the magical disappearing oil consumption & Sport+ throttle

[vafan13]

Curious if anyone else can speak to this. For the first two years of ownership I was burning a quart of oil every 1500-1800 miles. Last year I chose to run the car only in Sport+ throttle once up to temp, as I wanted the significantly lower coolant temps. However something happened that I did not expect: I burned no oil. It got to the point where I got a bit paranoid about the oil level sensor, but with 4.2K miles on the oil I did the change not long ago, got out what I expected, and the oil level sensor was confirmed working.

Has anyone else experienced this? My only guess is something Sport+ throttle does has some impact on crankcase pressure, causing it to keep a vacuum in certain scenarios it wouldn't otherwise and thus prevent oil from coming through the PCV. That said, I'm a bit stumped.

[fstm5]

I can’t confirm the oil consumption but I drive on sport plus ALL the time no matter what the scenario is, I think efficient is garbage and frankly horrible for the motor from how hot it gets.

Sport plus won’t do any harm while the car is warming up as long as you don’t get into boost

[BMWSauberF1]

Originally Posted by vafan13

Curious if anyone else can speak to this. For the first two years of ownership I was burning a quart of oil every 1500-1800 miles. Last year I chose to run the car only in Sport+ throttle once up to temp, as I wanted the significantly lower coolant temps. However something happened that I did not expect: I burned no oil. It got to the point where I got a bit paranoid about the oil level sensor, but with 4.2K miles on the oil I did the change not long ago, got out what I expected, and the oil level sensor was confirmed working.

Has anyone else experienced this? My only guess is something Sport+ throttle does has some impact on crankcase pressure, causing it to keep a vacuum in certain scenarios it wouldn't otherwise and thus prevent oil from coming through the PCV. That said, I'm a bit stumped.

Maybe it’s just the fact that it’s keeping oil temps at a much more reasonable temp (well reasonable to us but obviously BMW has done the research and see’s that it’s fine) idk if your tuned or not but maybe with the cars being tuned it keeps the temps closer to what a stock car would be if not a bit lower even. But I bet the temp being lower has something to do with less oil burn

[M5_Raz]

I noticed it too, especially in the winters when the whole car stays much cooler.

During the summer I get more oil burn, it’s even visible in the back due to the catless downpipes. Priuses hate me

[MarcF10]

Originally Posted by BMWSauberF1

Maybe it’s just the fact that it’s keeping oil temps at a much more reasonable temp….

Well that’s the key point.

ICE are thermal engines, so the efficiency in the cooling process is paramount for improved results like better fuel economy, longer oil changes, less mechanical wear etc.

[MFM5]

My car has 81K miles. I purchased over 4 years ago with 38K miles. I have always driven in Sport+ and never had to add oil between changes every 5K miles with Liqui Moly 5W-40. Also have a BMP Stage 1 tune. Maybe I'm just lucky.

[vafan13]

I thought about oil temps but I don't see a noticeable difference in sport+, at least not in the driving I normally do. I guess it is possible oil going through certain paths is staying noticeably cooler. My best guess, though, is still that it's something stopping oil from coming back through the PCV.

Anyways, I suggest anyone burning oil try running only in Sport+ throttle and see if it stops.

[JDMSteven]

You can also run a cooler thermostat that way you're not having to run it in Sport + all the time. If I were keeping my M6 that's what I'd do, as the throttle response is way too touchy in Sport +

[vafan13]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

With this news that you don't have to top up with keeping it in Sport + then I'm going to try it out and see if I can save some oil.

Go for it! I'll be curious to see if others have the same experience.

Originally Posted by JDMSteven

You can also run a cooler thermostat that way you're not having to run it in Sport + all the time. If I were keeping my M6 that's what I'd do, as the throttle response is way too touchy in Sport +

I've considered it but honestly one gets used to sport+ very quickly.

[BMWSauberF1]

Originally Posted by vafan13

I've considered it but honestly one gets used to sport+ very quickly.

You definitely get used to it quickly. But now when I jump in and forget to hit my M button it feels like someone swapped my motor out with a 528i lol crazy how dumbed down the throttle is in efficient mode.

I’ve been running sport+ all the time now for the past few days and already I noticed when I get back from drives my car doesn’t smell like burning oil like it usually does I’m assuming just because the temps are so much lower. Well one time I still smelled oil but I had just been bombing it on the freeway on the way home so even sport plus couldn’t keep the temps down to under 210 oil temp that seems to be the magic number is in that 200-210 range for oil temp. Once it gets into the high 210’s and 220’s that’s when I really smell the oil burning smell.

[m5dream]

Hey guys I’m buying an m5 today. What changes in sport + to make the car run cooler ?

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by m5dream

Hey guys I’m buying an m5 today. What changes in sport + to make the car run cooler ?

Congrats on the purchase man, I understand the oil is pumped through the oil cooler more.

[m5dream]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Congrats on the purchase man, I understand the oil is pumped through the oil cooler more.

Ok good to know. And then how r the exhaust valves controlled on these cars ?

[ECB]

Originally Posted by m5dream

Ok good to know. And then how r the exhaust valves controlled on these cars ?

If you take a look at how the valve opens/closes, you can easily lock them open so they never close. I used a hose clamp.

[m5dream]

Originally Posted by ECB

If you take a look at how the valve opens/closes, you can easily lock them open so they never close. I used a hose clamp.

OK that looks pretty easy to do and I have some of those clamps laying around. Sounds good.