What kind of oil are you using?

[liquidtiger720]

Im deciding on what oil to use next time i need a oil change (couple hundred miles). so, im asking you guys what kind of oil are you using? and why?

currently i have 10W40


- my location is san francisco, CA

[Springfield1952]

I use Mobil 1, 5w30 and live about 40 miles from you in Pleasanton.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/curtanderson/FrontSmall.jpg
Curt.
1994 530iT

[bimmerd00d]

Mobil1 15W50, Dallas Texas.

[Paul in NZ]

castrol synthetic(softec LL01) 5w 30 wellington new zealand,cooler climate than you,because of superior performance i change at intervals as dictated by service lights,if i used dino i would change at half that.

[zmuff]

Mobil 1 0W-40 European formula goes in my M30 powered e34. It has 161,000 miles on it now.

[andyman32]

Mobil 1 0W-40. Might change up to Castrol Syntec 5W-50.

[ryan roopnarine]

i'm using the official motor oil of jesus, german castrol syntec 0w30 until 6500 miles is up. i'll send it away to be analyzed at that point, if its ok for this motor, i'll keep using it, if not, i'll go back to using mobil 1 0w40. neat thing, though, the german castrol has completely halted whatever miniscule amount of oil this car used previously, no decrease in 3k miles now.

[632 Regal]

Mobil 1 0W-40

[infinity5]

Nice rims :)

[Sweetwater]

20-50W.

Winter: Synth or Synth blend - 10-40W.

Car came from San Fran and is a bit bitchy when it starts getting colder up here in Utah. I would consider a 0 weight, but I've read that the best multiweight spread that maximizes oil life and minimizes break down is either 10-40 or 20-50. Somehow increasing the viscocity spread is not optimal....?

I'm watching for an expert to check in and give us the lowdown.

[cary]

Go back about 1 week in the posts and you will find a full explanation of why the issue of using widespread weight oils is no longer a problem with modern synthetics. With older mineral oils and very cheap current mineral oils (I'm talking non API SL oils) there were problems with the poor quality vi improvers and pour point depressants breaking down and causing sludge. Current VI improvers are much better, and synthetic oils by their nature are multiweight so they require few or no pour point depressants and VI improvers. The ones they do use tend to be high quality ones and not have breakdown problems.

[DueyT]

Mobil1 0W40, with Redline MT90 in the 6-shooter...

[liquidtiger720]

wow. whole ton of different responses...i guess due to location.
i guess ill just use 10w40.

would it be okay to switch over to synthetic at this late of a date? (130k).


thank you for all of your responses. and HI to that guy that is near me.

[632 Regal]

i would recommend the mobil1 0w-40, you will notice the engine is quieter as soon as you start it. The thinner "0" wt will flow throught your engine a lot faster than "10" wt, especially dino oil.

[chamilun]

i just put in half mobil1 5-30, and half 0-40 (european formula..)

noticed an instant difference in startup and running smoothness.

previous owner had castrol gtx 10-30 in there. not sure if synthetic

[632 Regal]

last year ... something about them being different weights and seperating when sitting or something like that complete with links to pages and pages of info regarding how stupid i was for thinking you could do that.

I dont mix anymore.

[chamilun]

another of the ridiculous and stupid myths out there. where are the 1st person facts to ever back up things like this.

many people used to add 20-50 oil to decrease oil loss in certain cars.

mix oil of different weights and allow to settle and guess what? there is no settling! its oil

to quote the oil faq:
Spectro used to blend oils for BMW in USA, so there's a decent chance that you MIGHT have 3-of-a-kind there. Good news is that the BASESTOCKS should all be compatible. You may use it with no problem (but don't blame me....)


last year ... something about them being different weights and seperating when sitting or something like that complete with links to pages and pages of info regarding how stupid i was for thinking you could do that.

I dont mix anymore.

[cary]

There is no problem with mixing different oils. The question is why would you mix M1 5w-30 and 0w-40? There is no point, unless you are trying to use up some leftover 5w-30.

Cary

[ryan roopnarine]

last year ... something about them being different weights and seperating when sitting or something like that complete with links to pages and pages of info regarding how stupid i was for thinking you could do that.

I dont mix anymore.


who chewed you out? what proportion/weight were you mixing? some people at bobisthe...... mixed some mobil 1 weights and sent them away to be analyzed, maybe there's something on the site close to the proportions you were mixing in (and we can see what it actually turns out like).

[632 Regal]

I dont feel like searching for that post but it was in the spring of this year I think.