Oil Change Question - Please Help!!
 

Is it alright to use the Castrol Syntec 5W30 motor oil in my 2006 X5 when having the oil changed??

I was told by a local mechanic that this would be o.k.

I have read that BMW Synthetic Motor Oil is made for BMW by Castrol. It is very similar to Syntec, but it has a unique additive package specified by BMW for BMW's.

Just checking to get some input and/or advice.

Thanks!!

Yes, you can use Syntec 5w-30. Make sure it is not Syntec Blend, but rather just Syntec. It should be rated API SM. It will be fine.

BMW's oil is not Syntec, but it is a Castrol product that is quite similar.

If you want, you can just go to the dealer and buy it, and provide it to your mechanic. I found that the dealer sold BMW 5w-30 as cheaply as my local autoparts stores sold Syntec.

5w40 synthetic much better any brand really since it'll be "european car" spec anyway...

I don't agree that it is much better, since the OP lives in a winter climate, and it is currently winter in the northern hemisphere. Why would he need to go to a 5w-40?

There are also lots of 5W-40 oils that are not 'european car' spec; that oil is used in a lot of diesel trucks.

IMO, the downside to using a wider range oil is that they don't tend to stay within their published viscosity specs as long as a narrower range oil does.

I just used Castrol Edge Sport 10-60 synthetic. It will be ok even in the winter I guess right?

As long as you have an M3 or an M5, it will be fine. It is not fine to use in your X5.

I'd stick with BMW 5-30 oil..

I use Mobil 1 0W-40 Synthetic since the winters in Upstate NY get cold. It's 5 degrees outside right now in Ithaca.

5 Farenheit is equal to -15C.

Mobil 1 0w-40 has a pour point of -54C
Mobil 1 0w-30 has a pour point of -51C
Castrol 5w-30 has a pour point of -45C

So yes, you do get better cold weather performance on initial start-up, but at 5 F it isn't really cold enough to worry about it yet IMO. I have used Castrol 5w-30 myself down to -30C, but if it was much colder than that for any length of time I would go to a 0w oil as well.

I know 5F seems cold, but it is possibly the wind chill as much as anything else creating that sense of cold, and engines don't experience wind chill.

All that said, Mobil 0w-40 gets pretty good reviews, whatever the ambient temperature.

I use Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic 5w-40 year 'round. I've always preferred a 40 weight in my bimmers, it's cheap, shows great UOAs (Used Oil Analysis) and available at Walmart.