BMW E46 M54 and N42 Oil Consumption and Blue Smoke
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Why does the E46 N42 engine burn oil and smoke blue?
A common cause is a clogged oil separator, or crankcase breather, which carries oil into the intake manifold. Another common cause is worn valve stem seals. Check the breather first. Short trips increase the clogging.
Where can the E46 M54 engine leak or consume oil?
Common points are the breather, the valve cover gasket, the O-ring at the base of the dipstick tube, the valve stem seals and the gasket at the base of the oil filter housing. If no oil shows on the ground, it may be leaking from the valve cover gasket or burning in the engine.
How do you measure the E46 oil level correctly?
Wipe the dipstick, push it back in and read the level only on the second pull. A warm engine should be switched off for about 10 minutes before measuring, so the oil has time to drain to the bottom.
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