Engine cleaner?

[torpedo]

After reading the thread about how to warm about your car (http://www.hotbimmer.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4496) I got scared.

I didn't drive much last winter, I put the car in garage, so no snow or salt could touch her. But I idle warmed up her once every two weeks thinking it's good to the car to keep oil flow once in a while, and keep battery alive. I do 15 minute idle each time! I'm afraid it has done major damage to the engine. Should I use one of those engine deposit cleaners, the stuff you add to the gasoline they sell at some gas stations? If you have tried or know about them, please tell me which one to use so it's best for BMW engine.
A couple of months ago, I noticed the oil temperature was a little high, about 5 degrees to the right of middle. I went to the dealer, and they said I lost 1 L of oil, so they topped it up. I demanded full service (change oil), but they said it's not due for another 6 months or 15000km. Anyhow, I was thinking maybe higher oil temp. is related to my idling done last winter?

 

[Dutch]

I would not worry to much...I mean you only did it for one winter right? So that's a couple of times idling for 15 minutes. Compare this with somebody that drives the whole winter long and stops driving before the whole engine is warmed up (short rides). Same problem: shorter exhaust life and shit building up in your cylinder(walls). You hear nobody talking about shutting the engine down before it's totally warm (btw I do drive until my engine is warm before I shut it down..even on real short trips..and I don't idle) That the manual says that idling is no longer necessary with modern engines doesn't mean that if you idle a couple of times that you ruin your engine...I mean it's a BMW....it should be able to take it. And what the dealer said about the higher oil temp due to a lack of oil, he's totally right. Just check if the oil temp remains higher now you've got your normal oil level back again. If it's still higher, yeah then you might wanna do some kind of engine flush. But for me personally, I would think twice before I put in some kind of cleaner in my fuel. Sounds a little bit scary. Make sure you got the right stuff if your oil temp remains high. So don't worry to much

 

[vlad]

From what I've read/heard; The new e46 engines are a bit temperature sensitive with the oil level, too much can raise the temp. as well as too little.

IMHO, the real concern about idling a motor as you described, is the water buildup in the oil from condensation. Any time that you change temperatures, condensation or water forms from the atmosphere. The only way to make sure that this does not collect and remain in the engine oil is to raise the engine temp. to operating temps. This will burn off the moisture that is inherent during the warm up process.

I wouldn't worry about the fuel too much, (although for storage during winter, I would add a stabilizer). What you should be concerned with is the collected condensation that ends up in your oil. If your are very concerned with this, then change the oil yourself or pay to have the dealer change it.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Kirby]

I didn't read that thread until just now.

Don't worry. Even if you did that Nov. to March of last year, it would have been 5 months, so you did it 10 times or so? Some of the other guys did the warmup thing EVERY DAY for months and years, and they are not having any problems. My opinion is that it's highly unlikely you caused any serious damage to the engine for that short period. And you probably used less than a gallon of gas, so there just can't be hardly any deposits to worry about.

You must have an oil temperature gauge on the car? Is that stock or an add on?

In the early days of catalytic converters they warned against an extended idle because the heat at low flow could overheat the cat. Maybe they are still concerned about that, but I doubt it.

In addition to the other good reasons posted in that thread, it may be a concern about cold oil/higher viscosity and low flow at idle. Honda had an issue with their early 4 cylinder 750 cc bike engines ('69 - '73). They recommended that you cruise at no less than 3000 rpm. There was some evidence that oil pressure and flow was insufficient at lower RPM.

 

[MyHarley]

I would think twice before I put in some kind of cleaner in my fuel. Sounds a little bit scary. Make sure you got the right stuff if your oil temp remains high. So don't worry to much

There is nothing wrong with adding gas booster or fuel injector cleaner to your fuel........Big Daddy needs to make a sticky for all the recommendations........

 

[torpedo]

So which gas booster or fuel injector cleaner is the best? Is it really safe or Is there any horror stories to share?

 

[MyHarley]

Per Big Daddy on another thread.......I'll have to search for the gas booster thread,

I would not use an oil additive. If you use a good quality oil there is no need for an additive. My old 84 733i was still running with 254K on her when I last saw her. She never had any oil additives, only Mobil One. For my fuel I use Red Line SI-1 Injector cleaner. I have used this for years and it is a great product. I have stored my roadster since new every winter and the only thing I do for the fuel is fill the tank and add the SI-1. I have never had an injector problem! Great stuff, came recommended to me by a BMW Mechanic.

 

[MrElussive]

Recently, a crazy good mechanic (through word of mouth) told me I should use that fuel injector cleaner about every 3,000 miles. He said that the stuff really cleans the injectors well, it doesn't harm your engine at all, and for $2.50 a bottle you don't have much to lose. So from now on, I use the STP Fuel Injector cleaner stuff (you put it in a full tank of gas) after every oil change, which is every 3,750 miles for me.
I have used it on several different cars and I have never had any bad results with the stuff, but at the same time, I've never had any noticeable performance increases, either. I think it is worth it if mechanics have seen for themselves that it really does clean the injectors.