what octane & oil are you all running?

[spoolinturbo]

just curious.

I just got the car and have yet to change the oil.

but i've been running 93 octane since i got the car...

[shogun]

Just stick to the instruction manual or the stickers on your car.
I use for my M70 engine regular fuel and 10W40 engine oil.

[BigKriss]

you will find most board members recommended a synthetic oil like mobil 1. 93 octane is fine. The engine does not have a knock sensor, so running a higher octane that is recommeneded, will cost you more.

I'm in Australia and run 98 RON and recently 95 RON petrol. Some say with the 98 RON down under, that it has better detergents in the fuel to keep the engine cleaner and in the literature here they also say that 98 RON will lower the fuel consumption. fuel for thought....:)

[Beez540]

Shogun is correct... check your manual.

However, from one newbie E34 owner to another... I switched over to the Mobil 1 0w40 in my 94 540i and I only run supreme fuel (92-94 octane) from either Shell or Chevron, because I just put in the E.A.T. chip. (and I'm familiar with the quality of that fuel)

My V8 really likes the Mobil 1. (but, previous owner had been running synthetic oil before I purchased car. Research switching from dino to synthetic, if that is your situation, before making changes).

my .02


-Brandon

[632 Regal]

M1 0w40
93 octane

[Russell]

I have the E.A.T. chip which requires at least 91 octane. I believe the knock sensors can take advantage of higher octane than 91.

Mobil 1 0w40 helps with the M50 cold start rattle as the lifters pump up quicker.


just curious.

I just got the car and have yet to change the oil.

but i've been running 93 octane since i got the car...

[BlackOnBlack]

Just got my 525iM in January with 140k miles. Runs great!
I'm in the San Francisco area.
I've been putting Chevron Supreme in it. No problems, as I've heard from an oil-executive friend of mine that Chevron gas/oil is the best on the market.
I have a Shell card. (no chevron card)
Just wondering if anyone has had issues with Shell, or any other fuel type for that matter. ARCO? 76? BP? Coast Oil?

Steve



just curious.

I just got the car and have yet to change the oil.

but i've been running 93 octane since i got the car...

[John B.]

If you're in the U.S. the non chipped 535 runs fine on our 89 octane. Add a chip & you'll need 91 & up. I've run the M1 5/30 for several years but plan to try the 0/40 next oil change.

[Russell]

Shell v power 93 seems fine - however, I use mostly Chevron 93. BP 93 seems fine

[crashnburn80]

I believe the manual actually says 89 octane is ok for the 535i since its relitively low compression 9:1. Use 92 if you have a chip. I usually run 92 anyway, just for the better quality of the fuel. Also, Chevron is the best fuel, they have the most advanced additives. Its where I almost always take my 535i. However, I did stop at a 76, and they had a sign above the pump, and it listed the car manufactures that specificly recomended 76 fuels, and BMW was one of them.

Its generally not recomended to switch to synthetics on higher milage cars, because the oil molecules are smaller (which is better) but old oil seals that may have been able to hold in regular oil, may not be able to contain the synthetic as well, resulting in oil leaks. I use 10w-40 high milage oil in my 535i that has 132k.

[Garlic Breath]

Everything stock.

5W30 Castrol blend
89 octane

[Kalevera]

Believe it or not, I use regular old 87 on my non chipped car. No pings, no knocks...nothing except a noisy valve.

I was a bit concerned about that when I first bought the car. The manual states that it's FINE to run 87, as did my BMW guru.

Newer 5's with more advanced engines seem to need premium fuel. That's another reason why I'm glad I got a 535.


best, whit

[spoolinturbo]

Just got my 525iM in January with 140k miles. Runs great!
I'm in the San Francisco area.
I've been putting Chevron Supreme in it. No problems, as I've heard from an oil-executive friend of mine that Chevron gas/oil is the best on the market.
I have a Shell card. (no chevron card)
Just wondering if anyone has had issues with Shell, or any other fuel type for that matter. ARCO? 76? BP? Coast Oil?

Steve

well having worked for gas stations and fuel yards, i will usually ask the gas station attendent for a print out of their gas readings which will state the water percentage in the gas, additives and so forth, i like to stay in the 5% range...

[Paul in NZ]

castrol 5 w 30 synthetic(softec LL01) and 91 RON octane....

[632 Regal]

right fellows dont use synthetic if you wear old pants when wrenching, or eat real food or listen to music or anything like that cause the world will melt around your new synthetic bottles.