How long does my engine have left to live?
Discussion
Yeah hard question to answer I know!
Situation is.....Ive owned a 2001 320Ci since Easter 2006. It was bought with 116k miles and just ticked over 170k this weekend. It has always used a bit of oil, but uses more than I have read as being "normal" on various BMW forums. It has gotten slightly worse over time to the point where it uses a litre every 600miles or so. I use 10W40 oil under advice from a local BM indy. Car has pinking under light load between about 2,000 to 3,500 revs mainly in 3rd.
I took a video of starting the car from cold this weekend and there was no blue smoke at all, I've never seen blue smoke on cold or hot start-up and never seen oil on floor of garage or after parking up anywhere.
I had the CCV valve replaced a month or so ago, initially pinking went away but soon went back to same level. Removing the oil cap when engine running (just after start-up) causes revs to drop almost to stall, which picks up when I put my hand over it and can feel slight suction on my hand...not blowing or hard suction.
Also took spark plugs out this weekend to see their condition and seeing as the car was serviced in Feb, (so long as garage did actually change plugs and I wasn't ripped off and never any mention from any garage that's serviced the car about oily plugs), I was kinda shocked at how bad they were, cylinder 1 especially (first pic) with the rest were pretty much in same condition as the second pic, each plug also had oil on the threads.
cylinder 1 plug
the rest
Took car out for a test drive after changing plugs and car felt a little more responsive (better spark I guess) and much less pinking. Although Im not hopeful this will last!
So my thoughts are as there's no blue smoke at start-up then the head is ok as gravity would deposit some oil into the cylinders if the valve seals had gone and would be seen on start-up, as CCV valve has been changed there doesn't seem to be over pressurising in the crankcase forcing oil vapour into the cylinders, pretty much all that's left is worn piston rings and a borked bottom end? Is there any point to a compression test if all plugs are that badly coked? Anything else that might be causing this?
Situation is.....Ive owned a 2001 320Ci since Easter 2006. It was bought with 116k miles and just ticked over 170k this weekend. It has always used a bit of oil, but uses more than I have read as being "normal" on various BMW forums. It has gotten slightly worse over time to the point where it uses a litre every 600miles or so. I use 10W40 oil under advice from a local BM indy. Car has pinking under light load between about 2,000 to 3,500 revs mainly in 3rd.
I took a video of starting the car from cold this weekend and there was no blue smoke at all, I've never seen blue smoke on cold or hot start-up and never seen oil on floor of garage or after parking up anywhere.
I had the CCV valve replaced a month or so ago, initially pinking went away but soon went back to same level. Removing the oil cap when engine running (just after start-up) causes revs to drop almost to stall, which picks up when I put my hand over it and can feel slight suction on my hand...not blowing or hard suction.
Also took spark plugs out this weekend to see their condition and seeing as the car was serviced in Feb, (so long as garage did actually change plugs and I wasn't ripped off and never any mention from any garage that's serviced the car about oily plugs), I was kinda shocked at how bad they were, cylinder 1 especially (first pic) with the rest were pretty much in same condition as the second pic, each plug also had oil on the threads.
cylinder 1 plug
the rest
Took car out for a test drive after changing plugs and car felt a little more responsive (better spark I guess) and much less pinking. Although Im not hopeful this will last!
So my thoughts are as there's no blue smoke at start-up then the head is ok as gravity would deposit some oil into the cylinders if the valve seals had gone and would be seen on start-up, as CCV valve has been changed there doesn't seem to be over pressurising in the crankcase forcing oil vapour into the cylinders, pretty much all that's left is worn piston rings and a borked bottom end? Is there any point to a compression test if all plugs are that badly coked? Anything else that might be causing this?
buggalugs said:
eta, now that I've actually read your post, #1 looks like pinking damage the other not too bad, maybe run those new ones for 1K and check them again? They're pretty black is the engine getting up to temperature?
Thanks for the reply.Edited by buggalugs on Monday 15th September 17:49
I do a mix of short runs and longer runs on a weekend, car isn't used every day, maybe 4 times a week at most. I do make a regular trip from SE London to Liphook in Hampshire, so would get up to temps. Will certainly pull them again to see whats going on.
Edited by djstevec on Monday 15th September 18:12
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