[M-technik-3]

I have not seen it on the shelves yet and want to try it in my moderate mileage N52. Hoping to get rid of some sludge and so forth.

[2000cs]

YT channel The Motor Oil Geek recently had a video about top tier gasoline being better for oil life (because of how it differently affects rings); and has several on oil analyses and comparisons. The core advice from many seems to be oil and filter changes every 5k miles or shorter. Doesn’t matter what vehicle, manufacturer or engine.

[2000cs]

[Buug959]

[vreihen16]

This sounds like a question better asked in the "topic" sections of this forum.....

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

This sounds like a question better asked in the "topic" sections of this forum.....

I put here because I know at some point it will go off the rails.

[dradernh]

Is sludge at all likely in modern BMW engines?

That is, without extreme neglect, PCV system issues, or something like coolant getting into the oil without it becoming evident.

I've not thought about sludge as a possibility in many decades.

[iminhell1]

Originally Posted by dradernh

I've not thought about sludge as a possibility in many decades.

Because it's a nonissue.
If I can watch hands full of videos about vehicles going 40,000 or more miles with no oil change or top off at all then it should be clearly obvious that if you stick to a reasonable oil change interval that you will have no sludge issues.
Hell the vast majority of people thinking the latest and greatest will save their POS will never keep it long enough to prove anything. Come talk to me when you've put 200,000, 300,000, 500,000 miles on the car.

[2000cs]

Sludge: watch a few of the tear down videos of any engine on YT I Do Cars. Many suffer from sludge and wear that is apparently caused or exacerbated by extensive oil change intervals. Lots of sludge in engines these days, and lots of heat with the turbos in wide use.
Also a lot of valve carbon buildup (stems) because of DI not providing any cleaning on the manifold side of the intake. That same DI can wash down the cylinders, leading to ring and oil failures.

My take away is modern engines with their heat, DI, and tight tolerances need good oil and frequent changes. My personal opinion is most are designed for a service life of 100k miles (with factory recommended oil change intervals of 10k-20k miles), but this can be extended greatly by using good oil, oil filters and frequent changes.

[freakystyly]

N52s are port injected so the carbon buildup on valves aren't an issue.

You could peek inside the oil fill cap to see the top of the valve cover but it likely will be a nice oily brown color. Like you said, sludge is primarily from skipping oil changes.

[M-technik-3]

I'm third owner and have owned for last 60K so it gets maintenance now but prior not sure records were about non existent.

I'm going to try it for one or two oil changes figure it can't hurt and easier to do this then an oill flush followed by doing two more oil changes to remove the flush agent.