3-Series (E21, E30)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1975-1983 and 1984-1991 line. Specific models: BMW 315, BMW 316, BMW 318, BMW 318i, BMW 320/4, BMW 320i, BMW 320/6, BMW 323i, BMW 320i. E30 Family models include: BMW 325e, BMW 325i, BMW 325is, BMW 325ix.
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well i was driving home from school today in my 89 325i when my check light turns on and it said engine oil. it kinda freaked me because i didnt want my engine seazeing up on me. so i pull over and check the oil, i was just about on that lower line on the dip stick. lucky i had 2 quarts in the trunk so i put those in and start the car for a few mins. check...no leak, turn it off and checked again...no leak. my car does leak oil but i mean like 1-3 drops tops. i hoping that its not my car burning oil or some shit, and if it did does that mean that oil gets thur the piston rings or could the oil be burnt any other way?
what you think?
thanks
PS:when the engine is hot and i take the oil cap off i see some steam coming out is that normal?
Originally posted by tyro2001@Apr 25 2005, 07:25 PM well i was driving home from school today in my 89 325i when my check light turns on and it said engine oil. it kinda freaked me because i didnt want my engine seazeing up on me. so i pull over and check the oil, i was just about on that lower line on the dip stick. lucky i had 2 quarts in the trunk so i put those in and start the car for a few mins. check...no leak, turn it off and checked again...no leak. my car does leak oil but i mean like 1-3 drops tops. i hoping that its not my car burning oil or some shit, and if it did does that mean that oil gets thur the piston rings or could the oil be burnt any other way?
what you think?
thanks
PS:when the engine is hot and i take the oil cap off i see some steam coming out is that normal?
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Be critical and check again, under over and side to side. Check for trails for drips and leaks around the block. and i'm sure you'd smell a different type of smell through the exhaust.
And yes it should steam, not ....a high pressure type but somewhat pretty hot so some mist or heat vapors will come out.
you haven't been redlining it have you? you burn lots of oil when you redline even if its for half a sec.
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Originally posted by guywithblack88e30@Apr 25 2005, 09:05 PM you haven't been redlining it have you? you burn lots of oil when you redline even if its for half a sec.
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You needed to add 2 quarts to your car? Where's that leak?
Originally posted by guywithblack88e30@Apr 25 2005, 11:05 PM you haven't been redlining it have you? you burn lots of oil when you redline even if its for half a sec.
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well i have been redlining it a few times not to much but i do drive on on higher RPM's, that could be it. i never knew u burn oil at when you red line?? il try to drive like an old woman and see if my oil level changes.
Originally posted by tyro2001+Apr 25 2005, 09:43 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tyro2001 @ Apr 25 2005, 09:43 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-guywithblack88e30@Apr 25 2005, 11:05 PM you haven't been redlining it have you? you burn lots of oil when you redline even if its for half a sec.
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well i have been redlining it a few times not to much but i do drive on on higher RPM's, that could be it. i never knew u burn oil at when you red line?? il try to drive like an old woman and see if my oil level changes.
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Pfft, you didn't answer MY question! Well, if it's not just a leak, I'd suggest getting someone to seriously check it out. I don't know anything about that oil burning because your redlining advice... but it doesn't sound like you've got a habit of doing that anyway... I hate to be the pessimistic one.. but it could be a problem with your engine. I'm guessing there isn't smoke coming from your car when u start it up or sitting at a light, since you haven't mentioned that... WHERE is that leak?
Originally posted by BeachBunny+Apr 25 2005, 10:16 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BeachBunny @ Apr 25 2005, 10:16 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>
Quote:
Originally posted by tyro2001@Apr 25 2005, 09:43 PM <!--QuoteBegin-guywithblack88e30
Quote:
@Apr 25 2005, 11:05 PM you haven't been redlining it have you? you burn lots of oil when you redline even if its for half a sec.
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well i have been redlining it a few times not to much but i do drive on on higher RPM's, that could be it. i never knew u burn oil at when you red line?? il try to drive like an old woman and see if my oil level changes.
[snapback]337749[/snapback]
Pfft, you didn't answer MY question! Well, if it's not just a leak, I'd suggest getting someone to seriously check it out. I don't know anything about that oil burning because your redlining advice... but it doesn't sound like you've got a habit of doing that anyway... I hate to be the pessimistic one.. but it could be a problem with your engine. I'm guessing there isn't smoke coming from your car when u start it up or sitting at a light, since you haven't mentioned that... WHERE is that leak?
