Engine oil change
The oil is changed according to the service interval indicator on the dashboard or every 10,000 km once a year. With a low annual mileage, the engine oil should be changed once a year. The oil filter cartridge is replaced at the same time.
Under severe operating conditions (such as short distance driving, frequent cold starts, and driving on dusty roads) oil should be changed more frequently.
Engine oil can be pumped out using a special probe.
The use of different grades of oil indiscriminately is undesirable. It is advisable not to mix motor oils of different grades, even of the same type. Engine oils of the same type and grade, but with different viscosities, can be mixed if necessary in the spring and autumn periods.
Attention: Old oil is handed over to special waste collection points. The address of the nearest point can be found in the city or village administration. Under no circumstances should the old oil be discarded or disposed of with household waste. This causes irreversible damage to the environment (such as water pollution).
Draining engine oil
Warm up the engine to operating temperature (coolant temperature 60-80°C).
Attention: The oil can also be sucked off by a suitable pump through the oil dipstick tube.
Unscrew the oil filter. A special tool is available for this, for example from HAZET 2169. You can also insert a sharp screwdriver into the oil filter from the side. If oil flows out when unscrewing, substitute a vessel.
Models 316i from September 1988 and 318i from September 1987
Unscrew the central bolt -1-, after which the oil can drain from the filter housing with the shut-off non-return valve open into the oil sump.
Remove filter cover -2- with O-ring.
Pull out the filter element -3-. Wipe off dripping oil with a rag.
Raise the car in a horizontal position.
Place a container under the oil sump to collect the used oil.
Remove oil drain plug (arrow) on the side of the oil sump and completely drain the used oil from the engine.
Attention: If a significant amount of metal chips or friction products is found in the drained oil, it should be borne in mind that there is damage in the engine, for example, crankshaft bearings or connecting rod bearings. To prevent the consequences after the repair, it is necessary to clean the oil channels and oil hoses. Additionally, if an oil cooler is installed, it must be replaced.
Filling the engine with oil
Fit the oil drain plug with a new gasket and tighten it. but without much effort. Tightening torque for a 17 mm spanner plug: 30 Nm; turn key 19 mm: 60 nm.
Clean the oil filter flange with fuel.
Lightly lubricate the rubber o-ring of the oil filter with engine oil.
Attention: Observe the instructions on the fuel filter housing.
Screw on the new oil filter by hand.
Models 316i from September 1988 and 318i from September 1987
Insert a new filter element into the oil filter housing.
Clean the oil filter cover, check the integrity of the rubber sealing ring -4- and insert it into the groove.
Check the condition of the sealing ring -5- and the copper gasket -6- of the central bolt and. if required, replace.
Place the filter cover so that the protrusion on the cover coincides with the protrusion on the body (see arrow in picture W 1612).
Insert central bolt with O-ring, screw in and tighten to 30 Nm.
Fill in new oil through the oil filler neck on the cylinder head cover.
Start the engine and leave it to run at higher speeds (about 2500 rpm) until the control lamp of the lubrication system on the dashboard goes out (about 5 seconds).
Finally, check the oil level with an oil dipstick.
Refueling tanks
The difference between the marks on the oil dipstick is 1 liter.
After a test drive, check the oil drain plug and oil filter for leaks and, if necessary, tighten carefully.
Stop the warm engine and check the oil level again after 2 minutes, correct if necessary.
If it is necessary to reset the service interval indicator, a special tool is usually required, available from BMW. In addition, the indicator can be reset free of charge at a BMW workshop. On cars produced until about December 1985, the indicator readings can be reset independently.
To control the operation of the engine, the oil must be replaced with oil of the same type and preferably of the same brand. Therefore, it is advisable to fix a plate on the engine indicating the brand and viscosity of the filled oil.