What oil are folks using?

lfyost1 · Post by **lfyost1** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:54 pm

Time for the first oil change... What oil is everybody using, 5w-40, 10w-60?
I'll either get Castrol edge, or LiquiMoly.
Climate range 1.67-35 C. (35-95 F), rural country road driving for the most part, no track.
Does everyone use synthetic?
Thanks,

Layne

mmm-five · Post by **mmm-five** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:30 pm

I’m just using the standard 10w60 Edge, and drive in -10°C to +30°C.

AndyBeech · Post by **AndyBeech** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:32 pm

Castrol 10-60. Done. Probably no issues with other brands of that grade if you wanted though.

Attilio · Post by **Attilio** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:59 am

Hi,

Just about to replace the “usual” Castrol with Shell Helix Ultra Racing 10W-60

Nick W · Post by **Nick W** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:53 am

Always use Shell Ultra Racing 10-60 but in my opinion, at least halving the change interval is more important than the manufacturer.

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 12:51 pm

I'm using Millers Nanodrive Ester oil, engine felt and sounded noticeably smoother when I changed from Castrol (5 years ago).

Nick W wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:53 am Always use Shell Ultra Racing 10-60 but in my opinion, at least halving the change interval is more important than the manufacturer.

Why is half more important? Why not a quarter or a tenth?

Matt.13 · Post by **Matt.13** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 1:00 pm

I use Fuchs Titan race pro and have done for many years in the m5 and now the z4

Nick W · Post by **Nick W** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:02 pm

Babw wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 12:51 pm I'm using Millers Nanodrive Ester oil, engine felt and sounded noticeably smoother when I changed from Castrol (5 years ago).

Nick W wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 11:53 am Always use Shell Ultra Racing 10-60 but in my opinion, at least halving the change interval is more important than the manufacturer.
Why is half more important? Why not a quarter or a tenth?

Are they not both less than half ?

PDJ · Post by **PDJ** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:05 pm

Attilio wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:59 am Shell Helix Ultra Racing 10W-60

As recommended by JC Racing who run BMW race cars.

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:55 pm

BMW will fill you up with Shell Helix now since their new deal, but sure any synthetic 10w60 should be fine. Personally I wouldn't want to run a thinner oil as my engine gets a fairly hard time, I just do my best to warm it up properly. If I wasn't tracking and living somewhere where it gets cold I would consider a 5w50 or something for sure.
The only oil I would perhaps avoid with the S54 is Millers Nanodrive. There are a number of anecdotal reports on M3 forums of it contributing to accelerated cam lobe wear. Any truth in it? I've no idea, but I don't see any reason to change from the original spec oil myself having never had any problems with it.

XMetal · Post by **XMetal** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 4:34 pm

TomK wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:55 pm BMW will fill you up with Shell Helix now since their new deal, but sure any synthetic 10w60 should be fine. Personally I wouldn't want to run a thinner oil as my engine gets a fairly hard time, I just do my best to warm it up properly. If I wasn't tracking and living somewhere where it gets cold I would consider a 5w50 or something for sure.
The only oil I would perhaps avoid with the S54 is Millers Nanodrive. There are a number of anecdotal reports on M3 forums of it contributing to accelerated cam lobe wear. Any truth in it? I've no idea, but I don't see any reason to change from the original spec oil myself having never had any problems with it.

Agreed. I had used Castrol and Liqui Moly 10w60 as well as Redline 5w50. All showed similar wear results on my annual oil analysis.

RedUn · Post by **RedUn** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:58 pm

TomK wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:55 pm BMW will fill you up with Shell Helix now since their new deal, but sure any synthetic 10w60 should be fine. Personally I wouldn't want to run a thinner oil as my engine gets a fairly hard time, I just do my best to warm it up properly. If I wasn't tracking and living somewhere where it gets cold I would consider a 5w50 or something for sure.
The only oil I would perhaps avoid with the S54 is Millers Nanodrive. There are a number of anecdotal reports on M3 forums of it contributing to accelerated cam lobe wear. Any truth in it? I've no idea, but I don't see any reason to change from the original spec oil myself having never had any problems with it.

Indeed they do!

Random story, they put that in the wife's car (2 litre TD) a few years ago after 60k on castrol, no bother, no oil usage, Couple of k on the shell and it used a litre!

Came straight out and castrol back in, didn't use a drop again.

I know it's a different engine etc but I won't use shell after that!

beanie · Post by **beanie** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:59 pm

I’ve used castrol 10w60 for the last 8 years in mine. I’d be happy to use shell but I’d do some research before swapping to anything else-especially in a cold climate.

Have a look for cold pour tests/oil tests of various oils. I remember seeing a few that showed some of the smaller, ‘boutique’ brands not fairing as well as the bigger names. That’s not to say that castrol or shell is vastly superior or that the other oils don’t perform better in other areas, but it’s worth exploring.

Nanu · Post by **Nanu** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 8:35 pm

Any any synthetic 10w60. Basically whichever is on offer at the time. Last change was Petronas

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Sun Jun 20, 2021 8:44 pm

TomK wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 3:55 pm BMW will fill you up with Shell Helix now since their new deal, but sure any synthetic 10w60 should be fine. Personally I wouldn't want to run a thinner oil as my engine gets a fairly hard time, I just do my best to warm it up properly. If I wasn't tracking and living somewhere where it gets cold I would consider a 5w50 or something for sure.
The only oil I would perhaps avoid with the S54 is Millers Nanodrive. There are a number of anecdotal reports on M3 forums of it contributing to accelerated cam lobe wear. Any truth in it? I've no idea, but I don't see any reason to change from the original spec oil myself having never had any problems with it.

Hmmm interesting, I've never been aware of the Millers oil cam issue. I've always had my M roadster at specialist (Darren Wood being the most recent) and they commented on this being a good oil for the S54.

Can anyone running Castrol/Shell take a picture of their cam lobe through the engine oil filler cap? Would be interested to see if mine looks more worn than.

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