Is 6.5 liters of oil too much for a BMW N52 engine?
2 Answers
Adding 6.5 liters of oil to a BMW N52 engine is not excessive. Here are the precautions for oil maintenance: Proper oil quantity: When adding oil to your vehicle, it should be done according to the engine displacement. Never overfill to save money or add too little to be frugal. Excessive oil can cause internal power loss during engine startup and may lead to oil burning issues. Conversely, insufficient oil will result in inadequate lubrication between engine bearings and journals, increasing wear and potentially causing severe accidents like bearing seizure. Therefore, the oil level should ideally be maintained between the upper and lower marks on the dipstick. Post-change inspection: After adding oil, start the engine and let it run for 3-5 minutes before shutting it off. Then, recheck the oil level with the dipstick and lift the vehicle to inspect for any oil leaks around the oil pan drain plug or oil filter area. These steps complete the proper oil change procedure.
I recently researched the oil capacity issue of the BMW N52 engine. According to the factory manual, this 3.0L straight-six engine has a total oil capacity of 6.5 liters, including the oil filter portion. During actual oil changes, I usually pour in 6.2 liters first, then start the engine and let it run for two minutes to allow oil to fill the filter and pipelines. After turning off the engine, I check the electronic dipstick. If it's low, I top it up gradually to the middle mark, which usually ends up being between 6.3-6.5 liters. I remember one time when an apprentice directly poured in 7 liters, causing the engine to run sluggishly and oil to leak from the seals during acceleration - excess oil increases crankcase pressure. I recommend checking the oil level via the iDrive system when the engine is cold for the most accurate reading, filling it just to the MAX line.
