Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-06-2018, 01:19 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: sandy UTAH
Posts: 545
squidzilla is on a distinguished road
High Mileage oil worked m54 3.0

I bought my 5mt 3 years ago this month. It had 89k mikes and leaked from the valve cover and the OHG. It leaked so much that I was adding half a quart of oil every few hundred miles. I tried Liqui Moly stop leak and nothing changed. Then I tried some ATP 205 and it seemed to slow things down a bit. After removing the Rotella t6 I put in at purchase, I then switched to Castrol synthetic High Mileage and then to Maxlife blend 5w 30.

Now it does not leak at all. There is some weeping at the valve cover gasket, but that is it. The OHG leak has stopped completely. Nothing. It now has 92k miles. I removed the splash shield when I bought it to gauge how bad the leak was. Now that the leaking has stopped, I am going to put it back on.

No more stains on the driveway now. All of these are SN rated oils that I used and you can see by the miles I put in the 5mt since purchase, that I have changed the oil often. It gets about 1k miles per year.

Some of you may not want to try this stuff, but for those willing to try something different hopefully this anecdotal evidence helps you.
__________________
2001 E53 X5 3.0 Auto. Silver Black Build date 10-17-2000 141kmiles

2004 E60 545i Sport 6MT. Black/Black Build Date 6-2004 102k miles
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 05-06-2018, 01:44 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 2,053
80stech is on a distinguished road
The stop leak additives do work, sometimes takes a while though, and not always the right way to go. The fact that you switched to a synthetic blend was probably the more important part.
__________________
1988 325is (purchased new) sold
2004 X5 3.0 2005 X3 2.5
2008 X5 3.0 (new to me)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-06-2018, 03:55 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 509
jdstrickland is on a distinguished road
Here comes the Stupid Question of the Year, are you sitting down?

How come you don't just replace the leaky gaskets? You can do it in an afternoon, and the gasket kits cost less than $50.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-06-2018, 05:41 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Livonia, MI
Posts: 228
bmwman528e is on a distinguished road
what JDSTRICKLAND said. Work smarter not harder.
__________________
2002 BMW X5 4.6is soon to be LSX swapped. Silver on Imola

2003 BMW X5 3.0i 5 Speed Manual, Sport Pkg, 190,xxx miles and counting. Black/ Black 20" 4.6is Wheels, OEM Stainless Steps, ZHP Shift Knob
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-06-2018, 06:05 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: sandy UTAH
Posts: 545
squidzilla is on a distinguished road
I did the oil as an experiment. Assuming the gaskets never leak again, it seems that is working smarter and replacing the gaskets is working harder. I will get around to it one of these days. I have spent the past few years learning about various things and BWM gaskets can last longer than they do if you use something to keep them pliable. Either that or get the cars to not run so hot, which is why they go bad so fast.

Here is a bigger stupid question of the year? You ready? Why would I want to replace them now that nothing leaks?

Guys like you that do the same thing are a dime a dozen. I like to try different things and reading other perspectives. It worked and as much as that disappoints the " high mileage oil does not work crowd" it is an option for others. I will update this thread if they start leaking, but given the success it has had on my very hot running n62, it expect it to last.

I gave the experience for those that are receptive to trying something else, not those that still think replacing gaskets is the only opinion.
__________________
2001 E53 X5 3.0 Auto. Silver Black Build date 10-17-2000 141kmiles

2004 E60 545i Sport 6MT. Black/Black Build Date 6-2004 102k miles

Last edited by squidzilla; 05-06-2018 at 06:16 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-06-2018, 06:17 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: sandy UTAH
Posts: 545
squidzilla is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by 80stech View Post
The stop leak additives do work, sometimes takes a while though, and not always the right way to go. The fact that you switched to a synthetic blend was probably the more important part.
It stopped leaking last year on the synthetic Castol High mileage. I waited a full year before posting that it worked since there are people living in caves still that think the only thing for a gasket that starts to leak is a replacement.
__________________
2001 E53 X5 3.0 Auto. Silver Black Build date 10-17-2000 141kmiles

2004 E60 545i Sport 6MT. Black/Black Build Date 6-2004 102k miles
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-06-2018, 06:23 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: sandy UTAH
Posts: 545
squidzilla is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwman528e View Post
what JDSTRICKLAND said. Work smarter not harder.
What I did was working smarter. Replacing them is working harder. 1 year plus with zero leaks now. You spend most of your time on this forum hawking your stuff and you only chime in my thread to parrot his comment?
__________________
2001 E53 X5 3.0 Auto. Silver Black Build date 10-17-2000 141kmiles

2004 E60 545i Sport 6MT. Black/Black Build Date 6-2004 102k miles

Last edited by squidzilla; 05-06-2018 at 06:57 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-06-2018, 10:21 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 162
itsbrokeagain is on a distinguished road
I'm sorry but that mentality will only get you so far. The gaskets are old and brittle, and now at least 12 years old. That isn't working smarter, it's cutting corners.
__________________
8/06 build E53 3.0i....
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-06-2018, 10:57 PM
Joshdub's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Seattle
Posts: 2,065
Joshdub is on a distinguished road
Just a note, the crank case on the m54 is under vacuum. This vacuum helps the oil control rings seat. So if you have a failing valve cover gasket, not only could it be a vacuum leak, but also leads to improperly functioning oil control rings.
__________________
03 3.0i mt
89 325is
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-06-2018, 11:44 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: sandy UTAH
Posts: 545
squidzilla is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by itsbrokeagain View Post
I'm sorry but that mentality will only get you so far. The gaskets are old and brittle, and now at least 12 years old. That isn't working smarter, it's cutting corners.
How is that 25 year old Toyota gaskets seal fine and BMW ones go bad so fast? Has anyone considered that the high heat cooks out the chemicals that keep the gaskets pliable? I took this path because I found enough anecdotal evidence that suggested that if you kept the gaskets pliable with High Mileage oil they would last much, much longer. So far I am at 1+ years, and as I said earlier, I would update the thread if they started leaking again. What will you say if they do not start leaking again for 5 years? Luck? It would have been reasonable for you to say it was cutting corners if it had only sealed back up for a month or two, but you will still say that at 1+ years?

Nothing leaks on the 5mt anymore. A weep at that corner of the valve cover gasket is it. It looks like it sweats to the tune of one drop a month. If that. My 545i stopped leaking at the valve cover gasket 5 years ago after I started using Maxlife oil. Is that still cutting corners? Five years? I have guys on my e60 forum that are on their second round within 5 years replacing AGAIN. LOL. If that is ones idea of working smarter I would hate to your idea of cutting corners.

No one here has to try it. Keep replacing your gaskets every 5 years of whatever it is. But to keep telling me I am wrong in my approach is somewhat silly considering it is working and now am on two cars with many years of success on one. And the n62 runs much hotter than these m54 engines. Much hotter.

No need for anyone else to tell me it does not work. I posted this for those on the fence wondering not for those that think they "know better" and think their experience or lack thereof, somehow is more relevant than mine regarding this approach.
__________________
2001 E53 X5 3.0 Auto. Silver Black Build date 10-17-2000 141kmiles

2004 E60 545i Sport 6MT. Black/Black Build Date 6-2004 102k miles

Last edited by squidzilla; 05-06-2018 at 11:56 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:54 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.