Oil usage/smell

[Oldmactech]

Wife's e46 wagon uses a Qt of oil a month and has noticed a burning oil smell when she brakes. I have smelled it too.

oil filter housing gasket was replaced previously allowed no with valve cover gasket.

Any ideas greatly appreciatd.

jb

[Mless5]

I replaced valve cover gaskets 2 times before I realized that the cover was warped. I bet it drips down under hard braking onto exhaust manifolds.

[garf]

Likely the Valve Cover Gasket as already mentioned and the burning smell is from oil dripping on the headers and burning up. Also high oil consumption is associated with the CCV system going bad which is common on these cars.

It's common on these motors to not properly seat the VCG, and sometimes people replace it multiple times before the problem is fixed.

[flyfishvt]

Likely the Valve Cover Gasket as already mentioned and the burning smell is from oil dripping on the headers and burning up. Also high oil consumption is associated with the CCV system going bad which is common on these cars.

It's common on these motors to not properly seat the VCG, and sometimes people replace it multiple times before the problem is fixed.

This ??? especially the CCV system. But as he mentioned get a light and shine it on the exhaust manifold. If you see any wet spots it's the valve cover gasket leaking. It only takes a tiny spit of oil to creat your symptoms

[MarcoZandrini]

How many miles on the car? Has the crankcase ventilation system (CCV) ever been changed? The CCV can be one clogged and force very oily vapors into the intake. Check for leaks first. If there are no leaks then your CCV is suspect.