 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  | | View Poll Results: Syn Oil weights | | 0W-20 |     | 2 | 0.58% | | 0W-30 |    | 16 | 4.68% | | 5W-20 |    | 8 | 2.34% | | 5W-30 |    | 105 | 30.70% | | 10W-30 |    | 62 | 18.13% | | 10W-40 |    | 80 | 23.39% | | 15W-40 | | 31 | 9.06% | | 15W-50 | | 38 | 11.11% |
 |  | |  01-31-2008, 05:28 AM | #1 | | Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle area Posts: 61 |
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 |  |  | | 02-02-2008, 12:34 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Odenton, MD Posts: 419 |
5w-40 Royal Purple | | | | | 01-05-2009, 09:58 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rodeo, CA Posts: 226 |
Royal Purple 10-30 cause it was on sale a while back, LOL! Mobile 1 the rest of the time, usually 10-40. Damn oil, never on sale lately...  __________________ Love ALL Bimmers. Have to, or they would not be cost effective.  | | | | | 02-13-2009, 07:34 PM | #4 | | Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 40 |
10w40 mobil fully sinthetic
temps vary from about -3 to +30 at the extremes year round.
I'm in the UK its a pretty standard oil used over here | | | | | 01-20-2010, 12:52 AM | #5 | | Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Fishers, Indiana Posts: 4 |
Mobil 1 10w40. 225000 miles, between 30 and 80 degrees at the extremes. Car sees a lot of track days and autocross and runs wonderfully, although I may try out 20w50 or something to get rid of some lifter noise. | | | | | 01-30-2011, 10:14 PM | #6 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Fayetteville, ga Posts: 12 |
Quote: Originally Posted by gearheadE30  Mobil 1 10w40. 225000 miles, between 30 and 80 degrees at the extremes. Car sees a lot of track days and autocross and runs wonderfully, although I may try out 20w50 or something to get rid of some lifter noise. | Possibly try some dextron (1/2 qt) next change. It has more detergents in it, and I have used it successfully on a number of occasions. It won't hurt at all. | | | | | 01-20-2010, 12:56 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 |
15w-50 year round __________________ -Jeff
 | | | | | 01-27-2010, 03:14 PM | #8 | | Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: usa Posts: 80 |
5W/40 either Mobil One or Castrol Syntec. All year. | | | | | 02-07-2010, 09:48 PM | #9 | | Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ft. Worth Posts: 53 |
-1 5W-30 on last poll thread... I'm fully synthetic, 5-w30 in TX | | | | | 06-08-2010, 10:37 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 252 |
10w-40 castrol syntec __________________ 1996 318ti base: m44, 5 spd, lsd - 18x8 bremmer kraft wheels w/sumitumo tires 225/40R18 & bmw locking lug studs, 10mm spacers in rear, halo headlights, cold air intake, koni str.t struts and shocks w/mounts, h&r sport springs, serp belts, control arm & tie rod kits, front sway bar links, JVC kd-x50bt headunit w/ipod hook up in the glove box, alpine sps-500(front and rear), jl audio 10" powerwedge max, jl audio 250.1 amp, motor mounts, fuel filter, passenger side window motor, drivers lower window run, muffler hanger kit, various interior bulbs, left door striker/ajar switch, lower hood latches, changed from gray vinal to black leather shift and parking brake boots, m3 weighted shift knob, ngk-r spark plugs, magnecor spark plug wires(blue),new cabin micro-filters,new headliner & a-pillar mouldings, 5w20 synth-blend oil and filter, BG Ultra Guard syn. rear end fluid & ls additive, BG Syncro Shift II syn. manual trans fluids, stainless steel braided brake lines and dot 4 fluid, extra brake light mod, new p/s reservoir and rubber hoses
need to do - fix door panels, paint job, MORE MONEY!!  | | | | | 01-30-2011, 10:11 PM | #11 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Fayetteville, ga Posts: 12 |  I like it (for some engines)
I'm a BMW tech (atlanta) and I tried the 5-30 bmw synthetic (castrol) in the stock lump, it didn't workout so great (seepage from seals). The normal 15-40 conventional is fine in this motor. I have regular customers that use 15-40 at the 15k interval and have 200-300k with no problems. But I am definately a fan of 5-20 synth in my other cars. | | | | | 04-11-2011, 06:41 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 |
Oil requirements according to the BMW manual for a 1995 318ti. Weight / Temp range (F) 20W50 / 20 to > 90 (Their chart stops at 90F with arrows pointing higher) 15W50 / 0 to > 90 15W40 / 0 to 90 10W40 / -20 to 60 10W30 / -20 to 40 5W30 / < -20 to 20 5w20 / < -20 to 15 So in my eyes the only 2 oils that meet the normal spec of my engine are 20W50 and 15W50. Unless I'm traveling in the winter to the colder parts then the 10W40 has me covered. In 95 they did not use synthetic in the TI, it was standard oil. I switched to synth when I bought the car. at 80K miles, its now at 180K... Avoid the "Green cleen" oils, they are reduced Zink/sulfur formula and do NOT protect tappets or followers as well as standard oil (Wich as of this year in the US does not have much zinc either...  ) Important in motors that have a more mechanical valve train and rev as high as ours. All my humble opinion... Dave __________________
Dave - PDX
1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan.
2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | 04-11-2011, 07:10 PM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 |
I stumbled across this thread recently and found it to be quite informative. It specifically discusses oils for the S52, but according to the referenced TIS the M42 and M44 engines are also considered to require "special oils". I'm going to be switching to Shell Rotella T 5w40 on my next oil changes based on this and other information I've seen. http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1003372 | | | | | 04-12-2011, 02:05 AM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 274 |
Quote: Originally Posted by bullmand I stumbled across this thread recently and found it to be quite informative. It specifically discusses oils for the S52, but according to the referenced TIS the M42 and M44 engines are also considered to require "special oils". I'm going to be switching to Shell Rotella T 5w40 on my next oil changes based on this and other information I've seen. http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1003372 | I run Shell Rotell T 5-40 in my VW TDI's. Works well for the 10K interval that I use. Mobil 1 0-40 in the 318ti, and my 04 330i ZHP. | | | | | 04-12-2011, 03:12 AM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 |
Its a good idea to check the base viscosity that BMW recommends, then pick the oil, Each model and year of engine can have different main and rod bearing clearance specs, books tend to lump all engines into the latest spec, so most books will show the last year the engine was made for all engines. People are jumping on the 5w30 wagon way too quick for me... Engines built in the early 90's have their main clearances designed to operate at X amount of pressure and Y amount of clearance. Often the newer cars running on the thin oils have tighter clearances and a higher volume pump.
Dave __________________
Dave - PDX
1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan.
2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | |
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