[e320m3]

<<Edit>> To clarify I didn't add oil multiple times in one week, I meant the warning came up several times meaning it was consistently reproduced. I have not added oil, just wondering if 1 qt per 5200 miles is acceptable consumption. Thx.
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The low oil indicator came on multiple times this week and my car only has ~5200 miles. I have no problem topping off the quart myself but can anyone confirm if this is normal rate of consumption?

Would it be better i brought this in to "document" the issue? I've already had 2 HPFP replacements, car not a yr old, and when the 3rd comes I may Lemon it. I just want to make sure oil consumption isn't another HPFP like problem I'm not aware of that I need to keep clear records of. Thanks!

[GhOsT_E90]

I'd say if your having to add oil multiple times within that mileage, I would take it in. But first maybe do an oil and filter change first and see if the problem increases or gets better. I changed my own oil at 4500 miles and again at 10,000 and again at 14000. To me its sounds like you should have the turbos checked for bad oil seals which would cause oil blow by into the intake system and or into the exhaust. You would be smoking alot though and even if not there still could be a leak. The N54 does have high compression for being a turbo car but it was built that way and a good thing giving fast throttle response, but a high compression engine can use a bit of oil. I know after an oil change after 100 or so miles i have to add a half a quart and thats it until the next oil change.

[CubanJJ09]

i added a qrt here and there but not in the same week

[BMWfan07]

It's normal, I have added three quarts over the 40,000 miles I have on my car. 2 seperate dealerships both told me that it's completely normal on the turbo charged engines.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by BMWfan07

It's normal, I have added three quarts over the 40,000 miles I have on my car. 2 seperate dealerships both told me that it's completely normal on the turbo charged engines.

If it's so normal why are there only a small number of owners that have to do this?
Normal oil consumption would be a quart every 15K miles .......... normally the car will show a 1/2 quart low by my 7500K mile oil change.

Go to another dealer & have them give their opinion.

[e320m3]

<<Edit>> To clarify I didn't add oil multiple times in one week, I meant the warning came up several times meaning it was consistently reproduced. I have not added oil, just wondering if 1 qt per 5200 miles is acceptable consumption. Thx.

[R1000K3]

Originally Posted by e320m3

<<Edit>> To clarify I didn't add oil multiple times in one week, I meant the warning came up several times meaning it was consistently reproduced. I have not added oil, just wondering if 1 qt per 5200 miles is acceptable consumption. Thx.

I change my oil and filter every 6200 miles. The oil level indicator shows full level also at the end of a 6200 mile cycle. The engine seems to use very little oil, it must take some part of 1 qt, but not as much that it changes the 100% reading on the dash display. The car has a total mileage of about 20 000 miles and is runned on 0W-40 oil.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by e320m3

<<Edit>> To clarify I didn't add oil multiple times in one week, I meant the warning came up several times meaning it was consistently reproduced. I have not added oil, just wondering if 1 qt per 5200 miles is acceptable consumption. Thx.

No, it isn't. 1qt per 15K miles is acceptable.

[mad chemist]

Originally Posted by e320m3

<<Edit>> To clarify I didn't add oil multiple times in one week, I meant the warning came up several times meaning it was consistently reproduced. I have not added oil, just wondering if 1 qt per 5200 miles is acceptable consumption. Thx.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The low oil indicator came on multiple times this week and my car only has ~5200 miles. I have no problem topping off the quart myself but can anyone confirm if this is normal rate of consumption?

Would it be better i brought this in to "document" the issue? I've already had 2 HPFP replacements, car not a yr old, and when the 3rd comes I may Lemon it. I just want to make sure oil consumption isn't another HPFP like problem I'm not aware of that I need to keep clear records of. Thanks!

It's normal. I put 1 qt in at 6000 & 12000 miles. Dealer said this is typical and provided 1 qt of long-life oil at 17,000 mile first service.

[e320m3]

What's the right viscosity for NE weather? Manual says 5W30 but somehow I've got 0W40 in my mind. Thanks.

[ToadHollow]

I switch from 0/40W to 5/30W for the cooler months ........

[HPFREAK]

Originally Posted by e320m3

<<Edit>> To clarify I didn't add oil multiple times in one week, I meant the warning came up several times meaning it was consistently reproduced. I have not added oil, just wondering if 1 qt per 5200 miles is acceptable consumption. Thx.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The low oil indicator came on multiple times this week and my car only has ~5200 miles. I have no problem topping off the quart myself but can anyone confirm if this is normal rate of consumption?

Would it be better i brought this in to "document" the issue? I've already had 2 HPFP replacements, car not a yr old, and when the 3rd comes I may Lemon it. I just want to make sure oil consumption isn't another HPFP like problem I'm not aware of that I need to keep clear records of. Thanks!

When you got your low oil warning was your car parked facing down hill? I had that happen to me after it sat for a little while then went back to green after it sat level for a few minutes. I was also told this was a normal thing by the dealer.

[scheherazade]

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

No, it isn't. 1qt per 15K miles is acceptable.

My 1993 accord doesn't need any topping off. I check the oil every few k miles, and it's always holding steady.
My *other* 1993 accord didn't need topping off either.
My evo didn't need topping off either.
My parent's cars never need topping off either (My father checks religiously).
In all of these cars, if the oil level was near full after a change, it was still near full by the next oil change.

My BMW is the first car I've ever had that eats oil at a substantial rate.
If I am at the 'full' bar, I get the +1qt alarm after 5k miles... that's pretty bad.

-scheherazade

[cu_north]

To be a quart low at 5K miles seems a bit off but not unreasonable depending on how the car is driven. I ran about a quart low after 10K miles, got the warning, added 1 quart and it went away. Was also told by my SA that it is expected to lose some oil.

[e320m3]

I wonder if the fact my oil temp *barely* passes 160 degrees for 98% of my driving because my commute is 1.5 miles can explain the oil consumption? Is oil typically lost/consumed when the engine rarely sees full operating temp?

OTOH, all engines go through the cold cycle regardless of the ultimate distance of a trip, so maybe this isn't a valid reason?

[Zeph]

Originally Posted by scheherazade

My 1993 accord doesn't need any topping off. I check the oil every few k miles, and it's always holding steady.
My *other* 1993 accord didn't need topping off either.
My evo didn't need topping off either.
My parent's cars never need topping off either (My father checks religiously).
In all of these cars, if the oil level was near full after a change, it was still near full by the next oil change.

My BMW is the first car I've ever had that eats oil at a substantial rate.
If I am at the 'full' bar, I get the +1qt alarm after 5k miles... that's pretty bad.

-scheherazade

How many of those cars were/are turbocharged (Evo I guess, any others?)? Turbo cars do tend to burn/blow-by more oil hence why the OCC's are so common and quite frankly necessary. Some BMWs do seem to be excessive at oil consumption though, but adding a quart at 5k really isn't so un-reasonable... of course by then I am changing it anyway.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by cu_north

To be a quart low at 5K miles seems a bit off but not unreasonable depending on how the car is driven. I ran about a quart low after 10K miles, got the warning, added 1 quart and it went away. Was also told by my SA that it is expected to lose some oil.

... just for a minute.

No offense man, but the last person I am going to listen to tell me about ANY of the technical aspects of ANY car I own will be the SA.

I rarely go to the dealer for anything, but when I do I am sure to educate myself with regard to whatever the issue is with the car so that I can spot the BS before it starts flowing from the SA .......... I also ALWAYS speak to the MT or shop foreman working on the car beforehand just so we're on the same page.

Too many SAs like to think they know about these cars when in reality they don't have a clue.