Fully synthetic engine oil loss ...

[sadhish]

Hi guys,It's me again, still enjoying my bimmer but something happened. Hope to learn something and get an opinion from you guys.I serviced my car about 2 months ago and filled the engine with Shell Helix 5w-40. The engine oil was top up correctly. Full to the reserved portion of the engine stick. I checked it every week for about 4 weeks, there was 0 reduction in the oil level.Then I went outstation, a 2 hour drive, and then came home. A week later when I checked it, the level was about 1 cm from the bottom. It was below the minimum line. Tempreature and everything else was fine. There's some white smoke on cold mornings when I start the car, but no burn smell. Other then that I didn't notice anything else coming out from the exhaust.So I went to a BMW mechanic, before I could stop him, he poured in mineral oil for me, telling me that I need to get a top overhaul done. Anyway, I've been checking it for the last few weeks and the oil level has not dropped. Fuel consumption has not dropped. (Ard 500km /tank of mixed driving and 375km/tank of 100% town driving). Engine note sounds stable to me.I'm taking it to my regular mechanic this weekend (in KL), but wanted to know what you guys think. Guess those 17" rims have to wait. Haha.

 

[B33mEr]

usually if there is white smoke it means ur engine oil somehow got into the combustion chamber hence it could be your valve seal worn out ... but i'm no expert i hope d sifu here will chime in and correct me if i'm wrong

 

[anaksarawak]

Another reasons can be the piston is worn and when thin oil in your engine on high rev it may burn away..

 

[ariff habshi]

got same problem as yours bro..

happened after went outstation.. noticed the white smoke on cold mornings.. i think its water vapour..

found that there's oil leak underneath.. turns out to be oilpan gasket.. however after replacing it still did not solve the white smoke in early mornings... but no oil leak no more

may opt for overhaul soon...:20:

 

[rizaljai]

Hi guys,

It's me again, still enjoying my bimmer but something happened. Hope to learn something and get an opinion from you guys.

I serviced my car about 2 months ago and filled the engine with Shell Helix 5w-40. The engine oil was top up correctly. Full to the reserved portion of the engine stick. I checked it every week for about 4 weeks, there was 0 reduction in the oil level.

Then I went outstation, a 2 hour drive, and then came home. A week later when I checked it, the level was about 1 cm from the bottom. It was below the minimum line. Tempreature and everything else was fine. There's some white smoke on cold mornings when I start the car, but no burn smell. Other then that I didn't notice anything else coming out from the exhaust.

So I went to a BMW mechanic, before I could stop him, he poured in mineral oil for me, telling me that I need to get a top overhaul done.

Anyway, I've been checking it for the last few weeks and the oil level has not dropped. Fuel consumption has not dropped. (Ard 500km /tank of mixed driving and 375km/tank of 100% town driving). Engine note sounds stable to me.

I'm taking it to my regular mechanic this weekend (in KL), but wanted to know what you guys think. Guess those 17" rims have to wait. Haha.

Try using semi synthetic oil..it might solve the issue. If you use fully synt oil to older engine, the oil might be sipped through to your combustion chamber because it's thin and worn out piston rings.

my 2 cents:top:

 

[jarance]

Hi guys,


So I went to a BMW mechanic, before I could stop him, he poured in mineral oil for me, telling me that I need to get a top overhaul done.

What type of BMW mechanic is this... Usually they will ask you what type of oil you were previously using before they top up the oil.. :stupid:

As for the top overhaul.. If your fuel consumption is OK, power is OK, then it is OK.. Your engine have already clock how many Kilometer?

White smoke is OK in the morning.. This could be due to the moisture.. It should go OFF once the engine warm up...If it does NOT, then you should start to worry a bit.

The E36 is about 11 to 15 yrs car.. Sometimes it better to use semi syn and change it more frequently..

BTW, jack the car up and check for any sign of oil leak.. The oil seal could be leaking..

 

[rizaljai]

What type of BMW mechanic is this... Usually they will ask you what type of oil you were previously using before they top up the oil.. :stupid:

As for the top overhaul.. If your fuel consumption is OK, power is OK, then it is OK.. Your engine have already clock how many Kilometer?

White smoke is OK in the morning.. This could be due to the moisture.. It should go OFF once the engine warm up...If it does NOT, then you should start to worry a bit.

The E36 is about 11 to 15 yrs car.. Sometimes it better to use semi syn and change it more frequently..

BTW, jack the car up and check for any sign of oil leak.. The oil seal could be leaking..

Agree with Jarance, white smoke sometimes due to moisture especially in the morning.

 

[Hellraiser]

suggest to use semi syn, bro...

 

[cempaka]

The white smoke is normal, but you probably are having blue smoke while you're driving due to the oil burning. As said before, if the engine is running ok you probably just need to run thicker oil (min 15W or 20W) as the engine tolerances have just increased with age. Have your mech do wet/dry compression test to isolate where the oil is being lost. Important to know this, a top overhaul won't help if it's your piston rings that are worn, for instance.

 

[ALBundy]

Well, two things need to be determine first.

Firstly, check is it water vapour that is emitting or white-blue smoke. If its water vapour, then its perfectly normal, by products of petrol combustion engines are water and carbon monoxide

Secondly, assuming its white blue-smoke, check whether the smoke is being emitted all the time or just whenever the engine is being started (could be even in the afternoon). If the smoke is only emitted when the engine is started and then goes off as it get warm, then the valve seals are worn and a top overhaul is due. If the smoke is emitted at all times, then a complete overhaul is needed.

Cheers

p/s using thicker oil will not treat the symptoms of the cause, but not the root of the problem. And using thicker oil will result in reduced engine efficiency which translates into higher fuel consumption and reduced horsepower.

 

[sadhish]

Hi all,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Actually, being more observant, I think AlBundy is right. I notice that that the car purges white smoke for about 2-3 minutes when I start my car (after it's parked for about 3-4 hours, if stop and start won't have that problem).

But after that, it'll be ok. Also check this link out: it's almost word for word what Al mentioned. http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/050608.htm

So I guess, I'll have to go do a top overhaul then, hopefully. I'll go to my mechanic in KL for this.

Does anyone know what it's going to cost me?

 

[ariff habshi]

top overhaul
i was quoted to spend around rm2k+ (m42)
was told that for m43 its around 1.5k

can anyone comment on this? cheap or not??

 

[RCBL]

HI all, I am new to this although i have been reading and following almost all the treads closely and passionately for over a year. A little intro about me;

- I drive a 1996 E36 318i and been using my UDM for the past 6 years
- Car is stock and recently resprayed and added AC bumpers/skirts/tailpipes/M3 Steering
- Running on standard shocks and 17" rims with Potenza (Adrenalin)
- Been through ups and downs with my UDM and frankly, the money that I have put in to keep my UDM on the road does not justify the current resale value but the thrill and experience has been rewarding!

As the car is 12 years old and clocking 280K mileage, I am intending to;

1) overhaul my engine as its burning engine oil. Dont see black smoke coming out of my tailpipes but the oil level dipps over time. Is there a diff in top-overhaul and total overhaul? How about the cost?
2) to deviate a bit, I also intend to change my shocks from standard Boge to Blistein/Eibach. Been reading about B6 and B8 with Eibach Pro-sport. Which would be suitable if I intend to lower it slightly (and I live in a condo so ramps are not really friendly to my UDM) and make my ride firm but not too hard!