Vanos fixed...kind of
 

I have a 2002 4.4

I bought the car about 8 months ago, I changed the oil when I got it to Lubo-Molly 5-40 syntech....what I thought was the best Germen oil to use. I bought a Mann filter.

About 3-4 months later I started to hear a slight lifter noise while idling or starting, that turned into a loud tap for 5 seconds when starting and that turned into a classic vanos rattle for 5 seconds when first stated intermittently.

I had the truck in the dealer for a some work, I had them change the oil....The vanos rattle was still there....then after about 2 weeks it went away....it's been about 3 weeks now and no noise at all on start up...The only thing I can relate it to is the BMW oil 5-30 sytech and a BMW filter....seems to work. The rattle would happen every other start so the oil definitely fixed or helped it.

If you have a vanos rattle try a factory filter and factory 5-30 oil and see what happens and give it 2-3 weeks...cheap enough.

Hi,

Why would you try a different oil weight in the first place?

"German" isn't the most important spec :rofl:

Because the manual says so.5-40w or 5-30w

Isn't there an area and temperature scale?
South needs heavier oils if I am not wrong.

I use the "M" factory oil during the summer months here in Texas. With the 100 F degree days and boat towing, the added viscosity is comforting. Additionally, oil consumption is about 2500 miles/quart. With 5W-30, consumption is more like 1500 miles/quart.

2002 X5 3.0 258,366 miles
2004 325i 114,000 miles

I use Rotella T6 year round 5w-40 weight and nothing wrong with my M54.

Ton of detergents in T6 keeps our engines clean and I mean clean....

I'm just stating what happened to me....I'm not stating what brand of oil to use or what weight. It's close to 90 here in NJ and 70% dew points...hot and it gets in the teens here in the winter.

My point is if your truck starts to rattle on start up and it's not the timing chain try and use BMW 5-30 syntech and a factory filter and see if it helps or fixes it. It took about a week like I said and now for 3 weeks so far no more rattling on start up at all.

Your using Rotella interests me, I ran Rotella T in diesel trucks and tractors in the past but not gas engine. How does it compare to BMW spec?

I am coming due for an oil and filter change, with over 170,000 miles on mine. Rotella may be an alternative to Mobile 1 Euro.

I'm far from the only one using Rotella T6 with no issues on this forum.

I believe it meets or exceeds LL01 spec at least, but don't quote me. My engine is markedly quieter, smoother, drinks little to no oil, and I use it year round. If it can keep dirty Diesel engines clean I'm sure that's nothing for this oil on our gas engines.

For what it's worth I also use it in my Triumph Thunderbird as it does have the additives needed for wet clutch packs, talk about versatile. Apparently T6 is very shear resistant as well, M1 0-40 is known to shear down to 30 weight fairly quickly.

All I know is my M54 drank a quart of M1 0w-40 every 1500 miles, now it's more like a quart every 3-4k with T6.

Give it a try, I've recommended it to several members on the forum and they report good results. At the price it's unbeatable, I was using castrol and M1 at 7-8 bucks a quart, for the price I get T6 for 5.20 a quart.

Honestly if my wife didn't have a Toyota, I'd probably be using it in her car too (calls for a 20 weight oil ultra thin, I switched to 30 weight but prob wouldn't run 40 in it) and as well, I probably will start using it in my Scag with Kawi Vtwin 17 hp engine mower come next oil change.

Thanks RB for the reply, I will likely try the Rotella T6 this time around. locally Wally-world has it for $21 a gallon, and I have several Mann filters on the shelf already.