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View Full Version : Found the cause of my oil consumption.



Jon K
02-17-2004, 10:53 AM
1992 525i:

So i took my engine cover off and pulled my coil packs for grins and to my dismay I found cylinder 2 and 5 having oil in the plug holes. Cylinder 6 has a yellow/brown residue as if oil had been dripping from the Valve Cover and down into the plug holes. There was no sitting oil in #6 but there was in #2 and #5, #2 being the worst. I am hoping that (since my coils are still ok) there is no escalated problem and replacing the valve cover will remedy this?

Secondly, every now and then, I will very quickly blip the throttle from idle (to hear the motor sound) or when rev matching and sometimes I will get a "POP" from just infront of the fire wall. It sounds like a backfird, only its coming from up front. Could this be the sudden burn of the oil thats in the spark plug holes? If not, what the heck is this sudden firing sound, it almost sounds like a miss but all my coils and (to my knowledge) plugs are good. Coils were replaced but 15,000 miles ago (with Bosch). I didn't want to remove my plugs, knowing that oil would fall down into the combustion chamber and I am not sure how ideal that would be. Can anyone give me information on what i need to replace, and part numbers for the gaskets/o-rings? I can't find them in my ETK. I have a 1992 525i 5 Speed (build is 9/91).

George M
02-17-2004, 11:14 AM
Hi Jon,
Doesn't sound too bad...but I would check the spark plugs regardless. Simply take some paper towel and soak up residual oil from the valve cover around each plug prior to removal. Any oil after that, that falls into the plug hole upon spark plug removal is not an issue. Your popping may be a loose spark plug and if left unattended could lead to a bigger problem.
HTH,
George

Jon K
02-17-2004, 11:18 AM
Hi Jon,
Doesn't sound too bad...but I would check the spark plugs regardless. Simply take some paper towel and soak up residual oil from the valve cover around each plug prior to removal. Any oil after that, that falls into the plug hole upon spark plug removal is not an issue. Your popping may be a loose spark plug and if left unattended could lead to a bigger problem.
HTH,
George

I am going to do as you say. Any idea on part numbers for the full gasket replacement kit?


http://www.thesecretnine.com/jk/pics/oil/IMG_0413.jpg
http://www.thesecretnine.com/jk/pics/oil/IMG_0415.jpg

AZ_Jason_S
02-17-2004, 11:18 AM
Your valve cover is leaking. I guess it is pretty common on the 525. I think it takes awhile to accumulate oil in there. I doubt if it happened fast enough to notice the consumption. You can push a shoprag down there with a screwdriver and soak it up. If the oil shorts your coils, I think it can wipe out your computer.

Hector
02-17-2004, 11:19 AM
be due to the oil in the spark plug well but it depends how dirty the oil is. If it hasn't been changed for a while, oil becomes somewhat electrically conductive with age.

Hector


Hi Jon,
Doesn't sound too bad...but I would check the spark plugs regardless. Simply take some paper towel and soak up residual oil from the valve cover around each plug prior to removal. Any oil after that, that falls into the plug hole upon spark plug removal is not an issue. Your popping may be a loose spark plug and if left unattended could lead to a bigger problem.
HTH,
George

AZ_Jason_S
02-17-2004, 11:22 AM
If there is metal or dirt in the oil, it will definitely conduct. Afterall, this is why we change our oil, it becomes contaminated. Even water is an insulator as long as it is pure. It is the minerals that cause water to conduct electricity...


be due to the oil in the spark plug well but it depends how dirty the oil is. If it hasn't been changed for a while, oil becomes somewhat electrically conductive with age.

Hector

Jon K
02-17-2004, 11:23 AM
be due to the oil in the spark plug well but it depends how dirty the oil is. If it hasn't been changed for a while, oil becomes somewhat electrically conductive with age.

Hector


Hector,
I consumed 1 qt. of oil in about 700 miles. switched from 10w30 to 15w50 in a dire attempt to save my oil. Motor oil is about 1000 miles old, barely used (synthetic). I think its just a sudden burning of the oil from the spark plug hole... but im not sure. This nose will happen maybe one time ever 3 days. The first time it happened, I had the throttle in somewhat while starting the car.

ryan roopnarine
02-17-2004, 11:27 AM
finding stuff in ETK, suggest trying graphical search. i got this quickest by using-->graphical search-->engine longblock picture-->scrolling down to the picture of the cylinder head cover. dan d did a writeup...methinks that just asking for it from bma would yield you a good result, dan says there's a pcv/recirculator type oring likely to break that's not included in the kit if yer taking the cover off....i personally didn't have a problem with such an item.


