530i E39 M54 oil consumption on light throttle
Discussion
My car is a 2001 530i MT, 90,000 miles, goes very well, very smooth, perfect idle, very good fuel economy. But...it´s using a lot of oil. I do have an oil leak (probably from the oil filter cover) but I don´t think that´s the reason.
What I have noticed is: driving mon-fri to and from work, 6 miles journey each way, driving on very light throttle using 4th and 5th gears at very low revs, doing a bit of "hypermilling", the car uses about 1 litre every 400-500 miles. But...on weekends I drive on two lane roads, revving the engine every now and then, doing a bit of "spirited driving". In this kind of driving looking at the oil disptick I don´t notice any oil consumption.
Could it be the CCV or should I worry about piston rings etc...? Give me your opinions, please.
My 530i runs on Motul X-Cess 5w40 LL01.
Thanks!
What I have noticed is: driving mon-fri to and from work, 6 miles journey each way, driving on very light throttle using 4th and 5th gears at very low revs, doing a bit of "hypermilling", the car uses about 1 litre every 400-500 miles. But...on weekends I drive on two lane roads, revving the engine every now and then, doing a bit of "spirited driving". In this kind of driving looking at the oil disptick I don´t notice any oil consumption.
Could it be the CCV or should I worry about piston rings etc...? Give me your opinions, please.
My 530i runs on Motul X-Cess 5w40 LL01.
Thanks!
Sort the oil filter housing out first. They go rock hard and perish and can let a lot of oil out...
However, check the CCV as well, run the engine and remove the oil cap. If there’s a lot of vacuum, the CCV has gone and needs replacing. Use the Meyle kit sold by C3BMW and ensure you get the M54 one
My recommendation is to remove the inlet manifold to do it, much better access then and it’s not too hard a job. Get the Elring inlet mani gaskets too and replace them at the same time
If it were the rings, you’d see a lot of smoke too
However, check the CCV as well, run the engine and remove the oil cap. If there’s a lot of vacuum, the CCV has gone and needs replacing. Use the Meyle kit sold by C3BMW and ensure you get the M54 one
My recommendation is to remove the inlet manifold to do it, much better access then and it’s not too hard a job. Get the Elring inlet mani gaskets too and replace them at the same time
If it were the rings, you’d see a lot of smoke too
d_a_n1979 said:
Sort the oil filter housing out first. They go rock hard and perish and can let a lot of oil out...
However, check the CCV as well, run the engine and remove the oil cap. If there’s a lot of vacuum, the CCV has gone and needs replacing. Use the Meyle kit sold by C3BMW and ensure you get the M54 one
My recommendation is to remove the inlet manifold to do it, much better access then and it’s not too hard a job. Get the Elring inlet mani gaskets too and replace them at the same time
If it were the rings, you’d see a lot of smoke too
Yes, my parking place doesn´t look very good. Neighboors are not happy.However, check the CCV as well, run the engine and remove the oil cap. If there’s a lot of vacuum, the CCV has gone and needs replacing. Use the Meyle kit sold by C3BMW and ensure you get the M54 one
My recommendation is to remove the inlet manifold to do it, much better access then and it’s not too hard a job. Get the Elring inlet mani gaskets too and replace them at the same time
If it were the rings, you’d see a lot of smoke too
I don´t see any smoke from the exhaust.
I suppose that to change the oil filter housing gasket the manifold and perhaps the alternator will have to be removed, so the CCV replacement timing is perfect. This week I´ll ask for a quote.
Thanks a lot.
B234R said:
Yes, my parking place doesn´t look very good. Neighboors are not happy.
I don´t see any smoke from the exhaust.
I suppose that to change the oil filter housing gasket the manifold and perhaps the alternator will have to be removed, so the CCV replacement timing is perfect. This week I´ll ask for a quote.
Thanks a lot.
No worries; always best to start cheap and work from thereI don´t see any smoke from the exhaust.
I suppose that to change the oil filter housing gasket the manifold and perhaps the alternator will have to be removed, so the CCV replacement timing is perfect. This week I´ll ask for a quote.
Thanks a lot.
You need the following:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-OIL-FILTER-HOUSING-...
Doing that; you may as well do the rocker gasket, spark plug gasket and bolt rubber gaskets:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rocker-Cover-Gasket-Set...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rocker-Cover-Bolt-Rubbe...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-CRANK-CCV-CASE-VALV...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-320i-323i-325i-...
NIAAOSwz~paCWmXI buy all my parts from C3BMW and/or BMWmotormec; they're trusted resellers and they're all genuine parts
Get the parts yourself and then get your mechanic/garage to do the work for you I did the rocker, spark plugs and bolts gaskets last year, after buying my car; it even smelt burned oil inside the car...
I would be glad to buy myself the parts and give them to the mechanic, but around here (I live in the south of Spain) few workshops like that, as they prefer to crucufy the customer with a huge parts mark up...
About the CCV, is it advisable to buy the original part or is there a good pattern part?
Thanks!!
I would be glad to buy myself the parts and give them to the mechanic, but around here (I live in the south of Spain) few workshops like that, as they prefer to crucufy the customer with a huge parts mark up...
About the CCV, is it advisable to buy the original part or is there a good pattern part?
Thanks!!
Genuine BMW parts will always be the best (apart from upgrades like Bilstein B6/8 dampers etc).
They cost more than aftermarket parts-but they fit first time and last longer. As always it’s a cost/quality balance and the choice is yours.
As your engine is an M54 you may well find that after changing the CCV etc and fixing the oil leaks it still uses oil. Most old M54s do use oil, but it’s cheap enough-£50 for 20l of LL04.
They cost more than aftermarket parts-but they fit first time and last longer. As always it’s a cost/quality balance and the choice is yours.
As your engine is an M54 you may well find that after changing the CCV etc and fixing the oil leaks it still uses oil. Most old M54s do use oil, but it’s cheap enough-£50 for 20l of LL04.
B234R said:
I did the rocker, spark plugs and bolts gaskets last year, after buying my car; it even smelt burned oil inside the car...
I would be glad to buy myself the parts and give them to the mechanic, but around here (I live in the south of Spain) few workshops like that, as they prefer to crucufy the customer with a huge parts mark up...
About the CCV, is it advisable to buy the original part or is there a good pattern part?
Thanks!!
If they have to get parts, then stick with OEM BMWI would be glad to buy myself the parts and give them to the mechanic, but around here (I live in the south of Spain) few workshops like that, as they prefer to crucufy the customer with a huge parts mark up...
About the CCV, is it advisable to buy the original part or is there a good pattern part?
Thanks!!
But the parts I’ve linked to are well made and respected manufacturers. Elring are OEM BMW gasket makers anyway.
As for the CCV, the Meyle one is very well made and I’ve used it on both previous E39s with zero issues, as have LOTS of other folk over on the 5 forums & Facebook groups etc... The OEM BMW CCV kit is stupidly expensive & you cannot tell the difference between the 2!
d_a_n1979 said:
However, check the CCV as well, run the engine and remove the oil cap. If there’s a lot of vacuum, the CCV has gone and needs replacing.
My old 330i with the same M54 engine also used a lot of oil. When I removed the oil cap with the engine running, it always threw the Check Engine light straight away. The CCV was new (absolute pain of a job), so I put it down to the valve stem seals. Never got them done though, moving the car on due to many other faults.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff