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GTLee
10-20-2009, 04:01 PM
My e34 ('95 525i w/ 195k miles) is using a quart of oil every 4000 miles or so.

I'm not concerned about it; there's no smoke and I think that amount is fairly normal, but I'm curious about what you guys' cars use.

2nd question: I've always used regular oil in the car like Castrol GTX, but at this stage of the engine's life, would switching to synthetic be of any benefit?

Thxs, Lee
russiankid
10-20-2009, 04:03 PM
It depends on how I drive. If I drive normally it doesn't burn any. Once I start revving it quite a bit it will burn at tad bit which IMO is normal.
M Quick
10-20-2009, 04:07 PM
In the BMW service manual, it says that it's normal for the car to burn up to 1litre per 1000km. Which in US is 33ounces per 650miles i believe. This is normal. For the bigger engines in the e34's it can take up to 1.5litre per 1000km ( 50ounces per 650miles).

So your oil burn is totally normal!

Hmm, wait, you aren't using synthetic oil from start? All BMW's use synthetic oil from factory AFAIK.
jfj707
10-20-2009, 05:21 PM
In the BMW service manual, it says that it's normal for the car to burn up to 1litre per 1000km. Which in US is 33ounces per 650miles i believe. This is normal. For the bigger engines in the e34's it can take up to 1.5litre per 1000km ( 50ounces per 650miles).

So your oil burn is totally normal!

Hmm, wait, you aren't using synthetic oil from start? All BMW's use synthetic oil from factory AFAIK.

Holy crap.... that seems like a lot.
strad
10-20-2009, 05:58 PM
My M52 (in a 328is) does not burn oil unless it's running 80mph for 8 hours straight or so. It has 118k miles on it.

My other two cars (an M30 and an M20) do not burn an appreciable amount of oil. They have 131k miles and 162k miles respectively, although the M20 has new valve guides, which probably helps keep the consumption down.

As for switching oil, I don't think in matters much. Just make sure it stays pretty clean whatever you're using.
skylinergtr
10-20-2009, 06:02 PM
almost all cars consume oil during intervals. I say up to a liter or quart before each interval should be nothing to worry about. Luckily wit my 6000 mile intervals i only added half a quart to the car, and I drive it HARD!!
Uber 525i
10-20-2009, 06:43 PM
my car burns a bit of oil... I'm using conventional motor oil for now though... if i switch to synthetic you guys think the outcome will be different?
strad
10-20-2009, 06:56 PM
Probably not. As long as you aren't switching viscosities as well.
ArnZ
10-21-2009, 05:12 AM
GTLee what weight oil are you using?
GTLee
10-21-2009, 11:22 AM
GTLee what weight oil are you using?

5W30 currently...