Does every 4.4, 4.6 and 4.8

[xRide]

has the blue smoke issue?

Do all these models eventually develop the blue smoke issue?

[electricalserv x5]

not mine,I had the 4.6is and 4.8is now.....................use Castrol oil.

[xRide]

Originally Posted by electricalserv x5

not mine,I had the 4.6is and 4.8is now.....................use Castrol oil.

Which oil BMW uses

[lowlows18]

i have a 4.4i with 175,000 miles and no smoke.. even if i push it hard

[bcredliner]

I have 4.6 with 109,000 mi. No smoke. Have always changed oil every 5000 mi. and always used oil that meets BMW specs.

[absentmathis]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I have 4.6 with 109,000 mi. No smoke. Have always changed oil every 5000 mi. and always used oil that meets BMW specs.

Wow 5k? That's excessive IMO. I'm a maintenance nazi but with modern day synthetic I see no need for that unless its subjected to extreme conditions. My e39 has 230k and runs as clean and smooth as any. Oil changes are 7.5-10k.

[Whitecat]

Nope.... i have 75k miles and i love to push the beast hard ...no blue smoke

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by absentmathis

Wow 5k? That's excessive IMO. I'm a maintenance nazi but with modern day synthetic I see no need for that unless its subjected to extreme conditions. My e39 has 230k and runs as clean and smooth as any. Oil changes are 7.5-10k.

Yes, every 5000 miles. Every mile on new oil means it is not as good as when it poured from the bottle. I say at 5000 miles, it is a small investment to change the oil and filter. I am not saying anyone should do the same thing but there is no way to know if it is obsessive. There is a way to know the oil was not as good coming out as it was going in even after as little as 1000 miles, including synthetic.

[absentmathis]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Yes, every 5000 miles. Every mile on new oil means it is not as good as when it poured from the bottle. I say at 5000 miles, it is a small investment to change the oil and filter. I am not saying anyone should do the same thing but there is no way to know if it is obsessive. There is a way to know the oil was not as good coming out as it was going in even after as little as 1000 miles, including synthetic.

I agree it's not about the negligible cost, it's just kinda wasteful. You're running the same interval some manufacturers recommend for non-syntehitic. The manufacturer of your car recommends three times that. Yes - I know they also recommend lifetime tranny fluid, etc.

I'm as picky as anyone about maintenance. But there IS a way to know if your oil is failing or fine. Test a few batches when you change it, that will tell you how fast it's degrading and getting dirty. I've had it tested at 10k and it was totally fine. Even 15k wasn't showing signs of extreme wear. Changing it 'just because' is like changing tires at 50% tread because it could go flat.

[JCL]

Then there are all the studies published by SAE and others that document lower engine wear with used motor oil than new. Makes a case for not changing the oil too frequently.

Some discussion here: used oil better than new? - Bob Is The Oil Guy