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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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Please help on choosing engine oil
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02-23-2006, 02:06 PM | #1 |
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Please help on choosing engine oil
I am about to do an oil change on my new bro.
Can anybody please help me pick the right oil? User manual said 5w-30 or 5w-40. People said Mobil 1 0w-40 or Castrol 0w-40. Were those 0Ws equivalent to 5Ws? Which one should I pick? I appreciate it.
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02-23-2006, 03:22 PM | #2 |
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If the dealership in your area offers a good price use BMW branded oil. I would probably use Mobil 1 for no other reason than I've used it in the past.
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02-23-2006, 06:02 PM | #3 |
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Mobil 1 if you can't get BMW oil. Also you hit 15k miles already??
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02-23-2006, 06:12 PM | #4 | |
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Quote:
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02-23-2006, 07:58 PM | #6 |
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I would use Mobil 1 5w-30
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02-23-2006, 08:17 PM | #7 |
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I appreciate your quick reply.
From what I checked from mobiloil.com, 5w-30 was not approved by BMW. 0w-40 was approved instead. This really has been confusing me. http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub...il_1_0W-40.asp http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...bil1_5W-30.asp This was Castrol's reply regarding my on-line query. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Castrol always recommends following the guidelines of your manufacturer regarding what oil to use in your vehicle. BMW has not yet provided us with their recommendations for their 2006 models. Please refer to your owner's manual for this data. Thank you for contacting Castrol, The Technology Leader! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I again thank you for help.
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02-24-2006, 12:29 AM | #10 | |
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BMW uses a Castrol synthetic oil but the formulation is not available in the US but in Europe. Hence Castrol USA doesn't yet have an oil approved by BMW.
There is a raging debate as to whether Castrol USA branded synthetic oil is a "TRUE" synthetic oil. Castrol USA oil does not use man-made molecules but refined crude oil molecules (just like regular oils) as their base stock. Other companies such as Mobil, Texaco, Chevron, Amsoil, etc. all use man-made molecules as their base stock in their synthetic oil. Hence there is no dispute for these companies. However, Castrol in some sense is not a "synthetic" since the base stock is not man-made. Of course this is a matter of sematics, and Castrol USA claims their oil is "synthetic" since it's processed. You decide. However, I have no idea if the European Castrol oil (the one BMW uses) is based on man-made base stock or not. Here's a reprint of an old article in Car and Driver: Quote:
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02-24-2006, 12:00 PM | #11 |
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Either get the BMW 5W-30 from your dealer or use the 0W-40 Mobil 1
The 0W-40 Mobil 1 is also BMW LL01 approved, which is required for the E90
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03-10-2006, 05:25 AM | #12 |
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oil
Definately confusing trying to choose an oil for a BMW. Yes BMW oil is the European version of a 5w30. It is actually formulated to be a little bit heavier when your car is running warm. You can actually feel the difference if you get a quart of BMW oil and a quart of Mobil oil of the same wieght and you can "feel" that the BMW oil is a little thicker than Mobils. Unfortunatly BMW manual does say that Mobil 5w30 is approved, so I'm safe to assume that it really doesn't matter anymore. BTW I use Castrol 5W40 oil which does have the certs.
You can find more topics from www.bobistheoilguy.com/ |
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03-10-2006, 10:31 AM | #13 |
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Occasionally, Auto Zone carries a Castrol Syntec 0w-30 oil that IS LL01 approved. (In college I worked part time at an Autozone). When I was there last week, I saw it again on the shelves. It says something like "European Car Formula" and if you read the bottle it does say Made in Germany instead of Made in US.
Here's a link: http://www.castrol.com/castrol/gener...tentId=6006933 I'm not sure why it's hit-and-miss but sometimes they do carry it. |
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