Oil consumption way up with Mobil 1 0W-40
#1
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Oil consumption way up with Mobil 1 0W-40
I'm a little surprised at how much more oil I'm using after changing to M1 0W-40 from Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40. Not worried about it and will continue to use M1 but not finding a ready explanation for this drastic increase.
Motul - The last two fills I averaged 3/4 L consumption per 5k miles.
Mobil - On my first M1 fill I've already used 1 L in 2.3k miles.
Motul - The last two fills I averaged 3/4 L consumption per 5k miles.
Mobil - On my first M1 fill I've already used 1 L in 2.3k miles.
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 8,061
Received 2,842 Likes
on
1,677 Posts
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
That seems excessive. How many miles on your car? Do you have the tools handy to do a leakdown test (or compression)?
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes
on
13 Posts
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
bhamg, do you have a catch can?
The Motul oil you were using you state x-cess is this a high mileage blend or just a fancy trade name?
Have you done stop and go driving , highway, sport driving or has the car use been similar.
The Motul oil you were using you state x-cess is this a high mileage blend or just a fancy trade name?
Have you done stop and go driving , highway, sport driving or has the car use been similar.
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Car is excellent condition all around, moderate mileage @ 8k miles per year. Def nothing mechanical, just the change in oil. On this change I will say that I've driven perhaps 20% harder overall than normal "sport" so I might expect a nominal increase in oil consumption but not like this. This level is a cat-killer if it continues. I do have a Weistec CC in the box (still)...
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes
on
13 Posts
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
Spend one hour on a cold engine and put the CC in. Just sayin.
Also the 63 likes long highway drives, with the occasion ***wiping on a overzealous BMW.
Everyone seems to have the M on the trunk but not in front where it counts
Or maybe they do???
Also the 63 likes long highway drives, with the occasion ***wiping on a overzealous BMW.
Everyone seems to have the M on the trunk but not in front where it counts
Or maybe they do???
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes
on
13 Posts
07 E63 + 07 CLK63CAB
You are doing pan drains and not the suck method ( not a fan).
I like to drain pan and cooler into a rad collection pan then replace with two 4.55 liter ( magic marker the level of the new oil) jugs + fleece filter.
When filled back up drain the pan into the two jugs to see what consumption actually is. So far no issues 1/2 liter at best is the usage, not including what is dripping from the filter, have not checked the CC lately but after 2000km nothing but the crankcase smell. Hibernation is upon us here in Canada, hurry up spring, today -20C
I like to drain pan and cooler into a rad collection pan then replace with two 4.55 liter ( magic marker the level of the new oil) jugs + fleece filter.
When filled back up drain the pan into the two jugs to see what consumption actually is. So far no issues 1/2 liter at best is the usage, not including what is dripping from the filter, have not checked the CC lately but after 2000km nothing but the crankcase smell. Hibernation is upon us here in Canada, hurry up spring, today -20C
Trending Topics
#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
The Motul I liken to Total Quartz, Pennzoil Ultra Euro et al formulations of 5W-40's. Carries MB 229.3, 229.5, Porsche A40, BMW LL-01 approvals that are the important ones to me.
#9
I have the same experience with Mobil 1 0-40. Car would prompt me to "check oil level during next fill up" every month or so. I had major oil consumption issues with Mobil 1 0-40 on my 911 as well, as did other people I know.
I switched from Mobil 1 for that reason. Not a believer anymore.
I switched from Mobil 1 for that reason. Not a believer anymore.
#11
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 8,061
Received 2,842 Likes
on
1,677 Posts
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
I'm really not starting an oil war here, but it's pretty settled that M1 0w40 is the rec'd oil, and had the best properties - hot or cold - and best additive package. Like, it's proven. With science.
If this guy's car isn't old or beat, then he really shouldn't be using that much oil, regardless of the weight. Or more than these cars generally go through anyway.
If this guy's car isn't old or beat, then he really shouldn't be using that much oil, regardless of the weight. Or more than these cars generally go through anyway.
Last edited by BLKROKT; 02-16-2015 at 10:01 AM.
#12
Super Member
the manual states that "depending on the driving style" it can consume up to 0.9 L per 600 miles. But it sounds like you've been driving the same. God knows there have been enough oil battles galore on the forums, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if different oils would lead to different consumption rates. I guess then the impact depends on where that oil is going. I've got a catch can too and it's definitely collecting. Otherwise I guess it's getting burned off? I did my first change with Mobil 1 0W40 and it was cheap and easy to get at BallsackMart. I'll have to keep an eye on consumption once I start to drive more after this Godawful winter ends...
#13
#14
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
W204 C63 Bone Stock; E36 M3 Supercharged 400WHP; X5 parts eater
I had the same issue with Mobil 1 0W-40 on my M3. High oil consumption, then I noticed it was thin enough to actually leak around the oil filter housing seal (wierd). Never happened with any other oils.
#15
Super Member
If you had oil leaking around the filter seal, that ain't a problem with the oil, but with the filter, seal or housing.
#17
Super Member
#18
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
7 Posts
2017 Mini Cooper S Clubman ALL4 - British Racing Green
I have noticed the same thing. I'm at 110k miles though. I was really down almost 2 quarts last time I had to top it off. I only drive to and from the airport there days, and not very hard.. I'm concerned..
