M54B30 Oil consumption & type - What are people using?

[Ducklakeview]

Reading through many posts, it seems that the M54B30 does like to use a little oil...

Did a change on mine on Thursday, as even though it's only a 52k miler, with full BMW history, I wanted to have a reference point.

Upon draining, although still relatively golden, I couldn't help noticing how thin it actually was! Refilled with just under 6.5L of Castrol Edge 5W-30 as it was 20% off in Costco, filled to around two thirds between min/max after running and standing for a few mins, as my drive slopes, so didn't want to overfill.

Done around 400 miles since, driving quite hard, and noticed last night that I had the yellow oil level warning when parking in the garage. Will check it before I next go out, but obviously I didn't fill it to MAX anyway.

So, I've read people are using 5W-40 and have noticed a decrease in consumption, but is it ok for engine longevity? I'm not unduly worried by usage, but would prefer not to burn it if it can be avoided. So thoughts and comments Guys & Gals?

Mike

[Steve84N]

I used Silkolene Pro-S 5W40 in my old 330Ci for 30,000 miles and it was fine. Still used, but a little less.

[Chris_D]

Surprised at so few responses to this topic!
I have about 7L of castrol edge 5w30 left over from my last bimmer (m52) and hoping to use in my recently purchased 3.0i m54.
It's had an oil service 1000 miles ago, which can be seen in the clearness of the oil from dipstick.
Ive had a couple of issues recently and have found myself topping up with Halfords LL04 5w30. It does seem to like the occasional large nightcap doesnt it?
Doesnt help that i also have an oil leak from either the oil filter housing gasket or blocked ccv. Both showing oil in vicinity.
Any thoughts?

Just behind oil filter housing

Photo 01-09-2016 15 17 58.jpg (90.2 KiB) Viewed 9265 times

[ben g]

That's the oil filter gasket that has failed. It becomes very brittle and hard over time. Easy enough job to replace. Took me about an hour and that was going slowly.

Mine uses about a litre every 500 miles. I reckon it's the ccv that's blocked, which I'll get around to replacing at some point soon.

I had used Mobil 1 5w 30, but have now purchased Petronas 5000 xs 5w 30 to try. Mainly due to the fact i'm a crazy Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team fan

[Smartbear]

Hi, I've not got an m54 but my n52 engined car also used a bit of oil when I got it (around the same as bens, 500miles/litre) the rear of the car used to be speckled in carbon deposits.
Over the last 2 & a half years I've been regularly adding a few drops of sea foam to the ccv pipes with the resulting oil consumption now over 2k per litre, I've been giving the car more frequent oil changes than BMW recommends as well, approx every 8k miles/yearly.
Both factors combined have definitely cleaned up the running
Rob

[Artful-Bodger]

Mobil 1 Motorsport synthetic 10-60

My Z has 60k miles on it so there will be a little wear tear so I run a higher viscosity to compensate, been using this stuff in several cars for years.
Can't comment on if it's the oil , I simply don't know but I'm not seeing oil consumption on that level, my Z has done just over 1000m since I bought it and serviced it, it's still just below the full level on the dipstick?

[mr wilks]

Upping the grade to 5w 40 should reduce consumption but will affect MPG negatively
If you are noticing oil consumption over short mileages give Millers a go .
My sons VW Scirocco 2.0turbo was using small amounts to top up every 1000miles but since he switched to Millers Nano has not used a drop in over 2000 miles
Not all makes of oil perform the same so worth paying that bit more

[Chris_D]

That's the oil filter gasket that has failed. It becomes very brittle and hard over time. Easy enough job to replace. Took me about an hour and that was going slowly.

Mine uses about a litre every 500 miles. I reckon it's the ccv that's blocked, which I'll get around to replacing at some point soon.

I had used Mobil 1 5w 30, but have now purchased Petronas 5000 xs 5w 30 to try. Mainly due to the fact i'm a crazy Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team fan

Yeah i thought as much about the oil filter gasket being the culprit, but i'm loathed to get a new one swapped in until its due another oil service. Only just had one 1000 miles ago.
If oil consumption goes mental during the interim i might just get it done ealier.
And i never thought oil companies sponsoring f1 teams would actually really influence people to buy their oil- i thought it was just all corporate association one-upmanship. you proved me wrong lol

[Chris_D]

Upping the grade to 5w 40 should reduce consumption but will affect MPG negatively
If you are noticing oil consumption over short mileages give Millers a go .
My sons VW Scirocco 2.0turbo was using small amounts to top up every 1000miles but since he switched to Millers Nano has not used a drop in over 2000 miles
Not all makes of oil perform the same so worth paying that bit more

Interesting tip mrwilksy, any idea why millers would reduce consumption so drastically?

[ben g]

You will lose hardly any oil changing the oil filter housing gasket. It will just need topping up a small amount. This is because the oil is in the sump when the engine is off

[mr wilks]

Upping the grade to 5w 40 should reduce consumption but will affect MPG negatively
If you are noticing oil consumption over short mileages give Millers a go .
My sons VW Scirocco 2.0turbo was using small amounts to top up every 1000miles but since he switched to Millers Nano has not used a drop in over 2000 miles
Not all makes of oil perform the same so worth paying that bit more

Interesting tip mrwilksy, any idea why millers would reduce consumption so drastically?

Its top quality stuff & well renowned in certain circles for both cold start & more importantly heat cycles
Ive used Millers for many years in all cars both turbo & NA , gearbox + diff oil also

[Chris_D]

Interesting. Will give it a go when time comes....

[mr wilks]

Interesting. Will give it a go when time comes....

Yea give it some read time & do some homework
There are lots of articles & studies online comparing different oils
This makes for a good start , particularly the CFS engine oil part
http://asia.vtec.net/TArticles/Millers/ ... 8iU9JgrLNM

[GuidoK]

I voted 'other'

I use 10W60. Adding an extra 2/3rd of the power may result in a slightly hotter running engine

I already used 10w40 because with 5w30 my car used about 1L of oil on every 1000 to 1500 miles (some m54B30 engines are known to use some oil). I started adding 10w40 and in the end (after 4 or 5L added) that drastically reduced the oil consumption.

[tuco]

Mr Wilks, when your son changed to Millers did he keep the same spec of oil (weight etc..) ? I'm adding 500ml every 800-1000 Miles and would like to lower that a bit.