Best oil to use in my 4.6is
 

Ive just checked my oil and its just over the minimum mark , what oil is best recommended for me to top it up , Im in the U.K

Have a look in your manual. Essentially any high quality synthetic is a good starting point. Mobil 1 and Castrol are recommended. For viscosity, I would start at 5-30 unless the 4.6 has a different recommendation. There will be an API spec such as SH, SL, or SM in the manual and on the oil container. Higher letters meet the earlier quality standard. Finally, there is most likely an ACEA A3 spec in your manual and that is an indicator to check for on the oil in addition to the other two indicators.

Now you've gone and started an oil debate again, and we are going to get into the Amsoil vs Redline vs All The Rest; whether Castrol is really synthetic, and whether LL01 specs are important. :rofl:

cheers mate the reason I ask is because the previous owner lost the manual , ive ordered a new one that should be here some time next week. I dont want to drive around in the car with the oil low and planned on buying a litre bottle tomorrow once I knew which oil was best for my car.

I use the Mobil 1 0w-40 in my 4.4i since it is the only Mobil 1 that meets the BMW spec. I also ran the BMW synthetic and it seemed to do well, but ironically the Mobil 1 runs about the same price, so I figured why not then it's easier to pick up etc.

I would like to try Castrol Syntec, but I can't find the weight that is certified to meet the BMW spec.

No problem. If you check the x5world home page you will find on-line copies (PDF) of all years of the X5 manuals.

Cheers

Jeff

Yup, here we go :rofl:

My earlier BMWs had specs for LL98, LL01, and so on. My latest vehicles' manuals do not make any mention of the BMW LL (long life) spec. I think it is because BMW has given up trying to create a custom spec that the oil companies largely ignored due to its irrelevance. Bottles of oil would not list the BMW spec, and people interpreted that as it being a lower quality oil when in fact it had more to do with the oil companies not wanting to pay the money to meet every engine manufacturer's private specification. I would care about the API (SH, SL, or SM) spec, and the oils available today likely all meet specs that are tougher than what existed when your vehicle was built.

Essentially, IMO, any good modern synthetic that meets the API and ACEA standards, in a reasonable viscosity, is a pretty good bet.

Thanks , what an excellent forum this is.

We like to think so. Welcome! :thumbup:

I use 0w-40 to top up. This is seriously expensive oil, 500ml in my local garage is £12.99, £14.99 in halfords!!! 1/2 pint, very very expensive.

Mobil1, euro spec, 0W-40 is $4-$5 US bucks a qt at WalMart here
in the Colonies...

You must be paying for the Queen and stuff. ;)