Another confusing oil thread: Mobil Super Syn Euro vs M1 EP HM?

[cn90]

For me, it is very simple...

1. Filter is Mahle, about $5-$6 at FCPEuro.
Buy bulks to save money.

2. I drive 50-50 city-hwy and replace oil every 5K or so.
I live in a climate with winter down to -20C.

3. Oil. Keep it cheap and simple.
- Valvoline synthetic 5W30 5qt jug is $23 at Walmart.
- If you want to be a bit fancy, then NAPA carries Liqui Moly synthetic 5W40 for $37.
Every 2nd Saturday of the month, NAPA has sales ranging from 20% ---> 30%.
If you come into the store before 9AM on the 2nd Saturday, then 30% off, so the Liqui Moly thing is about $26-$27 or so.


No need to overthink this oil debate thingy...

[Happy]

I had the same tapping issue as well. I used STP Oil Treatment every oil change until it stopped. I figured if it worked for the Corvette guys what could it hurt. My tapping was pretty bad, nonexistent now.

Like bcredliner said, you got be on those oil changes.

[Attacking Mid]

Originally Posted by Happy

The highways here in Texas have limits at 80 mph. When E53 manual owners are at those speeds rpms are at 4000 and above.

When you say “normally” driven, I am assuming you are describing conditions that I would find myself in driving from one town to another.

With the conditions described above, and the fact that my engine has 96,000 miles, I believe the prescribed oil should be 5-40w.

I was more curious regarding your comment about the rod bearing fiasco. I've not come across any such issue.

FWIW, I drove my e46 with M52TU (essentially the same as M54) and 5MT over 250K miles and it still didn't consume significant oil between 7500 mi changes of mainly M1 0W-40. Hence, I wouldn't consider your engine to be high mileage. That said, in a warmer climate like Houston, there is no need for 0W oil, so I wouldn't disagree with your choice of 5W-40.

Here in CO, I don't see a lot of really hot weather and DO have a fair amount of cold (though rarely below zero), so I feel 0W-40 is perfectly adequate.

AM.

[Happy]

Ahh yes, the fiasco. Haha, I think it was a few things things.

This E53 is my first BMW, so I was following their service protocol.

The 5-30w probably was not that much of an issue when she was new. The oil service and not warming her up is what did them in.

Now the oil is changed every 6 months and achieving a oil temp of 160F before taking her out.

Thank goodness there was no other wear. It’s very important to stay on top of your oil service. The one good thing that came out of it is my oil pump nut is wired now, so I don’t have to lose sleep over that anymore.

Lesson learned.

[LVR]

I recently made the mistake of topping up with a non LL01 oil which was a Penrite 5W 40. Coincidentally immediately got smoke on extended idle....

Have put a new filter and Castrol Edge 5W 30 LL01 as recommended by my indy in and all good so far....

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Happy

bc, in your opinion if mileage was only 2000-3500 per year, how often would you suggest changing out the oil and filter per year?

As long as some of those trips are long enough that the engine is running at normal oil operating temperature for about 30 minutes, I would change it every two years.

[e39_touring]

Does anyone know if the mobil1 and/or Castrol lost the BMW ll01 certification due to an actual formulation change, or did they just stop paying bmw to license it? I still use m1 0w40 euro blend because I thought it was the latter.

[oldskewel]

I forget details, but Mobil1 definitely did change the 0w-40 European formulation a couple of years ago. If you've got a stockpile in the garage, it is marked on the jugs somehow, so you can tell if you've got new vs. old.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

As long as some of those trips are long enough that the engine is running at normal oil operating temperature for about 30 minutes, I would change it every two years.

Previously I would get the oil to temp for 30 or more minutes. Where I was lacking was getting the oil to temp during warm up.

I never hit 15000 miles on the oil. The most 6000, but I was changing it every 12 to 15 months.

The rod bearings were barely to the copper, and only on two of them. The oil analysis picked a minimal copper reading, there was no need to even polish the crank. Everything in the top end was pristine.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by oldskewel

I forget details, but Mobil1 definitely did change the 0w-40 European formulation a couple of years ago. If you've got a stockpile in the garage, it is marked on the jugs somehow, so you can tell if you've got new vs. old.

I’ve got a few jugs of old stock Castrol.




It’s hard to see but it says, BMW Long Life 01.