Oil change

[DashBedrock]

Hi there,
I'm about to tackle an oil change myself and could do with some advice on oil choice.
I've seen Castrol Magnatec 5/30 at Costco but it's "A5". Will this be suitable or do I need to use an LL04 oil.
It's going in an E86 with 97k on the clock.
Many thanks

Andy

 

[ZedM]

I've always used LL-04 because that what it says in the manual. Others, of a more technical nature, may have differing views and be able to explain why.

 

[Steve84N]

You need LL04 if you're going to leave it the full length of the service light but if you change it sooner don't worry.

To be frank these engines don't require anything particularly special and I used to use Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 (which is LL04) after I stopped shelling out for Silkolene/Fuchs that was more necessary on my Integra Type-R.

 

[DashBedrock]

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated

Andy

 

[mjennings23]

Costco tend to carry Castrol Edge too, most of the time anyway. This does meet BMW LL04 specs if you want to make sure.

Regarding Shell Helix, its actually LL01 spec, but seeing as some Zeds come with the M54 engine which was first used around 2000, its a perfectly suitable oil too.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Actually as the OP has an E86 he's got the later N52 engine, for which LL04 is recommended.

You have to check the container - Castrol Edge can be LL01 or LL04 and I expect the same is true of Shell.

My BMW Indy told me a year or so ago that BMW had swapped from Castrol to Shell, and he has done the same.

 

[Steve84N]

I really wouldn't get hung up on LL04.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56144

 

[Davz]

I use VW/Audi oil, which is quantum longlife 3 5w30. Quantum oil is made in the UK, used to be made by Bp or in other words "Castrol" and was just rebadged edge oil at a lower cost. However last year Vag changed to Fuchs as their supplier and the new Quantum is rebadged TITAN GT1 PRO C-3 SAE 5W-30 XTL, xtl is a new fuchs oil technology and is called QFX by Quantum. This oil meets the VW 504/507 standard and BMW LL04 + Mercedes and is also ACEA C3, so perfect for a Z4. The only test I could find was a friction test where it outperformed Bp/Castrol edge and Mobil 1.

The best bit! This can be purchased at TPS, for those not owning a vag car, this is the trade arm of vw who will sell to the public at trade price. I have just purchased 20 litres (4x5litre containers) for £60 +vat = £72. I also bought an audi and vw oil filters at £4 each! Now I have to change the oil on 3 cars...doh!

You can be a badge snob and buy mobil 1 or castrol edge at stupidly inflated prices but I wouldn't waste my money on a name.

If your interested further reading here:-

https://www.fuchs.com/uk/en/company/news/news-entry/320-tps-selects-fuchs-lubricants-uk-for-all-new-quantum-oil-range/

https://www.fuchs.com/uk/en/products/product-program/automotive-lubricants/xtl-technology/

https://tps.trade/lubricants/longlife-03-5w30-5l

Friction test results:-
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fbb9qtL-yWlzDPLzvxzpF01gRRtH8fKxeVtXt6HPpgg/edit#gid=0

 

[ph001]

Nice find. Can you buy oinline at TPS?

 

[Davz]

I don't think so, they have a number of centres all over the country supplying the dealer network. I got the offer on oil when I went in, normal price was £25 for 5 litres but buying 20 litres reduced the price significantly!

 

[mjennings23]

To be honest I tend to go with whatever decent fully synthetic I find a deal on.

Last year I used Gulf Oil, as Opie were clearing out the "old label" stuff so it was dirt cheap, LL04 approved too.

This year I have some Shell Helix Ultra ready to go, again a very good price and LL01 approved (I'm running the M54 engine, which precedes LL04, therefore I see no requirement to go with it over LL01)

 

[Magicarcher]

My BMW Indy told me a year or so ago that BMW had swapped from Castrol to Shell, and he has done the same.

Likely true, my Lads Gen 3 F56 Mini says clearly BMW recommend Shell oils, it used to be BMW recommends Castrol Oils. Bear in mind though the switch is far more likely to be for commercial reasons than technical.

It is very difficult for any layman to say one oil is better than another far too much time and testing required to quantify it, so I would go for what ever oil your are comfortable with that meets BMW specs. Personally I would rather use a cheaper oil that meets the spec and change it at 10k or 1 years, than use more expensive oil and stretch it out.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Likely true, my Lads Gen 3 F56 Mini says clearly BMW recommend Shell oils, it used to be BMW recommends Castrol Oils. Bear in mind though the switch is far more likely to be for commercial reasons than technical.

It is very difficult for any layman to say one oil is better than another far too much time and testing required to quantify it, so I would go for what ever oil your are comfortable with that meets BMW specs. Personally I would rather use a cheaper oil that meets the spec and change it at 10k or 1 years, than use more expensive oil and stretch it out.

Yes, I believe it was a commercial decision. My Indy said he thought it was because Shell would supply it in BMW branded containers without their logo on them, but Castrol wouldn't! :lol:

 

[skelters]

Go onto https://www.opieoils.co.uk/, put in your reg and get some Millers.

 

[Davz]

Millers at the correct spec will cost £38 for just 5 litres, a complete waste of money when superior Quantum or Fuchs is only £18 for 5 litres when 20 litres is purchased or £25 when 5 litres is purchased.

 

[mr wilks]

Millers at the correct spec will cost £38 for just 5 litres, a complete waste of money when superior Quantum or Fuchs is only £18 for 5 litres when 20 litres is purchased or £25 when 5 litres is purchased.

