Heavier oil to reduce consumption ?

[X5LAW]

Hi,

Please don't laugh, but I've read a few forums reporting that the heavier oils like a 10w40 will reduce oil consumption in the m54 6 banger.

Anyone know if there is any truth to this?

Conversely I've read that very pricey fully synthetics have the same effect... Who to believe....?

[Smeeagain]

I would imagine having the 'correct' oil would optimise performance (and therefore potentially improve performance/consumption is using something else), therefore you'd have to conclude that the only oil specification to use is the one specified by BMW, rather than something else.

Can't see how oil spec would miraculously and/or noticeably improve performance over another oil (that's not to say that there wont be a difference - I'm talking about a difference that can be verified by Joe Public under real driving conditions).
Smee

[andym3]

If your car is burning a lot of oil, id look for the cause rather than trying to use the wrong oil!
Have you seen any signs of leaks?

When was your PCV last changed?

[X5LAW]

Had all the usual suspects checked and or replaced. Consumption is within spec for the car, but reading about how in an older engine the tolerances might have changed and a heavier oil might address that seemed to make sense. If not, then fair enough. All my bmws have used a bit of oil, and I'm not a 5-6k a year driver. Twice that actually so two oil changes and top ups in between seems the norm.

[andym3]

My X is the 3.0d I do approx. 10-12k a year & my oil level never changes between services! 

[X5LAW]

I'm very happy for you, and can you tell me how your engine achieves that?

Bmw say it's ok for your car to use a litre per 1000 miles, so what makes your car use none and another use lots more? Is the tolerance just very big and we should all be ok with it?

I thought my two stroke days were over when I sold my RGV 250...

[andym3]

Wasn't being funny in my previous comment, just saying how mine is. Also trying to offer advise for you to look into just incase something is wrong & you can prevent things getting worse!
I regularly (every 2 weeks) check all the levels on my car & have not had to top up the oil since the last service which was Feb 14! (sorry but cant tell you how my engine achieves this, it just does!)
If your car is fine then brilliant, id stick with oil that's recommended by BMW!

[jaynana]

it's normal for these engines to burn a bit of oil, although mine doesn't.. I've had other beamers before that did. Mates with audits always talk about topping up oil.


Question on heavier oil - if the cause of burn is compression using heavier oil will reduce the burn rate.

[X5Sport]

My E53 did when it was new, but by 25,000 miles it had stopped.  Our E46 with the same engine did the same and now uses nothing.  The X6 has never used oil - I put that down to new emissions regs perhaps?

Richard

[omodos]

[quote="andym3"]
My X is the 3.0d I do approx. 10-12k a year & my oil level never changes between services! 
[/quote]

Same here does not drop at all, don't know how it does this either, but as handook says some consumption can be expected.....as long as it doesnt eat through it like our e46 then thats fine

[X5LAW]

[quote="jaynana"]
it's normal for these engines to burn a bit of oil, although mine doesn't.. I've had other beamers before that did. Mates with audits always talk about topping up oil.


Question on heavier oil - if the cause of burn is compression using heavier oil will reduce the burn rate.
[/quote]

Thanks, I guess I can try it and identify if it's comprsession related at least then.

[jaynana]

I wouldn't bother, if it's not excessive, cos it's quite normal..

[KGB BORIS]

all main dealers of all manufacturers get told to tell customers that their car can use a litre every thousand miles, its just an industry standard, ive worked for fiat, kia, alfa romeo, jeep, Chrysler and saab and all say the same, its due to the machene that knocks the engine components out sometimes having small size differences (tolerances) and some are bang on and some are not, the ones that are not unfortunately use a bit of oil, so if there isn't a problem as you've checked id say yours is at the far end of the tolerances so uses a bit of oil. just put the right oil in and maybe find some castrol magnitec in the correct grade as bmw said to me anything over 100k should use this oil but I still use the correct 3w30 fully synthetic as mine doesn't use any oil either and has 125k on the clock.
so to summarise if your sure the breathers ok and theres no problems just keep sticking some oil in but id use the correct grade

[Smeeagain]

Please can we all just drop this one - there was a previous thread in the last eight weeks or so that the mods closed down because it got so heated by one or two individuals, (I'm not suggesting this one is)however all the info you need on all consumption is in that thread .........

[jaynana]

Come on, some heat is welcome, it's freezing out here:)  besides the correct oil should reduce friction and heat if it'gets too heated:)