http://plaza.ufl.edu/rroopnar/untitled22.bmp

AZ_Jason_S
02-17-2004, 11:29 AM
finding stuff in ETK, suggest trying graphical search. i got this quickest by using-->graphical search-->engine longblock picture-->scrolling down to the picture of the cylinder head cover. dan d did a writeup...methinks that just asking for it from bma would yield you a good result, dan says there's a pcv/recirculator type oring likely to break that's not included in the kit if yer taking the cover off....i personally didn't have a problem with such an item.


http://plaza.ufl.edu/rroopnar/untitled22.bmp

AZ_Jason_S
02-17-2004, 11:31 AM
Thats way too much for the sparkplug holes. Oil isn't that flamable and the coils couldn't be burning it that fast if at all.


Hector,
I consumed 1 qt. of oil in about 700 miles. switched from 10w30 to 15w50 in a dire attempt to save my oil. Motor oil is about 1000 miles old, barely used (synthetic). I think its just a sudden burning of the oil from the spark plug hole... but im not sure. This nose will happen maybe one time ever 3 days. The first time it happened, I had the throttle in somewhat while starting the car.

632 Regal
02-17-2004, 11:34 AM
bad plugs can cause problems with missing/unburnt fuel leading to popping, as stated above could be a loose plug, you have a serious oil useage problem. any leaks at all? must be burning a smoke cloud if it isn't.

narrow it down.

good luck.

ryan roopnarine
02-17-2004, 11:36 AM
jason s

George M
02-17-2004, 11:37 AM
its always chicken and egg..which came first. There seems to be a correlation between failed coil packs, loose spark plugs and leaky valve covers for this particular engine. I would try to read too much into it. I would simply replace the gaskets, wipe out the spark plug holes as best as possible and button it back up. Jon, I don't have my ETK handy...this is a common gasket replacement on the board...some one will dig out the P/N's for you. I would try to resolve the gasket leak and clean and check the plugs ASAP...don't want to trash your spark plug hole or ruin a coil and/or DME needlessly.
George

Jon K
02-17-2004, 11:42 AM
Thanks guys.

I am having a hell of a time resolving this oil problem. I don't notice any leaks, however my driveway would say otherwise. We have a sh*tter we have parked there too that leaks so I am not sure if my oil is on the ground. I do see some blue smoke SOMETIMEs, not constant. Coil packs are relatively new, I had a BMW Independent replace them when i had a bad misfire. This problem should've been diagnosed if it existed @ that time. I haven't replace spark plugs since I've owned the car 40,000 miles ago. I will start by replacing this gasket. I will try and find a lift to find some oil leaks.

DanDombrowski
02-17-2004, 12:11 PM
The procedure is a bit long, but of course you don't have to paint your cover when taking it off. If you're just going to take the cover off and put it right back on, you wont need any of the rubber grommets that sit around the bolt holes, although it might be good to have just a few in case you drop one and cant find it, etc.
Part numbers are on the writeup.

http://plaza.ufl.edu/volvo240/valvecover.htm


1992 525i:

So i took my engine cover off and pulled my coil packs for grins and to my dismay I found cylinder 2 and 5 having oil in the plug holes. Cylinder 6 has a yellow/brown residue as if oil had been dripping from the Valve Cover and down into the plug holes. There was no sitting oil in #6 but there was in #2 and #5, #2 being the worst. I am hoping that (since my coils are still ok) there is no escalated problem and replacing the valve cover will remedy this?

Secondly, every now and then, I will very quickly blip the throttle from idle (to hear the motor sound) or when rev matching and sometimes I will get a "POP" from just infront of the fire wall. It sounds like a backfird, only its coming from up front. Could this be the sudden burn of the oil thats in the spark plug holes? If not, what the heck is this sudden firing sound, it almost sounds like a miss but all my coils and (to my knowledge) plugs are good. Coils were replaced but 15,000 miles ago (with Bosch). I didn't want to remove my plugs, knowing that oil would fall down into the combustion chamber and I am not sure how ideal that would be. Can anyone give me information on what i need to replace, and part numbers for the gaskets/o-rings? I can't find them in my ETK. I have a 1992 525i 5 Speed (build is 9/91).

NoSpeedLimits
02-17-2004, 01:03 PM
Ryan, how did you access that graphic interface? Is it available to the general public? If so, I am very interested and would be very appreciative.