - last service in November last year.

Oil warning came up a few months ago and wife took it to a petrol station and got the oil topped up there (with who knows what? ) - needless to say I was not happy.

My guess is that they used some inferior oil which has caused this gunk?

 

[DieselFan]

That's BMW service intervals right there. Do you do mainly town or highway driving? Do an engine flush with your services and cut the oil service in half.

 

[mattk]

That's BMW service intervals right there. Do you do mainly town or highway driving? Do an engine flush with your services and cut the oil service in half.

Wife's car - she does only short town driving, max 20km's , which I also suspected was a major factor.

 

[DieselFan]

The long service intervals and town driving are your problem there.

Some guys have more aggressive flush methods.

But I would half the service intervals and use a liquimoly engine flush on every oil change.

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

That's BMW service intervals right there. Do you do mainly town or highway driving? Do an engine flush with your services and cut the oil service in half.

Wife's car - she does only short town driving, max 20km's , which I also suspected was a major factor.

I tend to agree with Dieselfan here, BMW's service intervals is at fault here.
My Hyundai only does 26km a day, but its serviced more regularly, and the oil looks way better than this.

 

[tivoli786]

BMW only wants the car to last max 100 000 kms so they can sell you another one

 

[moharolantahli]

Sure Gents Talking about engine flash. is it safe to flush the engine with diesel?

 

[Peter@AEW]

Flushing an engine and not draining it correctly will only weaken the new oil going in.

If you lack patience flushing an engine is not for you.

I would stay away from diesel/petrol/kerosene and use ATF.

If one knows what one is doing then diesel/kerosene will be dealt with correctly if used to flush.

 

[moharolantahli]

Thank you