M70 Oil 7.5 quarts or 9.5 quarts?

[Bryson]

after i changed my oil and filter for the first time, i used 7 litres of oil. the next day on a flat surface i checked my oil and RE-MARKED my dipstick with my new 7 litre spot.

badda bing!

it should have taken 7.5 Liters!!

What point on the dipstick was 7L at? Thanks!

[GimmieSumMo72]

Mine takes 9 qts to reach the top when the oil is cold, but 8 when it's at operating temps. Im using Castrol Syntec 5w-40 or 5w-50.

[Bryson]

Interesting, that doesn't make much sense to me

[acheson850i]

Piqued me to read more about oils/viscosity. Synthetics vs Petroleum...looks like synthetics are the way to go...what I read makes good sense. I would have thought that the 7.5 L spec would be for the oil at ambient temperature (~25 C). Don't know. Operating temp is ?? Would be same as whatever the temp guage reads. (no?) Haven't looked that up.

Surprised that there would be that large a volume drop of the synthetic with temperature change. Density increase...strange (?).

[Bryson]

Density for an oil like this shouldn't change within this temperature range. It's more likely that there is oil puddling within the engine while it is running and shortly thereafter.

I just changed from 15W-40 diesel mineral oil to a 15W-50 synthetic and I've noticed a slight increase in my oil burning rate, which may be due to the 'thinness' of the synthetic vs the dino. Otherwise no change, other than a lighter wallet!

[mjrgroup]

I usually need 7.5 qts to get to right in the middle. I'm surprised you guys are running with the oil level mark on full. I always check the oil level when the engine is completely cold and maintain the oil level right in the middle of high and low.

While we're talking about oil, has anyone installed an oil pressure gauge? Where is the best place to connect it to on the engine?

Second, what are you guys' thoughts on running thicker oil vs thinner? Yes I've read lots of articles online and there are other threads, but I'm wondering too if oil weight plays into consumption.

[cer54467]

As i hit my first "Oil Service" today. Does anyone have a list of what inspections need to be done at this "Oil Service" about 65k miles. I am very familar withthe E39's but nothing yet on this model.

[Fatandre]

Should you check your oil level while the engine is hot or cold?

[acheson850i]

I bought 2x1 gallon jugs today of Mobil 1 10W-30, on clearance because we are moving every so slowly to metric systems. Cost was 44 dollars. In the past for my VW & the Mazda I figured on splitting the difference between the car manufacuturer spec of 7500 miles/change and the oil guys 3000 mi/change so I did both of the cars every 5000 miles. I think I'll try the synthetic in the 850 and try going 10,000 miles before changing...ends up being about the same material cost...I get to change the oil tomorrow in my car. I haven't done that in at least twenty years! I've put about 2300 miles on the 850 since I purchased it in August. I haven't had any problems except for the instrument cluster crashing once. I was warned from about a gazillion people that the 8 series was really expensive to maintain...before i bought the car I priced items (e.g. ac compressor, starter, radiator) and didn't see much difference..mostly labor cost like anything else! I am going to pay myself well tomorrow after I change the oil....Some BBQ and a bottle of brew.

Don't know about using a heavier weight (viscosity?) and consumption. I asked the guy at Pep Boys why not use a 15W-40 and he said that was for diesel engines...too many variables. I'll try anything just about once! Thanks for the read. I think the half way mark low/high on the dipstick when the oil is at ambient temp makes sense! I assume my dipstick is about the same length as everyone else's but I have no desire whatsoever to do a study like that

[mjrgroup]

Should you check your oil level while the engine is hot or cold?

Ideally, cold. If you check it when hot, you have to wait for some time to allow all the oil to drain into the sump in order to get an accurate reading.

[acheson850i]

Oil pressure gauge would be nice to have. I would be interested to know also if anyone has installed one on the M70 motor.

[acheson850i]

Well I finally got around to that oil change at 3300 miles post purchase. Engine was hot, 17 mM socket. Pretty black...let it drain. Used a Mann filter replacement...made in Brazil...replaced the rubber ring on the filter and the copper washer on the drain plug. Filled it with 7.5 Liters of synthetic earl (litres for the guys across the two big ponds on my left and right). Next morning I dipped it and it was smack on the top mark of the stick. I should be able to track my oil consumption now also...tbc? I get off on just setting the cruise control on eighty mph and driving to work up I85. Got to give it to those Germans...they are good engineers!

[shogun]

it also depends on the country version. Japan spec. M70 = version for subtropical climate is 8.25 liters = 0.75 liters more than the EURO version.


