Oil consumption on 645Ci

[minimatan]

Over the last 1,500 odd miles, I have averaged 1L of oil per 317 miles. My car is covered by a comprehensive warranty. Does it seem excessively high? In my 12 months of ownership I have already had gaskets replaced twice due to oil leaks!

[Elliot2000]

Try this next time u have been out for a drive, leave it idling for five minutes and then Rev it right up and see if u get a plume of black smoke out of the exhaust- if so u will have a problem with the engine burning oil - possibly valve stem seals, if no smoke then u probably still have some unfixed oil leaks

[jayemm89]

In 15,000 miles I think I topped up my 645 once, MAYBE twice?

If memory serves, BMW count anything up to 1l of oil every 1000 miles as "normal", which is already very high by most people's standards. My E46 330 did 1l about every 4,000.

The rate you're using it, I'd say something is definitely wrong

[anonymous-user]

Way too high but I see it's an old car; what mileage has it done?

[hornetrider]

Elliot2000 said:

Try this next time u have been out for a drive, leave it idling for five minutes and then Rev it right up and see if u get a plume of black smoke out of the exhaust- if so u will have a problem with the engine burning oil - possibly valve stem seals, if no smoke then u probably still have some unfixed oil leaks

This. If it's the seals, prepare yourself!

[minimatan]

The car has 66k miles and is covered by a comprehensive warranty with mondial.

[AlasdairB10]

hornetrider said:

Elliot2000 said:

Try this next time u have been out for a drive, leave it idling for five minutes and then Rev it right up and see if u get a plume of black smoke out of the exhaust- if so u will have a problem with the engine burning oil - possibly valve stem seals, if no smoke then u probably still have some unfixed oil leaks

This. If it's the seals, prepare yourself!

A dealer will tell you it isn't excessive notwithstanding that there is a service bulletin which says it is - google hard enough and you will find it. They will likely say that if it isn't below 1l/1000k its no problem.

Could just be the crank case breathers or gaskets. Hopefully....

All replaceable on mondial warranty.

[gizlaroc]

Tell them it is using a litre every tankful, around 300 miles.

[minimatan]

I've sent them the breakdown

[eliot]

AlasdairB10 said:

iThey will likely say that if it isn't below 1l/1000k its no problem.

O/p said he's used 1L per ~300 miles over the last 1500 miles.
Thats alot of oil, because as you say the general cutoff is indeed around 1l/1000M

[minimatan]

eliot said:

AlasdairB10 said:

iThey will likely say that if it isn't below 1l/1000k its no problem.

O/p said he's used 1L per ~300 miles over the last 1500 miles.
Thats alot of oil, because as you say the general cutoff is indeed around 1l/1000M

In actual fact, the master technician of BMW Cooper Cobham was asked about this in relation to my enquiry and he looked it up and stated 1L/1000Km (not miles).

Update: I was being quoted a booking in wait of three weeks for the microfilter service/oil leak investigation, but I developed a wheel bearing complaint (I had one last year also so am able to pick up on it very quickly!) and BMW Assist have a priority booking and 48 hour turnaround time, so I now have the car in for warranty work (£100 XS accounted for) with a wishlist of potential warranty claims too!

Note: I bet that Mondial are going to tear me a new one come renewal time as I have claimed for loads of things this year (over three instances), being a fastidious owner!

[minimatan]

Update: BMW have identified a 'slight leak from oil pressure switch' which is to be replaced under warranty.

Not a convincing element of the consumption in my, admittedly 'mechanical-knowledge-free-zone-thinking'. Nevertheless, they suggested topping up the oil and monitoring it.

[gizlaroc]

minimatan said:

Note: I bet that Mondial are going to tear me a new one come renewal time as I have claimed for loads of things this year (over three instances), being a fastidious owner!

You should have done the warranty monthly, it will jump up like mad if you renew at over 60k, where as monthly it just automatically renews and stays the same.

[minimatan]

gizlaroc said:

minimatan said:

Note: I bet that Mondial are going to tear me a new one come renewal time as I have claimed for loads of things this year (over three instances), being a fastidious owner!

You should have done the warranty monthly, it will jump up like mad if you renew at over 60k, where as monthly it just automatically renews and stays the same.

I read this on another thread this month - I hadn't realised originally, otherwise I would have been more prudent. Nevertheless, you can't put the st back in the donkey, as they say. If I keep the car, I'm sure that I'll get my money's worth next year also!

[gizlaroc]

Get as much done as you can this year and then stick the money in the bank.

[minimatan]

I value having the safety net

[gizlaroc]

How much was it this year? Around £700? And then when over the 60k what will it be, around £1500?

These are pretty bullet proof, just can't see the point myself. But I guess it depends if they sort the oil consumption out?

[anonymous-user]

BMW will only consider this a warranty claim if the oil consumption is 1L/700 Miles. Otherwise they will tell you it is normal.

Common causes for the consumption are a blocked CCV (also known by other names such as cyclonic separator). This usually happens with one of two things (sometimes both): Short trips where the engine does not get up to operating temperature e.g. 5-10 minute trip and then parked up and/or improper oil changes. Don't believe the condition based service that tells you it is okay to change oil every 15,000 miles or so. That may be the case for other cars but for ours the oil separator/CCV system become blocked quickly.

I was burning 1L to 1200 miles to begin with. Then 1L to 750 miles but BMW rejected the claim as it was on the cusp on 700 miles. Believe you me I pushed them hard but they refused the claim stating that I would have to get them an independent engineers report. I managed to get old of an engineer and he wanted to conduct an oil analysis - highly recommended company by HJ. The initial cost was £700 just to carry out the oil analysis and initial investigations. After that we were talking possibly another £1500 as he wanted to have the top of the engine taken apart. I decided to change it and started changing oil every 4000 miles. Since then my oil consumption has gradually improved from 1L to 2400 miles to what it is now, 1L to 3800 miles. Mine is the N52B25 variant and these are known to use some oil due to the design of the inland oil rings.

[minimatan]

gizlaroc said:

How much was it this year? Around £700? And then when over the 60k what will it be, around £1500?

These are pretty bullet proof, just can't see the point myself. But I guess it depends if they sort the oil consumption out?

About £900 and renewal price quoted today for £1,200odd (£100XS) I think that I'll add up the internal invoices from BMW and see what one fastidious owner would have been looking at otherwise in order to maintain the quality of his p&j to his standards...

[minimatan]

I value having the safety net