4.6is M62B46 into '03 540it. From day one.

[Plattus1000]

If anyone thinks that bmw didn't half-ass the exhaust manifold on the 4.6is, check this garbage out. Anything would be better.

[ColtonBH]

If anyone thinks that bmw didn't half-ass the exhaust manifold on the 4.6is, check this garbage out. Anything would be better.

Yikes!

[Plattus1000]

No, I haven't dyno'd since TerraPhantm and DUDMD's 4.6 flash. I KNOW! I've been busy.

I have every intention on getting it done but I haven't had a chance to run to the shop. I've honestly been busy almost every day since the last time I saw DUDMD.

By now I've got about 3k miles on the 4.6 and there was a camshaft position sensor code on bank 2 that came up but after clearing it, it hasn't returned.

I do have a sound that resembles a timing chain "slap" between shifts of the automatic from say 2nd-3rd and again to 4th when I'm pushing the engine hard (into redline) I'm not really sure what up with that. It's really short in duration and not loud but it's there and so I'm looking into what it could be.

This weekend I had the good fortune to be side-by-side with an '88-89 testarossa at a metered on ramp to i-5. The light went green and he took off but with a little black smoke bellowing out his exhaust. I figured this was my sign. I goosed it and by the time I hit 70,he was behind me by a few car lengths. His passenger and him took the HOV lane and as they passed I got 2 thumbs up. We exchanged overtakes for a few miles but I got hung up in Seattle traffic a bit further south and they passed me up and went about their drive.

I was still mentally grinning when in my 15mph commute I sided up to 4 guys in an e63 amg. I wasn't in the mood to get stomped so I went easy on their right as I passed. They had an opportunity to pass me a few moments later and gave me an exhaust bump. It sounded nice and so I burped mine the next time I went by.

They were along side and 4 thumbs went up before a clearing allowed them to open the throttle and get some distance between us. As they caught up, all windows were down and they had the camera phones out and were motioning me to make a run so I obliged and did a quick rip to about 110. As they passed again we all waved at each other and went our seperate routes. It was a good day in traffic.



Just letting you know that the car hasn't blown up and I'm still loving the engine.

When I get 2 days off in a row I promise to dyno and then I'll be ready for some new pipes to be installed.

[Plattus1000]

Today I went to start the car and got an awful set of sounds from under the hood. It sounded like it was chain guide failure at first but then the car felt like it wasn't firing all cylinders. It shuddered with each cylinder that did fire and then when that was over, it gave me a loud persistent tick that increased in volume and frequency as the rpm's increased.

I shut her down and checked the dipstick, bone dry. I removed the oil fill cap to make sure the metal was at least wet and it was. I scanned the car and got 3 cylinder misfires.

I added 3 quarts of oil and started it up again. Much easier this time and no shuddering or sounds of misfires but that tick is still there and it's a different tick than the vanos rattle.

I'm going to remove my valve covers to check the rockers.
I think I might have scarred a lifter or rocker arm. It was running fine when I parked it last, and sat for a day before I tried to run it again. If it was drying as I was driving I might have lost lube on the top end.

[auaq]

There aren't any rocker arms in our engines. Dis ain't no sissy push rod engine, yo!

Just bucket type hydraulic lifters. So check the lifters only.

[wagons ho]

Uncle plattus.The bigger question is, how did you get down three quarts?

[auaq]

Uncle plattus.The bigger question is, how did you get down three quarts?

Aye.

Essplain Uncle!!

[Plattus1000]

Yes, hydraulic lifters... The little round silver things the cam lobes ride on, not rockers.

On the oil leak, I have no idea. No puddles I can see in the driveway, no smoke, no wet with oil engine bay...

No low oil warning light either. I'll need to check that sensor and see what's going on there.

So I took it for a drive and got oil into the lifters and the tick has gone 90% away. The power is still there and it "feels" ok. I'm sure I did some damage to the lifter if not the cam by letting it run so low.

- - - Updated - - -

Uncle plattus.The bigger question is, how did you get down three quarts?

I'll have the car on a lift in about 3 hrs. I'm at the cabin today.

- - - Updated - - -

There aren't any rocker arms in our engines. Dis ain't no sissy push rod engine, yo!

Just bucket type hydraulic lifters. So check the lifters only.

I should have said it sounds like rocker ticking. I don't know why I didn't remember that. I was bawls deep in this engine just 6 months ago. I even took pictures of the lifters... Too many engines. My carbon footprint is bigger than my budget should allow.

[auaq]

Maybe it's consuming oil? Check the inside of your intake manifold.

- - - Updated - - -

The heads have new valve stem seals, correct?

[Plattus1000]

Maybe it's consuming oil? Check the inside of your intake manifold.

- - - Updated - - -

The heads have new valve stem seals, correct?

All new seals. Good call. I'll see if it's all gummy in there.

[wagons ho]

Auaq,don't know how to highlight or "quote"essplain uncle. It's simple Plattus is always good for a story, like that uncle at your family gathering. I'd be like the drunk, or crazy uncle, oh wait...I might be. Plattus, that's a lot of oil gone for a fresh resealed motor. Hope you find out the cause, and nothing suffered.

[Plattus1000]

On a lift, I didn't see anything but a power steering, ATF leak at the steering box. The engine sounds like normal now so I'll get a fresh oil change and see how long it takes to lose a quart.

