2000 reg E46 330i Touring, manual
Is it possible that as you get closer to your oil service that oil consumption increases? Perhaps due to the oil filter getting older or the oil being in worse condition?
I got my car last November and topped up around half a litre after a month or so....but can't be sure it was topped right up when I first got it. Then, after a couple of thousand more miles (roughly and by memory) I topped up by another half litre. Recently I topped up again by half a litre and now within 500 miles it needs another half litre. The oil light has only ever come on after switching the ignition off and only after long journeys not short ones. I am due an oil service in 2,200 miles. The car does quite often stand for a day or two in the same spot and I have never seen any evidence of a leak. Also, I am currently using Mobil 1 Supersynthetic 10-40W and it complies with the ACEA A3/B3 and LL01 standards.
Any ideas? A litre of oil per 1000 miles seems a bit much and is certainly quite pricey!
Thinking about it, I've done around 8,000 miles since November, I've certainly put no more than 3 litres of oil in the car in total (which is still a lot compared to other cars that I've driven) but I have certainly put a litre in over the past month or so during which I've driven no more than 1000 miles so that certainly suggests an increased usage recently - and my driving style / type of journeys haven't changed.
Finally, is there any possible difference between adding just half a litre when the light comes on as opposed to topping up and waiting and adding more to ensure that the oil is right to the very top of the dip stick? Eg if I don't top right to the very top is there any chance that it would burn oil faster?
Thanks in advance,
Andy
