High oil consumption and alusil cylinder liners

[bmwmike]

So what's the conclusion... if your n53 is using no oil it's a good un? Or its maintaining the oil level through lost fuel...


If the Op issue is a manufacture defect would an expert independent analysis not confirm that ?



Great thread BTW

[viperbluecerb]

viperbluecerb said:

After 1K miles, it is unfortunate but not unsurprising that I must report that the oil consumption continues. It was always a strong possibility that the issue was ring/bore related and after all the work that I have undertaken, this has proven to be the case. Slightly overfilling led to a longer that expected time for the oil level gauge to report a drop in oil level and then it continued at the previous rate. Generally running very well with a stable idle and no visible smoke under any observed conditions.

Actually, I jumped the gun a bit with this conclusion, reporting after just a single drop on the electronic dipstick and over estimating how much I may have overfilled. I have done a few more miles now and a better estimation of oil consumption is around 1 litre per ~1000-1500 miles, which is actually quite an improvement over the original 1 litre per 350-400 miles. Previously after my 15 mile drive to work there was a light grey smoke from both tailpipes. This has now also completely gone.

BMW spec up to 0.7 litre per 1000KM (~620 mile) consumption for this engine, which while still horrendous, the car would actually now be in spec. I will do some more miles to see how things continue.

[bmwmike]

Nice.. I wonder how sooty your tail pipes are getting ?

Convinced there is a duff injector on mine just not had the will to take it in yet.

[bmwmike]

How's it looking, still using oil?

[k20erham]

Discussion
k20erham

324 posts

37 months

[report][news]Thursday 7th Aprilquotequote all
Hi I'm reasonable sure your efforts whilst thorough will not cure your oil consumption issues, unless you have a major breather issue which I think you will have investigated before tare-down. your ring bore seal has been compromised and will not rectify it's self, true your worn exhaust guides could pass oil but that is not your issue here.
True your injectors could have caused bore wash and replacing the faulty ones addresses one issue, it will not fix the ring/bore issue, this has been done and it will not correct itself. It's been debated much for years piston ring bore seal is critical and the window of getting it right is very small, once out of that window it rarely corrects itself.
Once an oil burner always an oil burner until you address the cause and replace the rings/bore finish accordingly. At least your head rework will not be in vane should you decide/ need to pull the motor to correct the bore issues, which I suspect you have had in the back of your mind anyway.

You can show a horse to water but you cannot make it drink!!!!!

[dmarkovina]

viperbluecerb said:

Thanks. I am currently running 5w30 and have some 5w40 Liqui Moly sitting at home, LL04 approved. This coming week I will change the oil and filter for this, just in the interest of seeing if in my case it has any noticeable affect and report back any finding.

You may want to also add LM Ceratec - it worked like magic on my stellar mileage E39 with M54 engine known for highish oil consumption due to piston ring design. And yes 5w40 is a perfect match if both are used.