Funny looking oil
Discussion
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/xLmwzASj[/url]I've been having an issue with my BMW M140I recently. It seems to be using a lot of coolant from the larger of the two expansion tanks. I've only owned the car for a month and it's quite concerning.
I have read online that it could be many things but the most common is a faulty seal on the expansion tank cap so I've ordered a new one in order to rule that out.
When looking under the oil filler cap I noticed the oil looks a little watery and was looking for advice from anyone who's willing to help. Does the oil look normal to you guys?
Apologies if the pictures aren't the best. I struggled to get a decent image
Thanks in advance.
Is the car complaining about low coolant or you are just seeing it as low? When mine was new I think it was underfilled at the factory as I saw the light a few times but it always went away again after restarting. When I actually checked the level I noticed it was a smidge below minimum and topped it up to above that and the warning light hasn't returned since (5+ years!)..
Chris
Chris
You said you've only had the car a month.
Bought from a trader or private sale? If the former and you have concerns take it back.
The oil looks fine. As already said, oil & water mix into something that looks like mayonnaise.
Might be worth having the coolant checked for the presence of exhaust gases.
Bought from a trader or private sale? If the former and you have concerns take it back.
The oil looks fine. As already said, oil & water mix into something that looks like mayonnaise.
Might be worth having the coolant checked for the presence of exhaust gases.
Thanks for all your replies.
I bought the car privately, unfortunately...
It's a 2017 plate so I would have thought the previous owner would have picked this up. I'm just worried I've bought a car with an underlying issue.
The car is warning me that the coolant is low. I drove to Scotland and back and it warned me twice it was low so I filled it to the correct level.
Ill definitely need to get it investigated if the new cap doesn't solve the issue
I bought the car privately, unfortunately...
It's a 2017 plate so I would have thought the previous owner would have picked this up. I'm just worried I've bought a car with an underlying issue.
The car is warning me that the coolant is low. I drove to Scotland and back and it warned me twice it was low so I filled it to the correct level.
Ill definitely need to get it investigated if the new cap doesn't solve the issue
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (perhaps) but it could be HGF. The fail could be between the water jacket and a cylinder(s). That would explain the coolant loss and the lack of water in the oil. It might not 'smoke' much (steam really) from the exhaust until it properly goes. Then it'll be a pig to start and look like a kettle out the back.
My Hyundai has just thrown in the towel after 100k of topping it up. Getting progressively worse until it was 12 litres every 30km. At the start it was half a litre every 1500km. Oh, and it never overheated.
My Hyundai has just thrown in the towel after 100k of topping it up. Getting progressively worse until it was 12 litres every 30km. At the start it was half a litre every 1500km. Oh, and it never overheated.
RossiAJ said:
I didn't bleed the system, I just topped it up to the marker point. When I had to fill it the second time it was below minimum after a 200 ish mile journey.
I'm hoping it's due to a faulty seal on the cap and it evaporating after a long journey
If you didn't bleed it, then there's a reasonable chance, depending on how low it had got, that when you topped it up, it wasnt properly full. Fingers crossed for you it's nothing more sinister than a radiator.. I'm hoping it's due to a faulty seal on the cap and it evaporating after a long journey
Edited by Mave on Tuesday 1st November 21:26
GreenV8S said:
It's normal to have some water in the crank case / oil.
If in doubt, do a block leak test aka sniff test, and a cooling system pressure test. These will tell you whether there is a leak in the cooling system and if so whether it's into any part of the crank case or oil systems.
+1, best advice. For the sake of an hours labour charge at a decent indy, it'll give you all the answers you need. If you're in Suffolk or nearby, I can recommend a very good BMW specialist.If in doubt, do a block leak test aka sniff test, and a cooling system pressure test. These will tell you whether there is a leak in the cooling system and if so whether it's into any part of the crank case or oil systems.
Oil looks fine BTW, but I'd probably try to avoid that leaf and the dead insect falling into the rocker and cam area !. Grab the hoover!.
Agree that the oil looks fine and re clearing the debris.
For info if you haven't already seen:
https://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1...
Have you taken the plastic engine cover off and had a quick look for any obvious signs?
For info if you haven't already seen:
https://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1...
Have you taken the plastic engine cover off and had a quick look for any obvious signs?
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