I'm not noticing pools of oil anywhere (ground or skid plates, I checked)
I'm not noticing pools of oil anywhere (ground or skid plates, I checked)
#19
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes
on
5 Posts
'09 C63
Same as the OP here; was using Motul 5w40 X-cess for a 1.5 years and consumption was not as much as with Mobil1's 0w40.
But...a 5qt jug between the two was 50%, so I went back to Mobil1 for the time being. It's winter in California anyways...mind as well use slightly thinner viscosity oil. Better for cold start ups!
However, if you purchase two 5qt jugs of Mobil1 you should have enough oil left over to last you to the next oil change (assuming you're doing 6,000 mile intervals). I almost always end up filling 8.5 quarts instead of the full 9, so there's at least 1.5 quarts of unused oil left to fill up when it runs low. I'm running the catch can as well.
But...a 5qt jug between the two was 50%, so I went back to Mobil1 for the time being. It's winter in California anyways...mind as well use slightly thinner viscosity oil. Better for cold start ups!
However, if you purchase two 5qt jugs of Mobil1 you should have enough oil left over to last you to the next oil change (assuming you're doing 6,000 mile intervals). I almost always end up filling 8.5 quarts instead of the full 9, so there's at least 1.5 quarts of unused oil left to fill up when it runs low. I'm running the catch can as well.
#20
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 3,726
Received 795 Likes
on
546 Posts
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
You're burning off more Mobil 1 0W40 at startup as it is thinner when cold (which is a good thing) than the alternatives, and when your engine is cold the piston-to-cylinder clearance is the largest (metal expands with heat) so more of it gets by. IMHO an extra quart/liter of oil every 2K miles is a small price to pay to get the best protection for your engine, but it's your car.
#22
MBWorld Fanatic!
You're burning off more Mobil 1 0W40 at startup as it is thinner when cold (which is a good thing) than the alternatives, and when your engine is cold the piston-to-cylinder clearance is the largest (metal expands with heat) so more of it gets by. IMHO an extra quart/liter of oil every 2K miles is a small price to pay to get the best protection for your engine, but it's your car.
I have a theory about the headbolts. Could it be the build up in carbon in the cylinders is causing the compression ratio to go up and putting strain on the bolts?
#23
Member
That seems VERY unlikely. If the compression ratio were increased, the likely result would be either more HP or pre-detonation (knock). If pre-detonation were occurring the ECU would retard the timing and you would lose performance. Performance loss is the most common symptom of the carbon build up (mostly due to restricted flow and valves seating). Compression increase can be another symptom, but this typically happens on older less efficient cars with very high mileage. Most of the head bolt failures that have been seen were on relatively low mileage cars. Also, if the minuscule increase in compression ratio was enough to cause head-bolt failure, than any supercharged M156 would be snapping head-bolts instantly. I don’t think there is anything to support your theory.
#24
MBWorld Fanatic!
Thread Starter
Burned off by the cats. When I said "cat-killer" I personally had OE primary cats killed at 50k miles in an M5 as a direct result of a high rate of oil consumption. It's the oil itself and the range of additives present in the oil and gasoline. This from Wikipedia:
Catalyst poisoning occurs when the catalytic converter is exposed to exhaust containing substances that coat the working surfaces, encapsulating the catalyst so that it cannot contact and treat the exhaust. The most-notable contaminant is lead, so vehicles equipped with catalytic converters can be run only on unleaded fuels. Other common catalyst poisons include fuel sulfur, manganese (originating primarily from the gasoline additive MMT), and silicone, which can enter the exhaust stream if the engine has a leak that allows coolant into the combustion chamber. Phosphorus is another catalyst contaminant. Although phosphorus is no longer used in gasoline, it (and zinc, another low-level catalyst contaminant) was until recently widely used in engine oil antiwear additives such as zinc dithiophosphate (ZDDP). Beginning in 2004, a limit of phosphorus concentration in engine oils was adopted in the API SM and ILSAC GF-4 specifications.
Catalyst poisoning occurs when the catalytic converter is exposed to exhaust containing substances that coat the working surfaces, encapsulating the catalyst so that it cannot contact and treat the exhaust. The most-notable contaminant is lead, so vehicles equipped with catalytic converters can be run only on unleaded fuels. Other common catalyst poisons include fuel sulfur, manganese (originating primarily from the gasoline additive MMT), and silicone, which can enter the exhaust stream if the engine has a leak that allows coolant into the combustion chamber. Phosphorus is another catalyst contaminant. Although phosphorus is no longer used in gasoline, it (and zinc, another low-level catalyst contaminant) was until recently widely used in engine oil antiwear additives such as zinc dithiophosphate (ZDDP). Beginning in 2004, a limit of phosphorus concentration in engine oils was adopted in the API SM and ILSAC GF-4 specifications.
#25
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 3,726
Received 795 Likes
on
546 Posts
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
It is *EXTREMELY* unlikely that the headbolt issue is in any way realted to carbon build-up. The M156 is not a direct injection motor, so the heads stay relatively clean when comared with a FSI engine like on my old B7 RS4. Carbon build-up in the intake manifold could rob you of some power, but in order to increase the compression to the point where the head bolts would pop, you would need so much build-up on the piston heads themselves that it would be physically impossible for them not to whack your valves, plugs, cylinder head and come right out through your hood.