Type of oil to use?
- Thread starter CASDM9901
- Start date
carcus said:
I use Mobil 1 0W-40 and Castrol 10W-30 for the dino oil side. Hope this helps. Mobil 1 0W-40 is good synth for Euro cars. Used it in my ML320....not that it helped...the truck was possessed by the devil.![[:(!]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_angry.gif "Angry [:(!]")
I think the recommended standard is 5w-30 and you should use synthetic in your Bimmer. As for the brand of oil, we have all concluded that it doesn't really matter what brand of oil as long as you change it accordingly.
ODDferkOUT, we have a ML500 (I am actually using it this week as my car is still being repaired) and it is a great SUV, I would recommend it to anyone.
ODDferkOUT, we have a ML500 (I am actually using it this week as my car is still being repaired) and it is a great SUV, I would recommend it to anyone.
we all had a heated discussion about this several months ago..so here we go again...i would NOT put synthetic oil in your car if you have already been using regular motor oil. switching to synthetic will only cause more damage to your engine!!!! if you don't believe me just ask your friendly bmw dealership. i recommend staying with what your car has been maintained on in the past. just make sure that you change regular motor oil every 3k miles and you should be ok. if you insist on using synthetic you can fill up with regular motor oil and add 1 quart of synthetic.
I have read reports similar to the one that big daddy posted (the definition of synthetic changed in 1997), but was unaware of problems caused by switching from conventional to synthetic oil. It was my dealer that recommended the change. I'd like to read more about the problems, can you post links if know of any?
Check out the Mobil 1 web page for their answers. You can choose to believe them or think they are snake oil salesmen. ![[:D]](/images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin [:D]")
I think I'll just lurk this thread from here on....let the debate begin!
http://www.mobil1.com/index.jsp
Select Why Synthetics? -> Myths About Synthetics and FAQs
I think I'll just lurk this thread from here on....let the debate begin!http://www.mobil1.com/index.jsp
Select Why Synthetics? -> Myths About Synthetics and FAQs
If the car has been running synthetic since it was new then this is a no-brainer, stick with BMW synthetic available at the dealership if you change it yourself (it is about the same price as Mobil1 and most of the others) or if you bring it to someone (other than BMW) insist on a good quality synthetic.
If the car has been running dino, my experience is that switching to synthetic is good for the engine But beware of some consequences if the car has excessive miles (>100K??) and has been running dino for a long time.
If it has been running dino, the synth will clean out all the sludge and gunk from your engine parts left by the dino. That is why in older engines switching to synth can sometimes cause oil leaks around seals and gaskets. As the gunk is cleaned out, sometimes that gunk is plugging some potential leak points. Cleaning it out causes leaks. If this happens you should then just have the faulty seals replaced anyway, at least you'll know exactly where the leaks are.
Then running the synth will be just like as if you had been running it all along and you will get all the benefits of synthetic.
One more thing, it takes around 2 synth oil changes to flush all the gunk out of a gunked up motor.
Hope this helps.
If the car has been running dino, my experience is that switching to synthetic is good for the engine But beware of some consequences if the car has excessive miles (>100K??) and has been running dino for a long time.
If it has been running dino, the synth will clean out all the sludge and gunk from your engine parts left by the dino. That is why in older engines switching to synth can sometimes cause oil leaks around seals and gaskets. As the gunk is cleaned out, sometimes that gunk is plugging some potential leak points. Cleaning it out causes leaks. If this happens you should then just have the faulty seals replaced anyway, at least you'll know exactly where the leaks are.
Then running the synth will be just like as if you had been running it all along and you will get all the benefits of synthetic.
One more thing, it takes around 2 synth oil changes to flush all the gunk out of a gunked up motor.
Hope this helps.
Fact of the matter is if you change it every 3K as a safe point.....synth, dino...all is good. Some people buy Mobil 1 and run it for 10K in the engine.....should be changed sooner. A good rule of thumb......change every 3K...if you can afford Mobil 1, Redline, Royal Purple.....go for it. With high mile engines, synthetic oil tends to seep through the seals. I experienced this on my Grand Cherokee with 76K miles on it, switched back to dino oil and all was OK. Regardless of what oil you run, different viscosities for different climates.....change the sucker at 3K and all is well. Walmart sells Mobil 1 0W-40 synthetic pretty cheap by the way.![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]")
Right now I am running Castrol dino oil and it is all good. Might go back to Mobil 1 when I get a chance. Depends on my mood and poket book.![[;)]](/images/smilies/wink.png "Wink [;)]")
Just my 2 cents.
Right now I am running Castrol dino oil and it is all good. Might go back to Mobil 1 when I get a chance. Depends on my mood and poket book.
Just my 2 cents.