Interested to why you believe the Quantum / Fuchs is "superior " :? We all have our favourite brands of products for whatever reason or belief , i favour Millers as all tests & research appears to acknowledge that their oils perform exceptionally well when pitched against any other like for like brands ( ie better in any tests ive ever studied )
Are the Quantum / Fuchs brands not as Opieoils suggest ?


opieoilman

Original Poster:

4,108 posts

162 months

[report][news]Monday 3rd November 2014quotequote all
MJK 24 said:
Thanks for taking the time to reply,

Are the Quantum engine oils any good? A friend works at a Volkswagen TPS and says that the 5w30 LL3 and their 5w40 Platinum are good quality fully synthetic. He says they also do a basic 10w40 for older engines. He thinks it is all brewed by Castrol but the prices are almost suspiciously cheap when they have offers on so I do wonder if it's a good as he says?
Hi

As they aren't something we sell, I can't say too much, but like everything else, own brand oil is pretty much the basic option. Being made by Castrol/Fuchs/Shell etc is a bit irrelevant, it's made to VW's requirements, it's not a premium oil that is relabelled and sold at a lower price.
Cheers
Tim

the above taken from a PH discussion a few years back

 

[Davz]

Mr Wilks, please read my first post and follow the links about quantum/fuchs oil.
I might add that a post from 2014 is rather irrelevant considering that quantum oil is no longer made by bp/castrol and how a seller of oil is somehow an expert is beyond me, Opie do not publish any professional credentials and so they know no more or less than any layman......unless they are chemists or mech engineers? Would you expect Opie to say that VW quantum oil is actually Castrol edge but without the stupid badge price and cut his profits?
The new Quantum and Fuchs are one and the same, the friction load tests show the oil to be one of the best. Don't forget that every new audi/vw is filled with fuchs/quantum.....would you expect VW/Audi to choose an oil for all their vehicles if it wasn't any good, they dropped Bp/castrol was this due to cost or performance, certainly the performance of fuchs/quantum is superior to castrol edge in terms of friction reduction.
If you want to waste money on overpriced oil that is your choice, you would need to spend £152 for 20 litres of Millers to £72 of equivalent spec quantum/fuchs. Don't forget Crude oil prices crashed in Feb 2014 from around $130 a barrel to $50, currently at $60....did we see engine oil prices fall by over 50%? The big names have carried on ripping off customers.

 

[mr wilks]

Mr Wilks, please read my first post and follow the links about quantum/fuchs oil.
I might add that a post from 2014 is rather irrelevant considering that quantum oil is no longer made by bp/castrol
Would you expect Opie to say that VW quantum oil is actually Castrol edge but without the stupid badge price and cut his profits?
The new Quantum and Fuchs are one and the same, the friction load tests show the oil to be one of the best. Don't forget that every new audi/vw is filled with fuchs/quantum.....would you expect VW/Audi to choose an oil for all their vehicles if it wasn't any good, they dropped Bp/castrol was this due to cost or performance, certainly the performance of fuchs/quantum is superior to castrol edge in terms of friction reduction.
If you want to waste money on overpriced oil that is your choice, you would need to spend £152 for 20 litres of Millers to £72 of equivalent spec quantum/fuchs.

Post by Davz » Tue Feb 20, 2018 3:54 pm

I use VW/Audi oil, which is quantum longlife 3 5w30. Quantum oil is made in the UK, used to be made by Bp or in other words "Castrol" and was just rebadged edge oil at a lower cost.

I have read your posts Davz & i'm left confused :? further up the thread you claim Quantum/Fuchs is actually Castol Edge rebadged :? then above you state the performance of Fuchs/Quantum is superior to castrol edge in terms of friction reduction :?
I dare say i could buy 20litres of 5w 30 oil for less than £72 if i was looking to save money but then again on the same basis i could buy cheaper tyres .
Car maintenance products are very much a personal choice & for now i'm more than happy to pay a little more for Millers , ive used the stuff for over 15 years & only ever been happy .
What i would add is (jmo) its far more important whatever oil you choose to change it yearly / 6k-7k & ignore the so called longlife capabilities of it to cover 2 years 16k-18k

 

[Truth]

...would you expect VW/Audi to choose an oil for all their vehicles if it wasn't any good, .

Would u expect VW Audi try to cheat emissions and lie about their cars. Maybe just maybe they are using an oil to make more money not because it is better?!!

 

[Davz]

Mr Wilks this is what was written in my first post:-
"I use VW/Audi oil, which is quantum longlife 3 5w30. Quantum oil is made in the UK, USED to be made by Bp or in other words "Castrol" and was just rebadged edge oil at a lower cost. However last year Vag CHANGED TO FUCHS as their supplier and the new Quantum is rebadged TITAN GT1 PRO C-3 SAE 5W-30 XTL, xtl is a new fuchs oil technology and is called QFX by Quantum. "
You did read this? I have highlighted the key words in uppercase incase you scan read like me!

Your correct you probably could buy some cheap oil and save a few quid, that oil may or may not be any good, the point is you can purchase a top end oil at a very low cost or you can buy an inferior oil for more money.....which scenario makes logical sense to you? Millers is a fine oil, it has a viscosity index of 165, anything over 150 is a synthetic grade oil, in comparison a standard mineral oil will have an index around 100-120. VI is the rate of change of viscosity between two temperatures. The lower the VI, the more the drop in viscosity as the oil warms up. The higher the VI value, the less the drop in viscosity as the oil warms up. Therefore look for an oil with a high VI, Fuchs/Quantum is 191, a very high index, higher than Millers, Edge and mobil 1. I know where my money is going irrespective of price and with a 6k mileage change it makes even more sense.