Whats your weight? (synthetic oil)

[Sirius600]

Since I'm considering switching to synthetic oil, I think it's suiting to start a poll on oil weight. This is for synthetic users ONLY.

Please include your location and the average temperature where you drive.

[tastade]

I am using 15W50 Mobil 1 synthetic. I live in IA, and only drive the car in the spring/summer/fall, usually on days above freezing. Avg summer temperature is around 72 degrees (day/night average), highest high is around 100 . When temperatures are below about 20 F, it is hard starting and will idle terrible for about 10 seconds. I believe this is due to the thick oil. I do several autocrosses during the year, and some spirited driving. The thick oil works great for my driving habits. My fuel economy is worse with the thick oil, probably by about 2-4 mpg average. This current oil change I have about 6k miles and still have 3 bars left on my change indicator, I also have about 4k highway miles on this oil. My previous oil was 10w30 (fossil based).

[brucelee]

I am using 15W50 Mobil 1 synthetic. I live in IA, and only drive the car in the spring/summer/fall, usually on days above freezing. Avg summer temperature is around 72 degrees (day/night average), highest high is around 100 . When temperatures are below about 20 F, it is hard starting and will idle terrible for about 10 seconds. I believe this is due to the thick oil. I do several autocrosses during the year, and some spirited driving. The thick oil works great for my driving habits. My fuel economy is worse with the thick oil, probably by about 2-4 mpg average. This current oil change I have about 6k miles and still have 3 bars left on my change indicator, I also have about 4k highway miles on this oil. My previous oil was 10w30 (fossil based).


I also use Redcap but I live in San Diego where it never gets below 50F. Perhaps for winter, you should switch to 5-30 or 10-30. Seems like this would help aleviate your issues upon starting.

Castrol makes a 5-50 Syntec which also might work.

Good luck

[socal318ti]

I live in San Diego and the previous owner of my car always used 10w-40 synthetic so I am continuing with it. By the way its Mobil 1 stuff.

[NEKO]

I always use Valvoline Syntech full Synthetic motor oil. For the winter I am using 10W 30.

[318ti]

Just Changed it today to 5w-30 Mobil 1. It had problems starting in -20c temps.

Peter
1999 318ti 81k

[AlaskaBlue]

I want to switch to synthetic, but the guys at the dealership it didn't matter, and a guy at the autoparts store said that it could cause problems (fuel pump to go out? I can't remember what it was now because I asked a few months ago) I have 140,000 miles do these guys know what they are talking about or is it just crap?

I Had to edit this in sorry I forgot. I live in Indiana summer around 80 degrees winter around 32 and dealer uses 20w50 oil

[hotdog19d]

I was using mobil1 15w50 , then switched to 5w30 for this winter.

[hsvbama318ti]

I use redline 20w-50. Superb oil!

[clex2]

There one furmula you forgot......Mobil 1 0w-40, which I use all year round.

[Buttercup]

I use 15w50 Mobil One.

[m44ic]

I dont use any of the weights on the pole I use 0w40

[demeegod]

I use Royal Purple 20w50. Good stuff. Live in Los Angeles though so its rarely cold at all... and my version of cold is quite mild.

Upon changing from Mobil to Royal the idle has been smoother and maybe im just insane.. but it just feels like it has a baby amount more of oomph.

[318tiwinner]

I use Castrol Syntec 0w-30. I live near Philly. Great oil in all weather conditions. Never used in -20c though!

[GDB]

I dont use any of the weights on the pole I use 0w40


That's what I've started running aswell. No problems yet, I'm sending a sample to blackstone after my next oil change.

[318tiwinner]

That's what I've started running aswell. No problems yet, I'm sending a sample to blackstone after my next oil change.

Yeah, I like it. I have used for about five years and never had a problem. I think I used 10w-30 before the 0w-30.

[FireRescueFL]

Amsoil 20w50. After all the engines I've built and rebuilt over the years, I won't waste my time or money on anything else.

...well, except at the initial 15min of break in. They get the cheapest crap I can buy from Auto Zone for that. After the post 15min oil change they get "decent" conventional. Then Syn after 3,000 miles.

---Chris

[maxt]

i use 10w30 valvoline syntec synthetic. Great weight for all year around in Iowa. i dont really notice a difference from fossil, but i just got the car a few months ago and i decided to get on the long maintenance program (10k mile changes) and you need synthetic for that, so...

temp here varies a lot -30 fahrneit in winter to 100 fahrneit in summer.

