2013 M6 Oil Consumption

[evanevery]

I'm looking for some additional data points here... I searched the forum and did see another thread on oil consumption, but I wonder if more, vehicle specific, data is available...

I was on a little joy ride the other day and I got a "Min Oil Level" warning on my 2013 M6 Vert... Had to drive about 20 miles back home to the dealer cutting my cruise short. I don't beat on the car and generally its a weekend kind of vehicle.

I paid for an oil change at the break-in point at 1253 miles, and when I got this warning the other day I was only at about 5700 miles. So that's only about 4500 miles from oil full to oil warning!

I've had lots of cars and NEVER had one that required oil to be added between oil changes. This includes a 500+HP Mustang with Supercharger and hand built engine...

Its also not like I can pull over to the corner Auto Parts store and pick up a quart or two when I need it...

What are other people with similar M6's seeing? Are you having to add oil between oil changes?

[RichardP]

There are definitally other reports of high oil usage, much higher than you're seeing.

1 Litre (or 1 Quart) in 4,500 miles would be considered quite low consumption.

Oil consumption will depend a lot on how the car was run in, if it's driven too gently for the first 50-100 miles it will use more oil.

I'm now on nearly 12,000 miles, I've added 1/4 L to keep the level up to full. It did have an extra oil change at 10K miles, but it was full when it went in and full afterwards, so I count that as 0 usage.

[bigbrian]

I've had to top off the oil in my 2013 M6 twice due to the "low level warning" -- my car has ~6,000 miles on int.

I called up Kyle who works on my car (and has done all my mods) at the local BMW dealership (he is a BMW Mechanic). I was concerned because I had no flippin' idea why I had to add oil to a fairly new car.

Kyle told me this is normal during the first (can't remember how many miles) due to the turbos. Apparently the turbos have something to do with the car burning some of the oil (it's by design).

btw... When you get this warning you are not "low" by very much. I think the car holds (correct me if I am wrong guys) 7 quarts and it only takes ~1qt to get it back up the full mark. There is nothing wrong with continuing your cruise/drive at a 6qt capacity. It just freaks you out because you are thinking "holy shit I have a low oil level warning".

Brian

[evanevery]

Its also a very poor showing to have to drive around in a brand new car with extra oil in the trunk...

[RichardP]

Total oil capacity is about 9 Quarts, oil change quantity is about 8.5 Quarts.

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by evanevery

Its also a very poor showing to have to drive around in a brand new car with extra oil in the trunk...

This is normal, I always keep an extra bottle in the trunk. Had topped off oil twice since the break in period was over. I'm at 9,000 miles now and it's been about 3500 miles since my last top off and I'm approaching another. I'm used to this kind of consumption as my 2008 M6's V10 was very oil thirsty, same with the Gallardos, they were oil guzzlers. Just keep some oil in your trunk and check your oil level every 3k miles and you should be fine.

[EuroKar]

Almost 13,000 miles on a client's 2014 M6 Gran Coupe.
Never added oil ever. Not even a little bit.
Installed full catless exhaust from GTHaus and BMS tune from day 1.
Car is a beast and performs like 1 also.

[aj1985]

It was like this for me on my old one. On the new one I got the car with 1000 miles and its at 3500 now. Already had 2 low oil alerts and have added 2 quarts.

[MattUK]

Originally Posted by RichardP

1 Litre (or 1 Quart) in 4,500 miles would be considered quite low consumption.

MUST REMEMBER TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP AND RAG IT (upto 5kr)

[michel lane]

I have this similar problem last night , what type of oil do these cars use ? . I called the BMW dealership today and they informed me it was 0/30 , which I think is to low for the car , I would have thought something like 0/40 or even 5/50 would have been right .

[RichardP]

You should use Castrol Edge Professional BMW LL04 0W-30.

Modern engines are designed to use thinner oils for improved economy and heat transfer (heat transfer is a function of flow rate, lower viscosity oil flows more easily).

If you have the service pack, oil top ups between services are free, you need the oil warning to be on but then you can go to any dealership and get them to add 1L for free.

If you don't have the service pack or don't want to have to wait to get the oil topped up, you can buy 1L from BMW for about £25 or get it from here for £11.99 + postage (£2.99 for 1L, £5.99 for 2-20L).

[Twitch Massacre]

+1. I have a service center only 4 miles from where I live so I have yet to use my "emergency bottle". Just drive in to get it topped off. They don't even make me wait. I just drive in and tell them it's a top off and they do it immediately.

[jnkirk1974]

This is completely normal. My F10 550 went through oil like crazy (especially after my Dinan tunings were put in).

[michel lane]

Thanks very much for the advice , yes I have the service pack with mine so I will get this sorted .

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by MattUK

MUST REMEMBER TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP AND RAG IT (upto 5kr)

Only once Oil is HOT
PS) hard brake-in, 10K miles NO Oil used at all.

[Jeff73]

I require a quart of oil every 750-1000 miles! My service dept says it's normal????

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Jeff73

I require a quart of oil every 750-1000 miles! My service dept says it's normal????

That's nuts! Maybe they should just have an oil filler cap next to the gas cap. Or have a built in oil injection tank like they did on some older 2-stroke engines...

I also have an X6M (with almost the exact same engine) and it doesn't need ANY oil between changes...

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Jeff73

I require a quart of oil every 750-1000 miles! My service dept says it's normal????

Well it's NOT.

[Twitch Massacre]

Originally Posted by Jeff73

I require a quart of oil every 750-1000 miles! My service dept says it's normal????

Although I did have to top off oil once after break in and once at 3k miles, it wasn't until I hit 9k miles that it needed the third top off.

[RichardP]

Originally Posted by Jeff73

I require a quart of oil every 750-1000 miles! My service dept says it's normal????

Normal, no, within spec, yes, just.

[RiverRunner]

1 quart at about 6,000 miles after initial 1,000 mile service. None added since, now at 9,300 total miles. When I took mine in, the dealer forgot to put the filler cap back on, made a huge mess, oil everywhere, took about a week for the oil to stop dripping from the engine. Dealer detailed the engine, but didn't help the dripping much. Bonehead mistake, I told them I'd take it to Jiffy Lube next time, maybe they train their staff better.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by Jeff73

I require a quart of oil every 750-1000 miles! My service dept says it's normal????

I do almost the same thing, let's say a quart every 1000 mile, and I used to do almost 1500-2000 miles for my retired 650is (N63 & N63tu). to me it's normal and does not bother me. Maybe it depends on driving style or weather/temperature...