Bore Scoped Cylinders
 

Because I had a low compression reading in number 2 cylinder when I did compression tests chasing a rough idle on my 2006 3.0, i got a bore scope and took a look a the cylinders today to see if I had a burnt valve. Fortunately, I don't. I was very impressed with the fact that all of the cylinders have all of their original cross hatching. At 295,000 miles! I found a few lines in the cylinder walls of a couple cylinders, but nothing that looks radical. I'm thinking I have stuck rings in 2 maybe. Going to try giving the engine a ring soak and see if that helps bring up the compression. I took some pics of the cylinders.

If compression comes up with a couple of squirts of oil then rings are likely the problem.

I'll give it a try.

Did you do a leak down test to see where it's going? They look pretty good, I had a couple vertical lines like that at 140k in a few of the cylinders but nothing that catches the fingernail.

I have the $30 Amazon borescope and it works I suppose, but it's just not great, I can't really see anything sometimes. I would like to get one of those nicer articulating cameras if anyone has a good recommendation.

I got the Vevor articulating bore scope. I didn't include any photos of the valves, but the articulating feature for looking at them is great. look straight back up at the valves from the top of piston. They all looked good. Carbon, but no signs of burnt valves.

I haven't done a leak down. Pretty sure given the condition of the valves, it's the rings. Going to try putting a couple squirts of oil in as 80stech suggested and see if it comes up. I'm hoping I can clear it up with a ring soak. If not, a new engine or new X is probably in the cards.

- How many miles on the odometer?

- I'd the piston soak as planned. Then "BavarianE39 CCV Mod": <--- I did this on 4 different M54 engines, never look back...

A "drive it like you stole it" session can help with freeing up stuck rings. ;)

295,000 miles. I did the CCV mod, only I put a catch can into that mod. Works great and catches a fair amount of oil that the mod would allow to go into the intake to burn up.

I have a 4 hour freeway drive coming up this weekend. Maybe that will help?

Since changing jobs six years ago my miles driven went way down. My commute is about 1.5 miles now and most of my other driving is around town. Not a lot of higher rev driving being done.

Consider this engine flush... Which has gained quite a few fans over on E46fantatics.
Attacks the oil control piston rings from both top and bottom.

Please see the flush in the link below. The author, MrMCar, was(is) a factory-trained, long-time independent BMW tech in New Jersey. He recently retired. He did this routinely for his M54 customers with oil consumption issues.

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/...n-fix.1335303/