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Arguments pertaining to engine oil consumption

Subject matter

Customers are often unsure when it comes to the subject of engine oil consumption. Is an engine allowed to
consume oil? What are the most important causes of engine oil consumption?
The following explanations are intended to provide an aid to argumentation. They are aimed at all dealership
staff who have contact with customers.
Functions of engine oil

Engine oil is one of the most important operating fluids in a combustion engine. The engine cannot work properly
without engine oil. The main functions of engine oil are:

Lubrication
Cooling
Prevention of corrosion and sedimentation

Lubrication
The lubricating film or the engine oil is exposed to a wide range of demands. The viscosity of the engine oil
should not be too high at low temperatures so as to ensure optimum lubrication already at cold engine
temperatures (e.g. cold starting). On the other hand, the engine oil should not be too thin-bodied at high
temperatures as this can break down the lubricating film and nullify the lubricating effect entirely.
The most important function of the engine oil is to minimise friction between metal surfaces. This function is
effected by a lubricating film which builds up during operation between the surfaces of the moving engine
components. The thin oil film reduces friction significantly, which translates into lower wear and lower heat
generation. As well as preventing piston seizures and bearing damage, it extends the service life of all the
relevant engine components and reduces fuel consumption.
Another function of the oil film is to seal the combustion chamber against the crankcase via the piston rings.
, cooling
The pistons already reach their operating temperature shortly after the engine is started. It can take a few
minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, the engine design and the driving style adopted, for the engine
block and thus the cylinder walls to reach their operating temperature. The engine needs a fully functioning
cooling system to stop it from exceeding the operating temperature. Aside from the two classic cooling
components - air and coolant - engine oil is often underestimated or even forgotten as a crucial cooling
component. The engine oil is responsible for a significant degree of cooling inside the engine. Specifically to cool
the piston crowns, virtually all BMW engines have oil spray nozzles which moisten the piston crowns with engine
oil.
Prevention of corrosion and sedimentation
Last but not least, it is the job of the engine oil to protect the engine against corrosion and sedimentation.
Aggressive combustion residues are neutralised by the lubricating oil and appropriate additives. The remaining
combustion residues are carried by the oil circuit to the oil filter, where they are filtered, or settle in the oil sump.
Engine oil consumption

Engine oil consumption is dictated above all by the structural design of the individual assemblies or systems.
Every combustion engine has a system-dictated consumption of lubricating oil. Decisive causes of engine oil
consumption are:

Pistons with piston rings

The surface topography used of cylinder barrel and piston ring is the primary variable which directly influences
engine oil consumption, since the piston rings do not constitute a perfect seal, but instead act as a metering unit.
With regard to design, there is a conflict of interests between engine oil consumption and friction loss. The letter
has a direct effect on power and fuel consumption. In each piston stroke tiny quantities of engine oil are left on
the cylinder walls and this oil is essential for lubricating the piston rings and the piston skirt (see above,
lubricating film). During the piston downstroke the engine oil deposited on the cylinder wall takes part in the
combustion close to the wall and is discharged with the combustion gases. The higher the engine speed, the
greater the effect, since more combustion cycles per unit of time take place. For this reason, engines with a high
rpm concept (BMW M engines) tend to have a higher engine oil consumption than other BMW engines. The
same applies to the lubricating film on the valve stems.
Note:
For BMW spark-ignition and diesel engines, the maximum permissible engine oil consumption is 0.7
l/1000 km.
Because of their increased power output and torque, M engines have a maximum permissible oil
consumption of 1.5 l/1000 km.
The measurable result of an engine oil consumption is overridden by the quality of the fuel used and of the
driving profile. If, for example, in winter a lot of short distances are driven (= high fuel entry since the vaporisation
temperature is for the most part only briefly achieved) and then a longer distance is driven (fuel can now
vaporise), a significant drop in the engine oil level is encountered on this trip. This does not constitute engine oil
consumption, but instead merely a different engine oil level on account of the fuel content in the engine oil.
Customer complaints can often be put down to this fact. The situation can arise where the engine oil level drops
over a few 100 km by around 1 litre. Added to this is some engines is a degree of uncertainty of up to 0.3 litres
by the relevant measuring system (oil dipstick/QLT).
Even the oil mist particles entrained via the crankcase ventilation (separation efficiency technically never 100 %)
take part with the intake air in the combustion process. The design is particularly problematic here. On the one
hand, engine oil should be separated as fully as possible; on the other hand; crankcase pressure requirements
must be satisfied. Moreover, conventional separation systems function to optimum effect only with a specific gas
flow rate; the separation effect decreases with lower or higher gas quantities.
Summary
Every internal combustion engine has a technically necessary engine oil consumption. The level of engine oil
consumption is clearly influenced by the driveability and by the fuel used.
Oil consumption measurement

The level of engine oil consumption that may arise with a particular engine can be determined by the customer
only from the amount of engine oil he or she tops up with. As soon as the engine oil level falls below the
maximum mark on the dipstick, many customers top up the engine oil without paying attention to a number of
basic rules, such as the vehicle must be standing on level ground, a certain period of time must be left to allow
the oil to flow back to the sump. In such cases, the available container sizes (e.g. 1-litre can) make it easy to top
up above the maximum mark. Excess engine oil can cause engine damage and is consumed more quickly due
to the effects of splash.
For this reason, it is advisable to let the engine oil level drop as far as the minimum mark and only then to add
the required volume of engine oil. The difference between the two marks is approximately 1.0 to 1.5 litres.
The procedure for checking the oil level is given in the Owner's Handbook for the vehicle concerned.
The service delegates will only deal with claims made under warranty if exact measurements by weighing are
available (see SBS 11 07 96 138, Enclosure 12).

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