Oil question - quick replies please!

[AntonV]

So, I drove up to marthas vineyard yesterday with my gf for her birthday. My oil meter is getting to the point where it's gonna tell me to add a quart of oil. I can't catch a ferry in time to get to Inskip BMW during business hours.

I don't want to drive back to NY, down a quart of oil. I called them and the parts guy said to go to any auto store and buy castrol 5w30. Does this sound right?

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[KingOfJericho]

Down a quart should not be harmful to your engine.

[DBFIU]

Youll be fine dude. Just drive, I drove low a quart for a few weeks and I didnt know. Nothing is gonna happen.

[shodanusmc]

One down, no big deal, but you can throw in any Synthetic 5-30. Mobil 1.

[Tom K.]

Castrol 5w30 is fine - as long as it's synthetic.

Tom

[JimD]

The Castrol 0-30W that is on BMW's approved list is the European formula. Might be difficult to find. Mobil 1 0-40W is more common around here and also on the approved list.

I would just drive it until I could get another quart of BMW oil. I don't like to mix brands. It probably would not hurt anything and if I had to drive a long ways I would do it but for the few miles you are talking about, I would just let it be a little low until I could get a quart of BMW oil.

Jim

[MadMan77]

It should be fine just like everyone else has said. This is why I keep a spare quart in the trunk.

[Peakrunner]

Look at it this way, if you're down a quart your not going to harm anything. You have 2 GALLONS of oil in this pig.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Peakrunner

Look at it this way, if you're down a quart your not going to harm anything. You still have 2 GALLONS of oil in this pig.

I am guessing math class wasn't your forte!

One US Gallon = 4 Quarts

7 quarts = 1.75 Gallons

one quart down; 6qts = 1.5 gallons



yea... I agree, running one quart low isn't goona harm anything. So long you don't try and 1G plus corning moves or hard acell/decell.

bye

[AntonV]

Thanks for all of the help everyone. I decided to just drive. The indicator never even came on, lol. This will be the 3rd quart i'm adding to the car. About to hit 7000 miles.

I was surprised how the cat was for a toad trip. The seats remained comfortable, even after 4+ hours of driving. I had the valentine 1 hooked up, so I was driving a steady 85-90. Averaged 23.5 mpg.

Everyone on Marthas Vineyard was complementing the 1er. Not too shabby!

[Peakrunner]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I am guessing math class wasn't your forte!

One US Gallon = 4 Quarts

7 quarts = 1.75 Gallons

one quart down; 6qts = 1.5 gallons



yea... I agree, running one quart low isn't goona harm anything. So long you don't try and 1G plus corning moves or hard acell/decell.

bye

The system holds a total of 8 quarts! Which is 2 gallons, no? The oil cooler holds a qt by itself. Addition oil in the plumbing as well.

Point being if you're down a qt the engine will not detonate or go into limp mode. You should be just fine.

[Dackelone]

The system holds a total of 8 quarts! Which is 2 gallons, no? The oil cooler holds a qt by itself. Addition oil in the plumbing as well.

Point being if you're down a qt the engine will not detonate or go into limp mode. You should be just fine.
.........

Yea... I really wasn't even thinking about the oil cooler and oil lines - and how much oil is in there! lol yea... you are right sir. Damm, I wish we had a nice repair manual or spec sheet for our cars.

bye

[JimD]

If you get an oil change kit from a dealer for a 135 or 128 it will have 7 quarts of oil in it. I guess you could assume not all the oil drains out but I don't see the basis for an assumption there is another quart in there somewhere. It seems a lot more logical to assume the capacity is about 7 quarts.

Jim

[Dackelone]

I can see another quart of oil being in those lines and oil cooler.

I am use to Porsche's I guess. In an old air cooled 911 (3.0L to 3.6L) you'd drain the oil out of the engine and you'd get 10.5 quarts. But the system holds 13 quarts. More IF you added an extra cooler or trombone oil cooler line. So... "Peakrunner" was correct - I think.

bye,
David

[rsjean]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I can see another quart of oil being in those lines and oil cooler.

I am use to Porsche's I guess. In an old air cooled 911 (3.0L to 3.6L) you'd drain the oil out of the engine and you'd get 10.5 quarts. But the system holds 13 quarts. More IF you added an extra cooler or trombone oil cooler line. So... "Peakrunner" was correct - I think.

bye,
David

US Spec 911 Manual

As with all previous 911 series engines, the M64 and M30 engines are dry-sumped. The oil is stored externally in an oil tank, located forward of the right rear wheel in the wheel arch. When the engine is shut down, the oil is returned to the external tank. Only a small residue (approximately 2 litres) of oil remains inside the engine. This is important to remember at oil change time.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Engine oil capacity
Oil and filter change 9 litres (9.5 US qt)

Complete refill 11.5 litres (12.5 US qt)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Ash83]

You will be fine..