Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-15-2020, 03:57 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 93
stevekat is on a distinguished road
Conventional Oil for one change cycle

I had planned to have the oil changed in my 2003 e53 3.0L. I had ordered some Rotella T6, but it did not arrive on time.

Because I had the time reserved I decided to let Jiffy Lube do this one, and brought along my factory filter. I figured I'd put in some conventional for a cycle and had forgotten that BMW specifies synthetic although I usually use it.

When I got there they recommended synthetic, and when they gave me the cost and I declined, they said I could go synthetic blend. I was actually thinking about doing the blend (with my coupon!) until I found out it was 0-20w. Wasn't going to do that. If I was going to get synthetic, it would be the Rotella T6. I pulled out the manual and the spec was 5-40w or 5-30w. So I said just put the conventional Pennzoil in after confirming it was 5-40w or 10-40w. It was over 100 degrees outside. Now I see from the receipt he may have put in 5-30w.

Part of my rationale for the conventional is the oil was more contaminated before the change than I prefer, so I figured I'd keep it in for a shorter duration, treat it as a flush and get the Rotella T6 on the next go round.

What I did not notice when I looked in the manual for the oil grade is that it calls for synthetic. I did not remember that, or perhaps never knew it, but fortunately was using the synthetic T6 as a matter of course. I really don't like that BMW doesn't have set of a specifications pages at the back of the manual that has everything listed in a table (unless I missed it.) I overlooked this synthetic oil disclosure in the long text of the page about oil, near page 142.

In any case, the Pennzoil 5-30w conventional is in there. Thoughts about running it for 2000 - 3000 miles? Or do the change out sooner?

Is the 5-30w OK here in SoCal?

Also, is there a way to drain the oil cooler when the synthetic goes back in, or is it not really an issue? The vehicle has about 105,000 miles.

Thanks.
__________________
2003 X5 Sport w/Premium Package M54 3.0L 6cyl

Last edited by stevekat; 08-15-2020 at 04:04 PM.
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 08-15-2020, 11:06 AM
dkl's Avatar
dkl dkl is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 2,949
dkl is on a distinguished road
Conventional is fine if you just short cycle it (~3k miles). BMW only specified fully synthetic for it's long change cycles. Just make sure they put in the correct amount is what I would worry more.
__________________
2004 X5 3.0i
Born 02/04
Delivered 03/04
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-15-2020, 11:08 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,609
cn90 is on a distinguished road
Conventional is fine. Car came from factory with conventional.

My thoughts...
- Conventional: 3K-4K.
- Synthetic: 5K-7K.
__________________
1998 E39 528i 5sp MT
2006 E53 X5 3.0 6sp MT
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-15-2020, 11:21 AM
dkl's Avatar
dkl dkl is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern Cal
Posts: 2,949
dkl is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by cn90 View Post
Conventional is fine. Car came from factory with conventional.

My thoughts...
- Conventional: 3K-4K.
- Synthetic: 5K-7K.

Car came from the factory with full synthetic.
__________________
2004 X5 3.0i
Born 02/04
Delivered 03/04
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-15-2020, 12:56 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 93
stevekat is on a distinguished road
Thanks for the feedback. Good to have confirmation that keeping it in for a shorter cycle of 2000 - 3000 miles should be OK.
__________________
2003 X5 Sport w/Premium Package M54 3.0L 6cyl
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-15-2020, 03:49 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,817
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
I can see no reason to do it. Full synthetic oil can be had for $24/5 qt.

I don't think any harm would come from using for 2-3000 miles but what's the purpose?
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-15-2020, 04:02 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 93
stevekat is on a distinguished road
It was situational. Do not intend to repeat. And had not done before.

Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
I can see no reason to do it. Full synthetic oil can be had for $24/5 qt.

I don't think any harm would come from using for 2-3000 miles but what's the purpose?
__________________
2003 X5 Sport w/Premium Package M54 3.0L 6cyl
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-15-2020, 04:07 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,817
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
If I was out in the woods with a fresh supply of clean conventional oil inwoidk be ok with putting in but if I had a way to get proper oil I would not.

I had a car once with 60,000 miles that grew up on Dino oil and I switched to blend that engine was so clean that I drove about 60 miles after an oil change and checked the level. The oil was clear and yellow. I've been party to dozens of oil changes and the oil is usually Brown in less than a minute so I was blown away. Chevy Beretta V6 I believe that must have been a unicorn of a motor.

Anyhow until the Dino oil breaks down it should do a proper job of lubrication as long as 5W30 (or whatever is on your fill cap)
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-15-2020, 07:33 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 1,609
cn90 is on a distinguished road
This guy "netjazz" posted this message in 2004 (16 yrs ago) for his 1997 528i E39.
Almost 300K miles on the M52 engine, and guess what it was all conventional oil.

So don't worry about all this conventional vs synthetic...

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81753
__________________
1998 E39 528i 5sp MT
2006 E53 X5 3.0 6sp MT
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-15-2020, 09:09 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 93
stevekat is on a distinguished road
Good to know.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cn90 View Post
This guy "netjazz" posted this message in 2004 (16 yrs ago) for his 1997 528i E39.
Almost 300K miles on the M52 engine, and guess what it was all conventional oil.

So don't worry about all this conventional vs synthetic...
__________________
2003 X5 Sport w/Premium Package M54 3.0L 6cyl

Last edited by stevekat; 08-16-2020 at 12:00 AM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:04 PM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.