There are TWO engine oil level contacts on the M70 (maybe also on the other engines).

static contact
and
dynamic contact

In case the oil level is sufficient, the static contact is closed.
Via the ground signal the check control get's to know that the level is o.k.
The dynamic contact is open, the control voltage flows against ground.
In case the oil level goes under the dynamic switch point, a message comes.
That the oil flowing into the oil pan when engine is switched off does not delete the alarm, the fault is stored with terminal 30.
It will only be deleted, when the static contact reports a message/signal, that the engine oil is filled up to static level.

The wires to the static contact are also checked for wire problems by the system of the car.
After ignition is switched on, a oil level warning will come. After starting to drive, but latest after 20 seconds this warning will disappear.

The wires go thru the pipe in engine room left side together with the thick wire from alternator to B+ pole. Right next to the B+ pole is the connector for these wires.


M30 and M70 have the same oil level switch, B205.

Pg 6200-15 shows the YEL wire at the sensor (Static contact) changing to BLU/YEL at connector X1533 and heading to X18 pin 26 of the CCM (on the E32 750). This wire will be either short to GND (low oil level) or 1000 ohms to GND (sufficient oil level)

And the WHT wire at the sensor (Dynamic contact) changing to BLU/WHT at connector X1533 and heading to X19 pin 8 of the CCM. This wire will be either short to GND (sufficient oil level) or open circuit (low oil level).

and here engine oil capacities and dipstick numbers for many models

http://dtbmw.com/tips/Engine_Oil_Chart2.pdf

M70/S70 US version
8.0 (7.5 liters)
dipstick p/n E31 11 43 1 715 916
All capacities listed in table above are in U.S. quarts and (liters) include oil filter change.

[Rich in Boston]

Two M70's for me, one in the 750 and the other in the 850. I've probably done 30 oil changes between the two and always use 8 quarts. I have to be 3 quarts down to get the oil level message. Both have leaky upper pan gaskets so my driveway looks like hell.

[akatoch]

I just did an oil change yesterday put in 7 quarts of Mobile 1 0w40, drove it for a couple of miles thereafter and it didn't complain of being low on oil. I will check the dip stick this morning to check the oil level and will add a little more if needed.

[acheson850i]

@Shogun...thanks for the details on the oil level detection system and how they work. I wasn't aware that there is both a static and dynamic detection system. Great information!

[Bryson]

Shogun, if I'm reading this straight:

The dynamic level trigger is lower than the static trigger, but the light is not triggered until the lowest (dynamic) sensor trips. The warning will go away completely once both dynamic and static sensors are happy.

If you were to add oil after tripping the dynamic sensor, but not enough to fill past the static sensor, you will have the "low engine oil" message for ~20 seconds every time you start up the car, because the computer will believe that there may be a faulty static sensor.

I presume that it is called the dynamic sensor because there is less oil in the sump while the engine is running and it is monitoring conditions while things are moving (dynamics). This versus the static condition with the engine not running and the sump completely filled.

Thank you for providing this information!

[shogun]

here the original in German with a drawing
http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...current=38.jpg

cluster and check control
in total 62 pages in German
http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...nd%20OBC%20IV/

download the pages if you want, but no hotlinking, thanks

[Bryson]

Thank you sir!

edit: time to learn German!

[acheson850i]

I changed oil at 152,000 miles and 800 miles later the oil level was at the bottom mark. It took 1.5 L to bring it to the top mark...I don't know if that is close to spec for the dipstick but that is what I got. So oil consumption is ~2.0 Qt/1000 mi or 1.0 L/1000 km. That seems like a hell of lot...hmmm(?). Lots of variables...is there a manufacturer spec for oil consumption?

[8forever]

1991 BMW E31 M70 Oil capacity. Shell Rotella T4 15w-40, great oil for a car with 140,000. Purchase two gallon containers. Used 9 quarts had one left over as we all know the M70 does burn a bit of oil weekly. Rotella was recommended. I have nothing negative to say, good price keeps things quiet.

[TxGR8White]

I have been running ROTELLA in all my cars except the B7, and it really quiets them down, plus the cost is great too.

[TedBobo]

I have been running ROTELLA in all my cars except the B7, and it really quiets them down, plus the cost is great too.

What weight? I'm considering a change now that I'm at 160,000 miles.

[Dr. T]

Tx, Isn’t that oil for Diesel engines? Is long-term use in the 8 safe? What interval do you use?


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[XAlt]

Tx, Isn’t that oil for Diesel engines? Is long-term use in the 8 safe? What interval do you use?


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Diesel oil = lots of zinc.

I used T6 5w40 in the M70 for about 35k miles, 6k intervals as it was always on the road. No burn whatsoever.