E46 engine internal wear. Burns oil like crazy.

Barry_Mc wrote: i'm using 5w-30 castrol edge since i bought the car nearly 2yr ago, it was burning 1ltr every 1000 - 1200 miles, prob 6mths ago after a service it started burning 1ltr every 600-700miles and now its down to 450miles, running well, see smoke at high revs alright, just a blow out if ya like, cleaning the pipes....

 

Spooky that.  I've been using the same oil since new in the car, regular services and FBMWSH.  Mine was the same about a ltr every 1200 miles.  I queried it with the supplying dealer in 2002 and they checked the car over and then said it was fine and in normal tolerance (which BMW claim is 1 ltr in 750 miles).  Then like you suddenly 1 ltr every 600ish miles down to 1 ltr every 400miles.

BMW had the manifold off to do the breather valve and it was clean.  They didn't test compression (as it was expensive job for them to do it and I don't know a good indie garage in Leeds and they reckoned with the car's history that shouldn't be the problem).

Originally wondered if an oil control ring had shed or failed.  I also wondered if the oil was getting too hot or if there is some way the engine could "suck up oil" when you lift the throttle - though as I said the manifold is clear (I'm told) and the breather valve replaced by BMW. 

I think it's defo the same thing though as the symptoms are spookily so the same and it seems peculiar to the M54 2.2's

I-11

 

Last one for now..

 

It's not just the 3 series M54's that have the problem.  Check out..

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23760

Also they sign to a thread on here where someone ended up finding it was valve seals - which rings a bit true with some of my symptoms - but make your mind up...

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=404447&pag e=5

 

I-11

Peter Fenwick wrote: There's a half decent Indie near York, which isn't too far from leeds. http://www.atlasautoservices.co.uk/ I had an E39 530 with an M54 engine and that used a litre of oil every 1500-2000 miles.

 

Ta very much for the recommendation!

interesting links I-11, if i had the consumption levels of the lads in the first post xmas would have come early!!! the DIY guide in the second post is spot on, but i don't think i'll try it...lol, def one to be left to the experts i think...seems to be the fix, if the seal colours are correct then there is obv a flaw and it would be interesting to know which engine has the green or red seals?

i might change my oil to be honest, reading the 2nd post 5w-30 isn't up to the running temp of the m54, which 0w-30 and 5w-40 are, so i think as i'm due a service i might chance 5w-40, not 100% but i think majority of members use 5w-40, worth a try at least...might be a cheap fix, if i get back to 1000-1200 / ltr i'll be happy enough although my gut is telling me the damage has been done...

Hi Barry

If he means the valve that lets pressure out of the crank case back into
the manifold (so called scavenger valve) then I've had that done.

BMW decided that that was the most likely cause of mine (apparently it
gets clogged inside and the oil isn't trapped out but ends up on the inlet
manifold being burned). It apparently is like a tiny cyclone valve (think
dyson) that traps any oil in the gas flowing from the bottom to the top of
the engine. I think you can see it under the inlet manifold!

They had to take the inlet manifold off to get at it and for my car it didn't
make any difference!

I was wondering if the valve guide seals can be replaced without taking
the head to bits and what it might cost....

Hmmm

Russ

thanks for that, Russ, i'd say your right, must be the scavenger valve he was talking about...i don't think you have to touch the heads to replace the valve seals. i tried to get a price for that job but i'd say if they can find a simpler solution with less effort they will, which makes sense i suppose. out of interest how much were you charged for the scavenger valve job, i was told 7hrs, (55e / hr) and i think the part is around 76e - 460e approx. (he didn't say 460, just 7hr job etc etc...

MBW1 - breather pipes, must have a look into that, only starting to get an idea of the inner workings.