Reccomended Oil?

[spidertri]

When I bought my car I called the BMW dealership and asked if they recommended synthetic or conventional. The service manager told me that in 98 BMW switched all the cars over to synthetic from the factory. So I have been using synthetic in mine.

[ShortE36]

I think 15w-40 was for the break-in period. Then they switched to 5w-40 after that and eventually, replaced the 5w-40 recommendation with 5w-30. The 15w-40 was conventional but the 5w-40 and 5w-30 were synthetic.

[Mallard]

LL-01 and LL-04 is the same as Castrol egde and Edge sport. The 04 longlife is designed for cars with "particle filters" or advanced Cat converters and ok for 30000kms. The LL-01 is not as good, but ok for the 20-26000 kms.

Regular Full synth is ok to 15-20000kms

I use a 5w-50 Valvoline, and i prefer it over the LL-04 0w-40

[8thcivic]

how about guys here in Los Angeles? what do you use? my civic uses 5w-20. what should i use with my BMW?

[tiFreak]

I use 10W-40, if you have your owners manual there's a chart that shows which oil to use for different temperature ranges

[8thcivic]

yeah but unfortunately i dont...

[elfhearse]

he he..same problem as the OP.

I've been using 5W/30 BMW synthetic or AMSOIL Euro 5W/40 since a got my ti in 2007. No problems with oil leaks until I decided to use Mobil 1 0W/40 = oil seeping from the front of the engine, probably from the oil filter housing gasket or O-ring. I'm also the third owner so the past three probably used dino oil, which also makes the change to synthetic in an older engine more troublesome for leaks (+ more frequent filter changes until the sludge is cleared out)

I'm switching back to a 5W/30 or 40wt. LL-01 or LL-98 Agree that O is too thin for these "old" engines.

FWIW: great oil thread on BMW LL types:
http://www.theoilforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3

[Mallard]

OIL VISCOSITIES AT VARIOUS TEMPERATURES


Grade........0degC.....................10degC...................40degC......................100degC


0w-20........329..........................181........................46............................9cst
0w-30........540..........................290........................68............................12cs t
5w-30........654..........................338........................74............................12cs t
0w-40........665..........................354........................82............................14cs t
5w-40........874..........................440........................91............................14cs t
10w-40.......842 .........................430........................91............................14cst
15w-40......1260.........................595........................107...........................14cst
5w-50.........888.........................474........................109...........................18cs t
10w-50......1034.........................537........................116...........................18cst
15w-50......1535.........................735........................135...........................18cst
20w-50......2300........................1013.......................157............................18cst
10w-60......1553.........................795........................165............................24cst
20w-60......2390........................1123.......................195............................24cst
SAE 30.......1914.........................784.......................108............................12cSt

The viscosity usually quoted for a residual fuel oil is the kinematic viscosity expressed in centiStokes (cSt) at some reference temperature. ...


Found on Opie Oils website, along with alot of great oil info. its worth a look

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by 8thcivic

yeah but unfortunately i dont...

well, fortunately for you, I do sorry the pic is sideways, my computer wouldn't rotate it without lowering the quality

[spidertri]

Well, I just checked my oil yesterday and found that my level was low. I changed it about a month ago and have driven 1200 miles since then. I used Mobil 1 0w-40. When I changed it the level was right up to the top notch of the dipstick, yesterday it was about halfway in between the notches.

I got under the car and started looking around, there was some very clean oil clinging to some parts directly beneath the oil filter housing. Got a flashlight out and looked down into the housing area and it was definitely wet. I have never noticed any oil spots where I park so maybe I have also been burning the thinner oil?

When I change the oil next I am definitely going with something heavier maybe a 5w40 or 10w40 for the winter and 15w50 for the summer.

[Xenocide]

I changed the oil filter housing this weekend, seems to still have a little oil around it after about 50 miles or so....Maybe this is just the new seal breaking in (i sure hope so) I am praying my oil filter housing isn't cracked.....

Hardest part of the whole thing for me was getting the alternator out of its cradle, and back in again, SOB Is wedged in there and you can't hit it with a hammer. Had to use a long screwdriver wedge it between the bracket and the alternator and tap it with a rubber mallet to slowly wedge it out.

[cooljess76]

Did you replace the two o rings? Not the ones that go on the cap, the ones that go behind the filter housing. Usually it's not the paper seal that leaks, it's those two o rings that become deformed and let oil pass.

[Triple_A]

i had the same problem on my ti.. the filter housing gasket was shot to hell. its a relatively inexpensive fix but it is a b***h. as far what oil? right now im on 5w-30 Elf full synthetic - its a great product. i don't feel much of a difference between that and lets say a Castol Syntec , but i did notice a difference when i used Valvoline synthetic once (and never again) in my ti.

[cooljess76]

Elf is good. Not as popular here in the states, but I used it in both of my Bimmers when I lived in Europe.

[Xenocide]

Originally Posted by cooljess76

Did you replace the two o rings? Not the ones that go on the cap, the ones that go behind the filter housing. Usually it's not the paper seal that leaks, it's those two o rings that become deformed and let oil pass.

you mean on the bush?

The bush i put back in had two new o-rings........