[barische]

i have talked to the guy from a company which makes additives for oil companies and he told me that both castrol and mobil gets their additives from them, so basically most oil companies oils are the same. just a different weight and different packaging.

[pdxmotorhead]

If you have a synthetic decal under the hood your car came with synthetic.
95 ti's for instance did not. If you have the dealer change the oil to synthetic they put the decal on by the info sticker.

I switched my 95 to synthetic 15W40 (Thats what BMW uses stock in the M42/M44 line) and so far so good. It definatley got quieter but thats pretty normal when I've put fresh oil in any engine.

Good Luck
Dave

[andrei]

I use castrol RS formula 10w 60 and all I can say it got really better after switching from mobile one 5w 50 rally formula.

[jmgriffin]

I just switched to synthetic yeasterday and, per Mobil1.com's oil selector, I used 0W-40. Does this sound right to you guys? I live in Charleston, SC and it gets down to the 30's at night in the winter but up to the 100's in the summers.

[w3fl3x]

I'm using mobil 1 15w50. IT works great. When i switched over it got rid of the ticking noise from under my hood.

[Mendi3]

I use Mobil1 10-30 all year.

[bimmer_dad]

The weight I use is not on the survey. I am using AMSOIL 5-40 European Formulation.

[Adog2107]

only mobil 1 5w30

[318tiSpeed]

I'm using 15w40 as per BMW's instructions. The only reason I would see in using a 5w30 or thinner is to have the engine running smoother in winter.

After about 2 weeks of owning my car, I checked the oil one night and I was just at the bottom, so I decided to get 15w40 MotoMaster Synthetic oil and so far so good!

[3DGE]

The weater is like always the same here so i use 5W20

[FATHER]

Amsoil or Valvoline syn. 10-40, i live in Puerto Rico... veeeeryyy hot al year, 85 cooldest, over 100 in summer,,, o love the beach,, jejej and bikinis

[Bluebimma]

I use Lubro Moly Voll-Synthese Motor Oil - Synthetic - 0W40 from Bavauto because thats all the car has run for its whole life (says the previous owner).

[azca]

mobil 1 fully synthetic 0W-40

[Budget M3]

I used 10W-30 conventional for the first 3 years of ownership in Europe (even back then, synthetic was hugely expensive in NL). Switched to synthetic when I arrived back in the U.S. in 2001. 10W-30 syn (Castrol Syntec) in VA both summer and winter. Switched to 5W-30 (Castrol, BMW OE or Mobil 1, whatever is cheapest at the time) here in AZ year 'round, including lots of track time with the DASC. (fingers crossed here)...no burning between 5K changes and no blowby at 100K miles (the last 25K w/ DASC).

...did I say I LOVE this car? :)

[S10mafia50]

I want to switch to synthetic, but the guys at the dealership it didn't matter, and a guy at the autoparts store said that it could cause problems (fuel pump to go out? I can't remember what it was now because I asked a few months ago) I have 140,000 miles do these guys know what they are talking about or is it just crap?

I Had to edit this in sorry I forgot. I live in Indiana summer around 80 degrees winter around 32 and dealer uses 20w50 oil


For the record, alaskablue went synthetic, then I converted him to conventional valvoline max life(the car likes it much better)

As for myself, I just went from 5w30 motorcraft syn to Mobile-1 10w30 5000mile oil....(No idea if it is conventional or syn.) I bought a case, air filter, 2 oil filters for less than having the oil changed...haha

Andrew

[AlaskaBlue]

For the record, alaskablue went synthetic, then I converted him to conventional valvoline max life(the car likes it much better)

As for myself, I just went from 5w30 motorcraft syn to Mobile-1 10w30 5000mile oil....(No idea if it is conventional or syn.) I bought a case, air filter, 2 oil filters for less than having the oil changed...haha

Andrew

I went to redline, but the car used that up as fast a gas. Then I switched to valvoline maxlife. The car burns a lot less oil and my wallet is much happier. I am using 10w40 weight.

[mohaughn]

Strange.. My Ti doesn't use any oil... I'm running Mobil 1 0w40... Do you have a leak somewhere that would explain your car using the oil like that? I didn't think that was an issue on the m42/44. I know the S14 uses oil, but that engine is kind of extreme by comparison.

