N52 extreme oil consumption
Discussion
Hi All,
My 2005 e60 523i 133k km consuming 1 litre of oil every 500kms. Yes that's a lot, has been consuming first 1L every 1k km very slowly degrading since 20k km.
Replaced CCV and connected hoses twice, head gasket, valve cover gasket, intake side valve seals no effect.
Dry and wet compression looks OK with cheap Chinese tool, no errors thrown, exhaust pipe gets black on the outside but no visible smoke except a occasional small puff of blueish smoke on startup after few hours sitting. More than usual white steam in cold weather, goes away when hot. No external leak except few drops of oil on bottom of gearbox probably from rear crank seal, but never anything on the floor.
There was nothing obvious when removing the head, except for two cylinders.
Cylinders 3 and 5 have plugs covered with dry black soot and are also wet in the inside, other plugs look good but thin black layer on the bottom metal ring, thin black dry deposit on the top of pistons but might be normal.
Unfortunately I didn't take the head to a shop when it was off as seeing the intake valves (pics) i concluded that the seals were the culprit. Exhaust valves were all covered with very thin black layer, except 3 and 5 with thicker cover, all dry, my spring compressor anyway didn't fit to replace exhaust seals.
I still suspect an issue with either the CCV system or intake valves. I removed intake manifold 3 times, each time there is oil at the rubber seal to the engine and I would think only the valve rods would be black instead of the whole intake port if it was valve seals. Intake manifold had 1 spoon oil in it but has not been cleaned for 20k km, no obvious oil pooling inside the manifuld since last 2k km. I once run the engine with CCV hose disconnected from intake manifold and the hose was throwing out a lot of oil, which again might be normal without intake vacuum?
Some pics below of intake ports and oil around manifold screws and seals. Any idea?
My 2005 e60 523i 133k km consuming 1 litre of oil every 500kms. Yes that's a lot, has been consuming first 1L every 1k km very slowly degrading since 20k km.
Replaced CCV and connected hoses twice, head gasket, valve cover gasket, intake side valve seals no effect.
Dry and wet compression looks OK with cheap Chinese tool, no errors thrown, exhaust pipe gets black on the outside but no visible smoke except a occasional small puff of blueish smoke on startup after few hours sitting. More than usual white steam in cold weather, goes away when hot. No external leak except few drops of oil on bottom of gearbox probably from rear crank seal, but never anything on the floor.
There was nothing obvious when removing the head, except for two cylinders.
Cylinders 3 and 5 have plugs covered with dry black soot and are also wet in the inside, other plugs look good but thin black layer on the bottom metal ring, thin black dry deposit on the top of pistons but might be normal.
Unfortunately I didn't take the head to a shop when it was off as seeing the intake valves (pics) i concluded that the seals were the culprit. Exhaust valves were all covered with very thin black layer, except 3 and 5 with thicker cover, all dry, my spring compressor anyway didn't fit to replace exhaust seals.
I still suspect an issue with either the CCV system or intake valves. I removed intake manifold 3 times, each time there is oil at the rubber seal to the engine and I would think only the valve rods would be black instead of the whole intake port if it was valve seals. Intake manifold had 1 spoon oil in it but has not been cleaned for 20k km, no obvious oil pooling inside the manifuld since last 2k km. I once run the engine with CCV hose disconnected from intake manifold and the hose was throwing out a lot of oil, which again might be normal without intake vacuum?
Some pics below of intake ports and oil around manifold screws and seals. Any idea?
Hi 
I also have a n52 that use 1L every 500kms. And I’m curious about what was wrong with your engine ?
I have change my pcv. All the hoses, and some gasket.
I suspect it’s my valve stem seals, or my oil rings.
I have great compression. Dry above 14.5 bar on all cylinders.
So. Did you fix it ?
Greetings Kevin
I also have a n52 that use 1L every 500kms. And I’m curious about what was wrong with your engine ?
I have change my pcv. All the hoses, and some gasket.
I suspect it’s my valve stem seals, or my oil rings.
I have great compression. Dry above 14.5 bar on all cylinders.
So. Did you fix it ?
Greetings Kevin
Given the cost of fixing it - a used engine or rebuilding yours - the answer is to keep putting oil in it or get rid of it. Eventually the catalytic converter will cry enough but if it goes okay, passes whatever annual test you have then buy a drum of oil from and add it when needed. Maybe try a 14/40.
It's a 14 year old BMW and who knows what other wallet surprises it has in store so major surgery probably isn't on the menu.
It's a 14 year old BMW and who knows what other wallet surprises it has in store so major surgery probably isn't on the menu.
Add to it Liqui Moly Oil Saver as well to soften the hardened valve seals, thanks to ridiculously high (normal operating) coolant temperatures, courtesy of the BMW attempting to chase the ever lower regulatory (and tax relevant) CO2 emissions.
Having Ceratec in, and if oil consumption remains too high for comfort, you can calmly go to 5W-50, or if that does not help, even with 10W-60 viscosity. Ceratec provides protection right from the cold start - add it with every oil change - ignore the 30k miles interval.
Having Ceratec in, and if oil consumption remains too high for comfort, you can calmly go to 5W-50, or if that does not help, even with 10W-60 viscosity. Ceratec provides protection right from the cold start - add it with every oil change - ignore the 30k miles interval.
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