oil change - oil recommendation

[micjordan]

can somebody give me a quick oil recommendation (brand/type) for a 93 740 oil change. when i was buying the filter at the dealer the guy specifically said not to use synthetic but just to pick any regular 10w30. is this correct? i thought synthetic was the way to go.

[winfred]

all we use in bmw v8s at my shop is mobil 1 synthetic 10w40 or 10w30 at about 6k miles, you could probably use regular oil with no problems at all just change it at 3k miles


can somebody give me a quick oil recommendation (brand/type) for a 93 740 oil change. when i was buying the filter at the dealer the guy specifically said not to use synthetic but just to pick any regular 10w30. is this correct? i thought synthetic was the way to go.

[632 Regal]

or use mobil 1 0w-40 full synthetic

[jplacson]

Castrol Formula RS

[Unregistered]

can somebody give me a quick oil recommendation (brand/type) for a 93 740 oil change. when i was buying the filter at the dealer the guy specifically said not to use synthetic but just to pick any regular 10w30. is this correct? i thought synthetic was the way to go.

Guy at the dealer is wrong. Use a 0w-40 or 5w-40 synthetic at 7500 mile change intervals, with preference for Mobil 1 0w-40. If you choose to use Mineral oil, use the weight recommended in your manual, which will call for 10w-40 for temps below 50F. Most likely depending on where you live, 15w-40 would be a good year around choice for mineral oil.

Cary

[MBXB]

I just switched from dino oil to Mobil 1 0W-40. BIG Difference!! Runs smoother.

[Don Williams]

Your owners manua will tell you what viscosity to use. It depends on the temprature of your locale.

My dealer switched to synthetic oil for all models about 5 years ago. I have 130,000 miles on a M50tu and have had no problems after the switch which was abour 50000 miles ago

Don

[Unregistered]

Note: In my post above I said 10w-40 and it should have said 10w-30 mineral is for temps below 50F. The rule is follow the weight guidelines in your manual for mineral oils, and for Synthetics look for a 0w-40 or 5w-40 (or if you can find it ow-30 or 5w-30) that are ACEA A3 and/or BMW LL approved. These oils are sutable for year round use in all climates. Specific oils that meet this are Mobil 1 0w-40, BMW Synthetic, the rare German Manufactured Castrol 0w-30 (red label, says made in Germany on the back), and Valvoline 5w-40 Synpower are a few that meet these specs.

Cary

[ryan roopnarine]

every autozone i've been to has had german made 0w30 in it, i don't know its just my area, or if germany is the primary supplier of the 0w30 grade.

\\
Note: In my post above I said 10w-40 and it should have said 10w-30 mineral is for temps below 50F. The rule is follow the weight guidelines in your manual for mineral oils, and for Synthetics look for a 0w-40 or 5w-40 (or if you can find it ow-30 or 5w-30) that are ACEA A3 and/or BMW LL approved. These oils are sutable for year round use in all climates. Specific oils that meet this are Mobil 1 0w-40, BMW Synthetic, the rare German Manufactured Castrol 0w-30 (red label, says made in Germany on the back), and Valvoline 5w-40 Synpower are a few that meet these specs.

Cary

[Unregistered]

every autozone i've been to has had german made 0w30 in it, i don't know its just my area, or if germany is the primary supplier of the 0w30 grade.

\\

Autozone seems to be the most reliable supplier, but if you look on Bobistheoilguy.com you will see many people still can't find it.

Cary

[callen]

Synthetic waste of money...my "opinion". I use 20/50 conventional and cars run fine.........one with 240 k and other 140K. Just change it frequently..thats the key. I do live in south so might, maybe, thin it out during winter if I lived in colder region. Work for oil company and had the pleasure of talking to scientists that formulate oil and they told me off the record that 0 weight oils aren't good for your bearings.....I know flame me but that's what I was told.
Callen 91 535i 94 530i 5spds

[632 Regal]

different strokes for different folks, i wont flame you. the "0" weight pumps faster to the bearings and lifters on startup which saves wear, the thicker stuff takes longer to pump into the small spots but will stay on the bearings a little longer but overnight that benefit is lost.

[Warren N.CA]

Your engines should run noticeably smoother, oil pressure will come up much faster during cold starts, and you can do only half as many oil changes.




Synthetic waste of money...my "opinion". I use 20/50 conventional and cars run fine.........one with 240 k and other 140K. Just change it frequently..thats the key. I do live in south so might, maybe, thin it out during winter if I lived in colder region. Work for oil company and had the pleasure of talking to scientists that formulate oil and they told me off the record that 0 weight oils aren't good for your bearings.....I know flame me but that's what I was told.
Callen 91 535i 94 530i 5spds

[Unregistered]

You say that synthetic is waste of money but I differ. I will always use synthetic from now on. My thermostat failed and my car started to over heat. Well, I was middle of nowhere so I decided to drive that way with heater ON. Yes, not good in my part to drive in this condition. I drove it almost one hour in that condition (on the red). I brought my car in and the shop replaced the thermostat. I asked them to check if I damaged anything else since I drove for almost an hour in that condition. They found everything else was in good working condition. No damage cause by me driving this way! I had Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my engine. I don't think the mineral oil could of protected my engine like the synthetic. Oils are cheap, even synthetic. In my opinion, extra $20 dollars for synthetic is worth the added protection.



Synthetic waste of money...my "opinion". I use 20/50 conventional and cars run fine.........one with 240 k and other 140K. Just change it frequently..thats the key. I do live in south so might, maybe, thin it out during winter if I lived in colder region. Work for oil company and had the pleasure of talking to scientists that formulate oil and they told me off the record that 0 weight oils aren't good for your bearings.....I know flame me but that's what I was told.
Callen 91 535i 94 530i 5spds

[Unregistered]

The concept that a 0w-40 oil is bad for your bearings is nuts. As others have said, faster lube on startup. The issues with VI improvers causing sludge are gone with good synthetics as they use very few and high quality VI improvers. In Mobil's case they use their proprietary SuperSyn (which they sell to other blenders).

Here is the way I view it. Mineral Oil Changed every 3750 miles= $1.50 quart x 12 quarts + 2 Filters x $8 = $34. Mobil 1 changed every 7500 miles = $5.00 quart x 6 quarts + 1 Filter @ $8 = $38. Is your time and trouble worth the $4? Mine is worth far more than that.

Cary

[Dick Schneiders]

Work for oil company and had the pleasure of talking to scientists that formulate oil and they told me off the record that 0 weight oils aren't good for your bearings.....
Callen 91 535i 94 530i 5spds

They must have stayed in a Holiday Inn the night before! That is one of the strangest comments I have ever read on these forums, even if it comes from "scientists that formulate oil".

Must be *baby* oil!