Oil color, any Idea what this could be?

Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 BMW X5
  • 6 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 157,000 MILES
Ever see this color? Bought a BMW from auction and was fine. Driver test drove it and said all was good. He kept it in his yard until the week after until I bought more cars, so he won't have to make a drive for just one car. Next week he went to pick up other cars I bought. Dropped the x5 down to load others and he said it started knocking. Just strange. I dropped the oil, and it looks greenish. Not water, just weird looking. Never seen that type of color before.
Friday, October 4th, 2024 AT 9:24 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Hmm, that is a good one, it must be coolant, right? BMW coolant is blue so this might be the problem. Or some kind of oil treatment. if you drain the oil and then pressure test the cooling system, does coolant come out of the oil pan drain plug?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Friday, October 4th, 2024 AT 2:04 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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Have not done that. Doesn't look like anything I seen before, must be an additive to cover the bearing noise maybe. Worth draining and filling with oil and see if the knock goes away? I doubt.
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Friday, October 4th, 2024 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Me too, oil will not help engine noises too often. Must be an internal engine problem.
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Saturday, October 5th, 2024 AT 9:34 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
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Removed the engine and received another with much lower miles. Removed the oil pan and found the cylinder with the issue.
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Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 AT 3:18 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, that is bad, you are right, the color is telling you the engine is hurt. Thanks for the video.
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Wednesday, October 16th, 2024 AT 10:24 AM

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