Oil consumption question

[lbetten95]

First off, I want to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge on here. My wife's 02 3.0 X wouldn't have made it to 260k with out your help. So here is where I am today. Changed the oil 2 weeks ago. She has put 1500 miles on it. The engine is now tight and no more leaks since I have done the valve cover, CCV and at the last oil change the oil filter housing gasket. I am currently running Pennzoil Platinum 10w-30 full synthetic. Almost halfway down on the dipstick at this point (about a quart). What are people's thoughts at this point? Before the housing gasket repair, I would have been at least double that consumption. Do I just leave it alone at this point and just buy tons of oil? Not really noticing any smoke and it just passed the Massachusetts vehicle emissions inspection with flying colors. Thanks again everyone.

[Qsilver7]

According to all of my BMW owners manusl...the oil volume difference between the minimum & maximum levels on the dip stick represents 1.1 quart or 1 liter.

When you get near the minimum level on the dip stick is when the oil level warning illuminates. So, until you reach the minimum dip stick level...or the warning comes up...that's when you add more oil (a quart or liter).

[lbetten95]

Thanks Q. I typically buy the 5 quart containers so maybe I am just eyeballing it.

[lbetten95]

Just not sure I guess if it should be burning that quickly or is that normal?

[Ricky Bobby]

1500 miles and you're down .6 quarts? Thats actually better than most especially at your miles, I was reading somewhere that the BMW dealers spec out that up to 1 quart per 1000 miles can be considered normal consumption.

I'd switch to a 5w-40 oil personally, better cold start viscosity than a 10w and a bit thicker for engine protection and delay of consumption IMO - Pennzoil should have a Platinum Euro formula that is 5w-40 I think.

[crystalworks]

^I agree. I use a higher full temp weight oil on all of my bimmers (20w50 on most, 10w40 on the X). I do live in TX though, so take that into account.

Seems like "high" oil consumption though to me. My 4.8is ate 1qt after ~1500 miles during my Florida vaca trip, but I have bad valve stem seals so I was expecting it to do so. I don't recall any of my M54 3.0 equipped vehicles doing more than 1 qt. per oil change (~6000 miles).