What oil?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

What you used was probably Mobil's older blend of 0W40 (SM or SL). I believe the "noise" associated with Mobil's Euro oil has supposedly been alleviated with their latest SN certified blend. Either way, GC and M1 are both great oils to use.

Yes, probably was, since that was almost four years ago(!) that I was using it. I am quite happy to keep using my German Castrol.

I use M1 0w40 in my e39 and I think its rated SL. Could be the PX on base is selling the old oil still. ?

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Yes, probably was, since that was almost four years ago(!) that I was using it. I am quite happy to keep using my German Castrol.

I use M1 0w40 in my e39 and I think its rated SL. Could be the PX on base is selling the old oil still. ?

Maybe, or it could be old packaging. I was just at AA, and all of the M1 0W40 on the shelves was SN rated (shows approval as SN, SM, SL). I doubt they would be making all of the versions at the same time.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Rukuss

Iron Man, I will check Pep an Autozone, thanks for the quick reply

No problem. Both of those stores run oil change specials on GC periodically, so you just need to check their flyers every so often and stock up when they have the deals.

[Zombie1]

I still can't make up my Mind on what oil to get. This is a lot harder of a choice then I thought! I change my oil every 3k( I know not required but I do my own oil changes for the most part so it's minimal cost) just cause I have OCD. Let me know about what your guys opinions are when you make a jump to a new oil it be much appreciated.

[ayao]

Originally Posted by Zombie1

I still can't make up my Mind on what oil to get. This is a lot harder of a choice then I thought! I change my oil every 3k( I know not required but I do my own oil changes for the most part so it's minimal cost) just cause I have OCD. Let me know about what your guys opinions are when you make a jump to a new oil it be much appreciated.

To be honest with 3k OCIs any oil will be fine. I've run BMW 5w-30 synth over 5k miles with several track days on the oil and the OCI came back with many miles left on longevity. I've run M1 0W-40 over the same interval and it generally looked ok too. That being said I think German castrol is the so-called gold standard and that's what I'm currently running.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Zombie1

I still can't make up my Mind on what oil to get. This is a lot harder of a choice then I thought! I change my oil every 3k( I know not required but I do my own oil changes for the most part so it's minimal cost) just cause I have OCD. Let me know about what your guys opinions are when you make a jump to a new oil it be much appreciated.

If you only run 3K OCI's, then buy whatever is the cheapest LL-01 oil you can find. You really should run at least 5K between changes, 3K is way too short for a modern car.

[owen2001]

Random question. I purchased the BMW Genuine Oil SAE 5W-30 synthetic from ECS and was expecting to see "LL-01" somewhere on the back of the bottle. While this is the correct, recommended engine oil for my car, all it states on the label is "ACEA A3/B3".

Is this A3/B3 designation basically the same as LL-01? I'm just confused as to why the OEM BMW bottle doesn't specifically state that it's LL-01. Hope that makes sense. TIA!

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by owen2001

Random question. I purchased the BMW Genuine Oil SAE 5W-30 synthetic from ECS and was expecting to see "LL-01" somewhere on the back of the bottle. While this is the correct, recommended engine oil for my car, all it states on the label is "ACEA A3/B3".

Is this A3/B3 designation basically the same as LL-01? I'm just confused as to why the OEM BMW bottle doesn't specifically state that it's LL-01. Hope that makes sense. TIA!

Yes. BMW's own oil is approved to use by BMW as an LL-01 oil.

[Spoolin Montego]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Same here. Can get it from Amazon for around $130/20L.

That's stupid expensive. I pay $60 total my all my oil and filter for my oil changes.

Been using Mobile 5w-30 since 28k, at 79k now.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Spoolin Montego

That's stupid expensive. I pay $60 total my all my oil and filter for my oil changes.

Been using Mobile 5w-30 since 28k, at 79k now.

????

That works out to $6.50/L, which is $42.25 per oil change, plus $9.00 for the filter.

And I would rather use a full synthetic.

[Spoolin Montego]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

????

That works out to $6.50/L, which is $42.25 per oil change, plus $9.00 for the filter.

