how much oil does your X5 use?
 

My 2002 X5 4.6is seems to use more than I think it should, and no, I'm not heavy footed. It's mostly city driving, 30-40km a day tops. The oil was changed 3800km ago and my "check engine oil" warning was on again this morning. I check it and it's down a litre and a half. Nothing leaking out of it, at least, no stains on the garage floor. The dealer tells me that the 4.6's just "use it". Sounds like a convenient excuse!

my 2004 4.4 used 1 quart in 10000 miles
My 2000 m5 on the other hand would use about a quart every thousand but then i traded it for a 2002 and it uses only like 1/2 quart every 3000

I have a 2002 4.6 also and have not needed any oil since I got it about 12,000 miles ago. Oh, and I am heavy footed :D

2005 4.4, I got the special warranty free for oil chage/etc like wipers and stuff. Ive driven so far 6,500 miles

ok so I sounds like this thing is using way too much oil. When I first bought it CPO'd in august of 05 they told me they had just done a fresh oil change. Two weeks later the engine oil warning came on. I checked the oil and it took 3 litres. Called the stealer and they claimed they never said it had had an oil change, so I paid the $180 to have it done. Since that time I've had to put 3 more litres of oil in. I've put 8000k on since I purchased it and this oil consumption doesn't seem right. May I should try another dealer?

My Alfa Romeo 147 uses less oil than that (and they are notorious oil drinkers)so I would definitely get it checked out ASAP. You should also be keeping a VERY regular eye on the dipstick till it's sorted. Having to add 3 litres is not good - in an Alfa that would have meant significant engine damage.

What is your milage and what type of oil are you using? My 4.4 with 50K used no oil (this sounds unbelieveable to me too) at the 10K change that I do. But I noticed that when I changed from Mobil1 to Amsoil this improvement. With Mobil1 I was using 1 quart at 10K. Possibly a different brand will improve your oil consumption.

The following is copied from my article "Lubrication 101"http://www.xoutpost.com/miscellaneous...ion-101-a.html and should give you an idea as to normal oil consumption.

"That being said, for an engine to burn a quart of oil every 2,000 to
3,000 miles would not be out of tolerance. All engines should consume
oil since some of the oil that lubricates the piston rings remains on
the cylinder walls and is combusted as the piston moves down on the
power stroke. A quart every 500 to 1,000 miles would be reason for
concern."

DocSmith,
You have and will, get answers all over the graph here...in our '01 3.0, I use about a quart every 1500 miles, when those 1500 are from a high speed trip/run over a day or two. When around "locally", that consumption goes up to the 1800-2000 mile mark, fwiw. Note, I have the 5 Spd manual which equals very high RPMs at high speed road cruise; thus, the higher than what I think is "normal" consumption.

I've had my share of freebie "oil services", (what a foofoo term,imo), from the stlr, and in every case, they have undoubtedly put in only 7 Qts, not the 8 Qts called for. That may be partially responsible for your consumption: you get it back from stlr and the sumbitch is already down the stick a quart/literish.

Not apples to oranges, but my Vette has used only 2 extra qts of oil in 20,000+ miles/3 years. My two Honda M'cycles use a teaspoon a season...

GL,md

Are you burning oil or losing oil via drips on the ground or is the level dropping without any sign of leaking? Is it possible the front or rear main seal is faulty?