[tastade]

It is normal for a vehicle to burn some oil, as a little bit will always get pushed into the combustion chamber each time the piston goes up. If you are burning an excessive amount (like more than 1 qrt every 1k miles) you likely have some other problem like worn rings or maybe the PCV system isn't functioning correctly. But if you are burning 1 quart every 4k or 5k miles, it is probably nothing to worry about, especially if it stays consistent, just make sure you check your oil occasionally. My dad had a challenger that burned 1 qrt of oil every 2k miles from new up to 180k miles and the engine still ran perfect.

I switched to synthetic at 115k miles with no adverse reactions (like leaky seals or anything), and have been running that for the last 23k miles with no trouble. I go by there service indicator lights for the change interval.

[alaska]

Mobil 1 5w-30 Wasilla, Alaska

[Will'sBimmer]

I currently use 10-40 for the summer heat which gets to be above 90 sometimes 100. but in the winter i will use 5-30. i see that some of you where saying that you use mobil 0-40. i have seen this oil in the store and wondered about it. i didnt understand if it would be ok to run in my Ti if it was 0-40. i mean doesnt it need some weight?. or would this be better oil to run in my Ti? :confused:

[AlaskaBlue]

Strange.. My Ti doesn't use any oil... I'm running Mobil 1 0w40... Do you have a leak somewhere that would explain your car using the oil like that? I didn't think that was an issue on the m42/44. I know the S14 uses oil, but that engine is kind of extreme by comparison.

The simple answer is that I leak somewhere and it burns oil it is a 170,000 mile engine. I am not sure of the exact amount now because I seem to top off every four or five days. I check it nearly everyday or everyday that I drive at least. I never let it get a quart low due to the conditions in which the car is driven.

[J!m]

I run Mobil-1 15-50.

I run a 3.2l engine,so my data may not apply to you.

I live/work in the NYC/New England area.

I only drive in spring/summer/early fall (leaves are deadly around here).

I get 22 MPG average on all driving conditions running Sunoco 93 (or 94 if I can find it)

[JedzE36/5]

I have been using Castrol Syntec 5w30 ever since I put my motor in. I think I will start to put 10w30 like i did before the swap. 10w30 worked fine all year round here in Oklahoma. I noticed that the 6 cylinder would have a faint ticking sound with the 5w30 so i want to give it a little more weight.

oh and temperatures here range b/w 2 degrees winter and 115 degrees summer worst case. but usually winters are in the low teens and summer around 105.

[J!m]

With that wide a swing in temperature and year-round driving, I'd change every six months to 10-30 for winter and maybe 20-50 for summer.

5W- anything is too light for the six, unless you are driving in the arctic...

[mykesheehy]

up north whit crazy winter......montreal ..use 10w40.agip.....but my car's always stored for the winter season

[318iS]

Castrol EDGE 0W40 all year round....

[pgh95ti]

Castrol Syntec 5w30 in Pittsburgh.

[greenie]

Castrol Syntec 5W50 year 'round.

Milton Horst
Seattle, WA

[BleMW]

i use valvoline 5w30 in northern virginia.. no problems and i get it changed every 4-5k

[Triple_A]

i use Elf full-synthetic 5w-30 year round... GREAT OIL!!!

[cooljess76]

5'11" 240:biggrin:

Castrol Syntec 5w30, Sometimes Mobil1 synthetic if it's cheaper.

[Kaliimc]

20w-50, the purple stuff!

Just changed oil today, will see how things are in this always 80 something degree weather. Also change fuel filter with minor improvement on fuel flow, car seems smoother now.

[Jean H.318TI]

Mobil1 0w40

[teetime4one]

Castrol Syntec 5w30 here in Colorado.
seems to work fine.

[Mallard]

i was on 5w - 50 valvoline


now im on 0w - 40 castrol


coz its winter here y´know ;)

[tiFreak]

you forgot to put down 20w-50, that's what i use

[greenmeanie]

castrol sport 0-40 all year round

[rono174]

I use mobil 1 synthetic 5w-30

[M98318ti]

I use 5w-30 elf evolution sxr. i live in WA state. It is a European oil company, they have higher standers than we do in the US so it is a better oil. I not only use it but i recommend it to all my friends and customers at work. here is their website.

http://www.elfoils.us/lub/lubusa.nsf/home?readform

[gimp]

5w-40 Royal Purple