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Oil consumption or unseen leak?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 3:15 pm
by UrbanFlow
A few weeks ago I stopped the X5 and the 'Check Engine OIl Level' warning ponged up.
Checked the levels and it was just above min, so poured in half a litre.
Yesterday it ponged up again and sure enough the level is just above minimum.

The car hasn't dropped any oil on my drive and it doesn't appear to be burning oil as I've followed it plenty of times on my motorcycle.

Maybe it's dripping into the sump guard and I just can't see it.

Any suggestions?

Re: Oil consumption or unseen leak?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 4:19 pm
by sapphireblack
I think your only option is to drop the under cover and take a look for leaks or residue leaks?

Re: Oil consumption or unseen leak?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 4:52 pm
by Turks
It would be helpful if you had your model etc in your signature...

When was your last service or the last time you checked your engine oil level previous to the error message?


Turks.

Re: Oil consumption or unseen leak?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:16 pm
by X5Sport
If it's a Diesel, then you can expect about 1/2 litre every 1,000 miles or so. BMW state that the engine is 'expected' to use this much and it's completely normal. No idea what the normal consumption is on the Petrol models though. It always struck me as quite a lot to use considering no other current car I have owned with a diesel powerplant has used that much. Our E53 certainly uses around that amount and has since new. The E46 with the same engine a little less than the E53 and the X6 nothing at all.

Re: Oil consumption or unseen leak?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:23 pm
by Sanj
3 litre petrol - saw it in another post...

Re: Oil consumption or unseen leak?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 6:07 pm
by UrbanFlow
Sorry peeps...

It's a 2003 3.0i Sport with 69,000 on the clock now. Bought it fully serviced with 65,000 miles on it 5 months ago.

Re: Oil consumption or unseen leak?

Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 6:09 pm
by UrbanFlow
[quote=""sapphireblack""]I think your only option is to drop the under cover and take a look for leaks or residue leaks?[/quote]

Sounds like a plan. Is it easy to drop? Any watch-outs?

Cheers