35i - engine oil
- Thread starter eng622
- Start date
supersebbo
Member
All modern turbo engines should use fully synthetic oils due to the extreme temperatures generated by the turbo. Mineral oils are much more susceptible to 'coking' where the heat causes the oil to crystalise if it sits in the turbo for too long (this happens if you don't give your engine a cooling down period after using the turbo and before turning it off).
Any grade between 0w30 and 5w40 is typical for modern turbocharged engines. For reference, the numbers refer to the cold and hot viscosity levels of the oil. A higher viscosity (represented by a higher number) provides better lubrication, but the downside is it takes longer to circulate through the engine - like treacle. Modern synth oils are engineered to have different viscosity levels at different temperatures, the first number before the W is how viscous it is at cold temps - usually very low so that from start-up the oil can flow through the engine like water and start protecting the metal on metal components. The second number is the viscosity at normal operating temperature - once distributed through the engine the oil becomes more viscous and coats the components better to aid lubrication.
All engines have slightly different performance characteristics, so I would stick with BMWs recommended - especially under warranty. Audi notoriously denied warranty claims to customers who did not use the Audi recommended grades of oil in the 1.8T and who ended up with oil-sump blockages due to coking (even though it is widely accepted it was due to bad design of the oil-pickup pipe and filter).
Any grade between 0w30 and 5w40 is typical for modern turbocharged engines. For reference, the numbers refer to the cold and hot viscosity levels of the oil. A higher viscosity (represented by a higher number) provides better lubrication, but the downside is it takes longer to circulate through the engine - like treacle. Modern synth oils are engineered to have different viscosity levels at different temperatures, the first number before the W is how viscous it is at cold temps - usually very low so that from start-up the oil can flow through the engine like water and start protecting the metal on metal components. The second number is the viscosity at normal operating temperature - once distributed through the engine the oil becomes more viscous and coats the components better to aid lubrication.
All engines have slightly different performance characteristics, so I would stick with BMWs recommended - especially under warranty. Audi notoriously denied warranty claims to customers who did not use the Audi recommended grades of oil in the 1.8T and who ended up with oil-sump blockages due to coking (even though it is widely accepted it was due to bad design of the oil-pickup pipe and filter).
My 35i is getting serviced as I speak and I provided my own oil.
I got Mobil One ESP 5w30 oil and at first the service advisor was saying that's only for diesel engines, which I knew was bollocks as the description clearly says it's for both diesel and gasoline engines. He later corrected himself and said that's fine.
I got Mobil One ESP 5w30 oil and at first the service advisor was saying that's only for diesel engines, which I knew was bollocks as the description clearly says it's for both diesel and gasoline engines. He later corrected himself and said that's fine.
Major advantage of inheriting the remaining 3 years of a maintence contract was that today's oil change using 6.5 litres of VERY expensive synthetic oil cost me - nowt!
The Z is 4 years old due for 2nd service but only 19K miles. Don't trust Sytner and want to use a good indie near Nottingham
Contacted Martin Wright near Mansfield and they use Mobil Super 5W-30 as less expensive than the Mobil 1 esp 5W - 30
What do you think and what do BMW use anyway?
There is a BMW indie in Coalville said to be good value on PHeads
Contacted Martin Wright near Mansfield and they use Mobil Super 5W-30 as less expensive than the Mobil 1 esp 5W - 30
What do you think and what do BMW use anyway?
There is a BMW indie in Coalville said to be good value on PHeads