And I would rather use a full synthetic.

Ah my bad I didn't do the conversion correctly lol...Mobile 1 is full synthetic though.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Spoolin Montego

Ah my bad I didn't do the conversion correctly lol...Mobile 1 is full synthetic though.

Which Mobil 1? Most are not anymore.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Spoolin Montego

Ah my bad I didn't do the conversion correctly lol...Mobile 1 is full synthetic though.

Mobil 1 5W-30 is not an LL-01 approved oil. I would recommend switching to 0W-40, which is only $5/quart (or less) at Walmart.

[Spoolin Montego]

Pretty sure its full synthetic....


is 0w40 thicker? I'll try that next time.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Spoolin Montego

Pretty sure its full synthetic....


is 0w40 thicker? I'll try that next time.

Full synthetic is not the point. Your BMW requires LL-01 approved synthetic oil. The LL-01 requirements are very stringent and way beyond standard US oil requirements (API SN, SM, SL etc.). LL-01 has a minimum HTHS value of 3.5, minimum TBN value, etc. The Mobil 1 5W-30 you are using does not meet the HTHS requirements as specified by the LL-01 approval (3.1 vs 3.5 min) for one thing. Not all synthetic oils are created equal.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Spoolin Montego

Pretty sure its full synthetic....

I should also add, that US law does not require oils that are marketed as full synthetic to actually be fully synthetic oils (Group IV/V base), but they can use Group III oils in their synthetic blends. This was based on a lawsuit between Mobil 1 and Castrol (which Mobil 1 lost, thereby opening the door for Grp III oils to be used in synthetic oils marketed to the public in the US).

Of course Group III oils are pretty high quality now, so really the quality of a synthetic oil should be determined by its tech sheet (HTHS, NOACK, pour point, VI, etc.) and OEM approvals (LL-01, Dexos, MB 229, etc.) and UOA in your car.

Mobil 1 0W-40 is probably THE BEST oil they make, and it has Group III in it...

[JimD]

0-40 means it is like 0 weight oil at low temperatures and 40 weight oil at high temperatures.

5W 30 means like 5W at low temperatures and 30W at high temperatures.

If you use 5W 30 where 0-40W is recommended you use an oil that is thicker at low temperatures which means it takes longer to establish lubrication on a cold start and thinner when the car is fully warmed up. Neither difference is a good thing.

[Iron Man]

For some reading up on motor oils:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/

[MightyMouseTech]

Mobil1 0W40 is LL01 approved, and is their only oil that is.

http://www.mobil.ca/Canada-English-L...l-1_0w40.aspx#

[PA135i]

Reviving this thread because my indy shop told me they use Motul oil when doing fluid changes. I then started researching the brand and it seems to be a top oil.

I'm just afraid that changing from the BMW approved oil I have been using for 91K miles will adversely effect the car. I had heard years ago that changing brands can sometimes cause gasket leaks,,.. etc. maybe I'm being paranoid.

But, this shop can't say enough about Motul being a very good oil. It has some anti-friction properties "ester" that can slightly increase HP and add to the longevity of the engine. Is my engine too broken in to use this high tech oil? any thoughts?

[Zombie1]

Originally Posted by PA135i

Reviving this thread because my indy shop told me they use Motul oil when doing fluid changes. I then started researching the brand and it seems to be a top oil.

I'm just afraid that changing from the BMW approved oil I have been using for 91K miles will adversely effect the car. I had heard years ago that changing brands can sometimes cause gasket leaks,,.. etc. maybe I'm being paranoid.

But, this shop can't say enough about Motul being a very good oil. It has some anti-friction properties "ester" that can slightly increase HP and add to the longevity of the engine. Is my engine too broken in to use this high tech oil? any thoughts?

Plenty of members use Motul without issue. As long as the oil is LL-01 approved your alright. I change mine every 5k so I just stick to BMWs oil, since others have stated the oil has plenty of life left at only 5k of use.

[PA135i]

Thanks Zombie for the info.

I change my oil every 6,000 miles. Would using Motul be overkill or doesn't it matter as long as it has the proper rating.