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in general you burn oil in one of two ways:
bad seal of the rings to the cylinder bore do to it being out-of-round or having bad/cracked rings, or your valve guides are worn and allowing excessive oil down the valves.
easiest way to check for which it is is when the car has been sitting overnight, when it starts up is there excessive black smoke? thats generally valve guides.
if it smokes excessive ammounts DECELERATING, thats bad rings.
random info: an engine generally burns 1/1000ths of a drop on every power stroke.
if an engine burns ONE single drop of oil for every power stroke, an engine would burn up appx. 1 quart for every 2 miles driven, on average.
Originally posted by BeachBunny+Apr 26 2005, 12:16 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BeachBunny @ Apr 26 2005, 12:16 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>
Quote:
Originally posted by tyro2001@Apr 25 2005, 09:43 PM <!--QuoteBegin-guywithblack88e30
Quote:
@Apr 25 2005, 11:05 PM you haven't been redlining it have you? you burn lots of oil when you redline even if its for half a sec.
[snapback]337735[/snapback]
well i have been redlining it a few times not to much but i do drive on on higher RPM's, that could be it. i never knew u burn oil at when you red line?? il try to drive like an old woman and see if my oil level changes.
[snapback]337749[/snapback]
Pfft, you didn't answer MY question! Well, if it's not just a leak, I'd suggest getting someone to seriously check it out. I don't know anything about that oil burning because your redlining advice... but it doesn't sound like you've got a habit of doing that anyway... I hate to be the pessimistic one.. but it could be a problem with your engine. I'm guessing there isn't smoke coming from your car when u start it up or sitting at a light, since you haven't mentioned that... WHERE is that leak?
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well my car does leak VERY Little amout of oil, like 1 or 3 drops and thats it. nothing to make the level go all the way down.
Like Nuke said ,
I would keep an eye on the exhaust .....
...and the dipstick.
Also dont be tempted to over fill......
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I think what he means is that the BMW shouldn't eat oil that much because the clearances are very stringent, and the quality of manufacture is very high. Your engine is made well, and as long as you take care of it, you'll be fine. I myself carry about a quart in my trunk at all times, and usually have the light go on somewhere in between oil changes. (I know, I should check it every time I fill up with gas, but I'm just too lazy, besides the Check Panel tells me when it's ready) I also have a drip (1-3 for a night out in the garage), and want to fix it, but since I'm going to do an engine swap, I don't see the point. You will probably be ok to get to your destination when the check panel lights up, as it is just a warning, but I pull over immediately too. The really important one to watch out for is the Oil Can. That one lights up, and you need to pull over RIGHT NOW.
Good Luck!
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I second that. The big one is the Oil Pressure on the dash. That lights up, shut it down, quick. And get to work checking it.
When was the last time you checked/did the oil? My car burns oil too, I go through about 1qt every 5000kms. No leaks, just my driving (I drive like a nutcase most of the time, cranking her up to redline on a bi-daily basis) so I go through a bit of oil.
Best thing to do, if you're concerned, is replace oil and filter. Then keep an eye on the level every time you pit for gas (which, by the way, you're supposed to do anyways) and you'll see how much oil you're going through based on how far you go on a tank of gas. If you're losing a lot, you've got a bad leak you havent found yet, or you're blowing blue vapour trails.
If it drops half a qt in 1500 miles of mixed to moderate driving, I wouldn't be concerned. Just keep on top of the level, and of course, put the right kind of oil in there for the season. Don't mix grades.
Simple stuff. Try that first.
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Changed the car's name, now it's - Roxanne -1985 325e
So do all your guy's e30's really burn oil it sounds like? Weird, neither of my e30's burn any oil. One has 183k miles the other 167 and I've never experienced perceptible oil level drops between changes.
Try switching to Castrol full synthetic(i use 10w30, always). Its what I've always ran in all my BMW's and I've never had oil consumption, nor any mechanical failure related directly to the engine.
You can go alot further between oil changes with synthetic(claims of up to 25k miles between changes), but I change mine every 2.5-3k miles because I'm anal.
Also some people say fram filters suck, but fram and mobile 1 are the only filters I've ever used and they work great for me.
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Well, if it's not just a leak, I'd suggest getting someone to seriously check it out. I don't know anything about that oil burning because your redlining advice... but it doesn't sound like you've got a habit of doing that anyway... I hate to be the pessimistic one.. but it could be a problem with your engine. I'm guessing there isn't smoke coming from your car when u start it up or sitting at a light, since you haven't mentioned that... WHERE is that leak? 
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