[bmwm3redblack]

hey guys! yesterday i ve seen the yellow sign which says that oil level is low so it's time to change! The question is which oil to choose castrol or shell or whatever?
0w-30, 5w-30, 5w-40???

Opinions please!

[project6]

What does it say on the manual? You cannot go wrong with whatever is recommended in the manual.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by project6

What does it say on the manual? You cannot go wrong with whatever is recommended in the manual.

Exactly.

[E90Company]

[PINeely]

I use Mobil 1 0W-40. Even though the viscosity is 40 the Mobil 1's tend to be on the thinner side and that one is BMW LL01 approved.

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by PINeely

I use Mobil 1 0W-40. Even though the viscosity is 40 the Mobil 1's tend to be on the thinner side and that one is BMW LL01 approved.

I know we don't need yet another active oil thread, but I'm not sure why you say "even though".

1/ There's nothing wrong with a 40

2/ Mobil1's aren't on the "thinner side" as a generalization unless that's what they're designed to be. Product data sheets (PDS) list viscosity for each grade in centistokes (cSt) at multiple temperatures. There is quite a range of viscosity within each "grade" (e.g. 30, 40, 50). Mobil1 5W30 is a thin 30. Mobil1 0W40 starts as a mid-range 40 but...

3/ M1 0W40 does shear a lot with normal use, and is actually a heavy 30 within a couple of thousand miles. This observation is backed by oodles of lab results (including my own). That doesn't mean it looses it's ability to protect the engine. If you run it for extended drains (like the dealer interval) it thickens back up again as it loads up with soot and other contaminants in suspension. I don't like that it shears so badly, but it doesn't seem to compromise wear protection. Sometimes you'll see people say they get better fuel economy on M1 0W40 - this shearing is one reason why.

4/ Yup, M1 0W40 is LL-01 approved and is good stuff (despite the shearing).

Here's one figure depicting how each "grade" is actually a range. There are others out there that don't have such a wide scale and it's easier to pick out the limits of each grade.

[PINeely]

Originally Posted by Surly73

I know we don't need yet another active oil thread, but I'm not sure why you say "even though".

I wasn't saying that there is something wrong with a 40, just the manual calls for a 30 so I included the "even though" to ease confusion. As you say it shears down pretty quickly anyway making little difference.

[KnoxDawg]

For the love of God....ANOTHER "which oil should I use?" thread...

[bmwm3redblack]

Has someone used shell 5w-30 extra?

[alexneil]

http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...ngineoils.aspx

Done.

[KnoxDawg]

[Tom K.]

I'm still trying to figure out why the OP thinks it's time to change the oil simply because it's a quart low.

Tom

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by bmwm3redblack

Has someone used shell 5w-30 extra?

You mean this stuff?

It's ACEA A3 which is good, but it's BMW LL-04 which is potentially bad for gasoline engines in the USA. The general consensus that I've heard is that LL-04 should *NOT* be used in gasoline engines in North America, especially DI ones. LL-04 is a "low SAPS" (low sulphated ash, phosphorous, sulphur) oil that does not stand up all that well to any kind of fuel dilution.

LL-04/Low SAPS is recommended for diesel use only in North America, but for all models in rest-of-world. The North American DI tune is different than rest of world and runs rich in comparison (notice all of your N54/N55 tail pipes are sooty?) to the rest of world to meet EPA restrictions on NOx at the expense of HC, fuel consumption, and torturing the oil. (At least this is my recollection of the high level situation).

[kfrazie1]

i use valvoline synpower 5w 30. LL01 approved too,

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I'm still trying to figure out why the OP thinks it's time to change the oil simply because it's a quart low.

Tom

Yeah, me to.