Excessive Oil Consumption??

[RenaissanceMan]

(sorry for the long post...)

I have an 05 3.0 with 72k on the odometer. I purchased it with 60k on it. I am experiencing what I consider to be excessive oil consumption, and just wanted to compare notes with folks up here in order to get some feedback.

I am having to add at least a quart every 4-5k miles. This is my 12th BMW, and I have never had oil consumption quite this heavy, even with my M cars... The dealer tells me this is completely normal and within spec, but I am having a hard time believing the engine was built to be this 'loose.' Not surprisingly, the situation seems to worsen when I tow. On my last trip to Road Atlanta (about 300 miles one way for me) a few weeks ago, I topped up the oil before I left, and by the time I got down there the dipstick indicated I was half a quart low. I shared this bit of info with the dealer, as well, and once again I was told this was normal. As the car is CPO only until September, I am growing concerned about the issue and am planning on having them do their 'oil consumption test', which I'm told is just an official way for them to log oil consumption. They did go ahead and tell me though that no 'problem' would be logged as long as the oil consumption was still within spec according to BMW.

Another point worth mentioning; While I was at Road Atlanta, I checked the oil on the paddock and there appeared to be a few pinkish/white tiny bubbles on the tip of the dipstick. Of course, when I saw that, I immediately freaked and assumed I had a leaking head gasket. I called a buddy of mine in Atlanta who is a BMW tech at a dealer there. I described the situation to him, also pointing out the oil consumption issue to him, and his reply was that he had seen that before and I probably burned the oil on the way down towing. He also asked if I made short trips on a regular basis. In fact I do, as my work is only 3.5 miles from my house. He also said that short trips can exacerbate oil consumption, as well... He suggested I just change the oil and continue to monitor after returning home... Nervous the entire time, I ended up driving home after my event and stopped to check the oil every hour or so. Interestingly enough, the bubbles disappeared and I had no apparent oil consumption on the way home. (I drove at night; maybe the low temp kept me from burning as much?) Once I got home I changed the oil and have not seen any bubbles since. My buddy's last suggestion was to get an oil temp gauge for the X5 so I can keep an eye on temps. He also suggested if temps continually get high during towing, invest in an oil cooler...

Anyone else experiencing similar symptoms? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[motordavid]

'Normal', and not unusual...
Imo, you ought to get an award from BMW for 'only' using a qt every 4-5k miles.

The short trip deal may be exacerbating the CCV situ, especially in colder winter weather. Do Search Tab for CCV: pages of threads on situ.
Same goes for oil consumption.
GL, mD

[JCL]

And to the OP, you have a transmisision oil cooler, it is standard.

[RenaissanceMan]

I appreciate the replies. Motordavid, thanks for the CCV tip. I just read through a ton of those threads, and I am convinced that my daily 3.5 mile commute to work is probably aggravating things with respect to condensation. Didn't realize the X5's were 'sensitive' with respect to the condensation issue when it's cold outside. At the very least, that is probably what was evidenced on the paddock when I was seeing those little bubbles.

What do y'all recommend for folks like me who have such short commutes? Would simply letting the car warm up for 15 or 20 minutes before I leave be enough to keep control of the condensation issue? Would just taking a handful of longer trips a week be enough?

Thanks for the help and feedback. This forum is a fantastic resource!

[JCL]

Letting it warm up by idling, any longer than a few minutes, is hard on it. It won't reduce the condensation.

The solution is to drive it enough to get it fully hot, and keep it there, long enough to boil off the condensation. That handful of longer trips every week is enough. You can monitor it by looking under the oil filler cap to see if any yellow-cream coloured paste is forming, that is a sure sign.

[1stE53]

Since we are on the topic, I would like some advice on my situation. Here is a picture of the right (passenger) side of my 3.0. I only end up putting a quart, or less, every 10k (my change interval). I have noticed this area getting slightly more dirty and at times there is a droplet of oil on the bolts. Would you change head gasket or just leave alone for a while longer?

[bgsquad]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Imo, you ought to get an award from BMW for 'only' using a qt every 4-5k miles.

GL, mD

LOL the dealer told me that a qt every 3K miles is normal

[RenaissanceMan]

Originally Posted by JCL

Letting it warm up by idling, any longer than a few minutes, is hard on it. It won't reduce the condensation.

The solution is to drive it enough to get it fully hot, and keep it there, long enough to boil off the condensation. That handful of longer trips every week is enough. You can monitor it by looking under the oil filler cap to see if any yellow-cream coloured paste is forming, that is a sure sign.

Thanks. Will monitor this issue more closely now that I am aware of it.

[tomgtv]

Originally Posted by 1stE53

Since we are on the topic, I would like some advice on my situation. Here is a picture of the right (passenger) side of my 3.0. I only end up putting a quart, or less, every 10k (my change interval). I have noticed this area getting slightly more dirty and at times there is a droplet of oil on the bolts. Would you change head gasket or just leave alone for a while longer?
Attachment 48597

That leak looks like valve cover gasket. They get super brittle over time.
I changed mine at 188K diy and it wasn't overly hard, just tedious. I have pix on this site if you search. Get the rubber grommets along with the gasket when you do it if you DIY.

The fun one is the $5 oil canister gasket that fits between the Oil filter housing and the block. You have to take about 1/2 the motor apart to get to it. BTW, it will go bad sooner or later.......while you're on the topic of oil leaks check our your oil separator, particularly the one to the dipstick.....
you ain't seen nothing like losing a qt of oil a week!

[1stE53]

Originally Posted by tomgtv

That leak looks like valve cover gasket. They get super brittle over time.
I changed mine at 188K diy and it wasn't overly hard, just tedious. I have pix on this site if you search. Get the rubber grommets along with the gasket when you do it if you DIY.

The fun one is the $5 oil canister gasket that fits between the Oil filter housing and the block. You have to take about 1/2 the motor apart to get to it. BTW, it will go bad sooner or later.......while you're on the topic of oil leaks check our your oil separator, particularly the one to the dipstick.....
you ain't seen nothing like losing a qt of oil a week!

Thank you I found the DIY you are talking about. Just hopeful thinkning.
I also just jinxed myself, it started to leak quite a bit more now in the past couple weeks. I will takle this porject on the weekend.