[dannyzabolotny]

Sounds like your car is aspiring to be an M5 with all of the oil it consumes. I guess start checking the oil levels every time you get gas. You'll be getting the M5 experience for a fraction of the cost

[ColtonBH]

Sounds like your car is aspiring to be an M5 with all of the oil it consumes. I guess start checking the oil levels every time you get gas. You'll be getting the M5 experience for a fraction of the cost

Unless he burns this engine up XD

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Plattus1000]

Unless he burns this engine up XD

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

None of that talk!

- - - Updated - - -

Sounds like your car is aspiring to be an M5 with all of the oil it consumes. I guess start checking the oil levels every time you get gas. You'll be getting the M5 experience for a fraction of the cost

This's funny. God I hope not but it's a small price to pay if so. I really need to figure out why my oil level sensor didn't alert me.

So I drained and replaced the oil to proper levels and things seem normal. Perhaps this winter I'll put some new lifters in or possibly shim them to spec.

It'd be great if I did them when it's time for header installation. 2 birds, one stone things are cool.

[geargrinder]

Hey Platts did you ever figure out what the deal was w/ oil consumption & level sensor?

Heard a crazy story this week about a domestic V8 where a truck was mysteriously running like crap and got bought by a mechanic for cheap... He starts digging in and finds end of the dipstick somehow rusted off, drains 10quarts of oil out of a 6qt sump. New stick and proper oil and the truck ran perfect. Not saying that's related at all your problem obv, just a kooky story which was 'looks like disappearing oil but is really accumulating oil!'.

[GSXRliterbikz]

My x5 had that issue with not warning about low oil. My dipstick leaked only when the car was off. It was 2.5 qts low. Wound up having to get another motor. The cam bearings had cooked themselves. Motor had lots of metal in it.

[Plattus1000]

Hey Platts did you ever figure out what the deal was w/ oil consumption & level sensor?

Heard a crazy story this week about a domestic V8 where a truck was mysteriously running like crap and got bought by a mechanic for cheap... He starts digging in and finds end of the dipstick somehow rusted off, drains 10quarts of oil out of a 6qt sump. New stick and proper oil and the truck ran perfect. Not saying that's related at all your problem obv, just a kooky story which was 'looks like disappearing oil but is really accumulating oil!'.

Yikes, that's terrible. I'll take another look with the splash guards off. We didn't see anything on a lift.

I didn't remove the intake manifold. It's been suggested that I might to look for heavy amounts in there too.

Thanks for the thought and possible direction to shine a light. Appreciated.

- - - Updated - - -

My x5 had that issue with not warning about low oil. My dipstick leaked only when the car was off. It was 2.5 qts low. Wound up having to get another motor. The cam bearings had cooked themselves. Motor had lots of metal in it.

Ok, I'll look today. Thanks guys.

[geargrinder]

My x5 had that issue with not warning about low oil. My dipstick leaked only when the car was off. It was 2.5 qts low. Wound up having to get another motor. The cam bearings had cooked themselves. Motor had lots of metal in it.

Ouch.

BITD I'd say we're all boneheads for not catching it, but with modern engine oil consumption, you just never think you need to check the stick every few fill ups like BITD. It's mostly a complete waste of time...

FWIW, if you have a car that's consuming a bit (and not just leaking it like my UTC's...) , this stuff is amazeballz for oil-burner cars. Used in my wife's car, and in my old Audi under the current owner. Totally solved the wifes VAG 2.0T stupid oil-eating syndrome (which they all do to some degree or another).

http://www.liqui-moly.com/liquimoly/...cument&land=gb

[Plattus1000]

I'll try it because we saw nothing yesterday.

[angeleye540i]

Hey Platts did you ever figure out what the deal was w/ oil consumption & level sensor? Heard a crazy story this week about a domestic V8 where a truck was mysteriously running like crap and got bought by a mechanic for cheap... He starts digging in and finds end of the dipstick somehow rusted off, drains 10quarts of oil out of a 6qt sump. New stick and proper oil and the truck ran perfect. Not saying that's related at all your problem obv, just a kooky story which was 'looks like disappearing oil but is really accumulating oil!'.

that's quite a story, and a good painting of dumbassery at its best... How do u not notice the jagged no longer marked dipstick? And rust and all? Hrrmmmm

[XAlt]

Ouch.

BITD I'd say we're all boneheads for not catching it, but with modern engine oil consumption, you just never think you need to check the stick every few fill ups like BITD. It's mostly a complete waste of time...

FWIW, if you have a car that's consuming a bit (and not just leaking it like my UTC's...) , this stuff is amazeballz for oil-burner cars. Used in my wife's car, and in my old Audi under the current owner. Totally solved the wifes VAG 2.0T stupid oil-eating syndrome (which they all do to some degree or another).

http://www.liqui-moly.com/liquimoly/...cument&land=gb

Their 5w40 worked great on my 1.8t. 5k miles and no burning later.

I realized it was 2 quarts low for a while and cringed. Had 3 quarts left because big ass filter. But really lowish oil isn't the end of the world.

[angeleye540i]

I have two 5qt jugs of it in the trunk of my E46

[geargrinder]

Their 5w40 worked great on my 1.8t. 5k miles and no burning later.

I realized it was 2 quarts low for a while and cringed. Had 3 quarts left because big ass filter. But really lowish oil isn't the end of the world.

Agreed - assume you ran the big TDI filter like many of the audidudies.

I can hear my wife's 2.0T when its low on oil. She can't but I can, and its less than a quart, def before the light comes on.
husband: "yer low on oil again."
wife: "what? how can you tell!? sounds fine to me."

[XAlt]

I have two 5qt jugs of it in the trunk of my E46

I mean it's expensive tbh, but so is Castrol meh machine. Rotella T6 is my go to brokeboy 5w40.