which oil you would recommend?
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Beeker1972

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #15 on: May 04, 2015, 06:03:01 PM »
I use Shell Rotella T Triple 15w40.  It's made for over the road diesel tractor trailer trucks.  I use my E30 318i for work. I drive at least 100+ miles a day in stop and go traffic in Arizona.  I change my oil every 3 months because my odometer doesn't work at the moment.  I can find the oil at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and pretty much every auto parts store here.  I can find it for about little under 14.00 USD per U.S. Gallon.
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selespeed

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #16 on: May 07, 2015, 07:37:06 PM »
Quote from: Beeker1972 on May 04, 2015, 06:03:01 PM
I use Shell Rotella T Triple 15w40.  It's made for over the road diesel tractor trailer trucks.  I use my E30 318i for work. I drive at least 100+ miles a day in stop and go traffic in Arizona.  I change my oil every 3 months because my odometer doesn't work at the moment.  I can find the oil at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and pretty much every auto parts store here.  I can find it for about little under 14.00 USD per U.S. Gallon.

I think 15W is not a good idea because it is too thick when cold causing more wear during cold startup. try using a 0W.

i have experimented with 5W, 0W40, 15W50 on my previous M40 24 year old engine with 300K KM mileage and the 0W40 is incredibly good. very clean internal and there's no rebuild of engine. since switching to a 1994 M42 engine in august 2013 and now with 40,000 km, i started with Mobil1 0W40 (European formula) and lately on Castrol 5W40. Castrol is a lot quieter and i feel it is better than Mobil1. then engine revvs a lot easier to 6500

I'm tempted to try Castrol 0W30 because everyone says it is very good. Because i had the engine internals changed 40K km ago - new pistons, con rods, bearings, valves. maybe it is safer now to use thinner oils.
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Gabs

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #17 on: May 08, 2015, 05:10:59 AM »
Quote
I think 15W is not a good idea because it is too thick when cold causing more wear during cold startup. try using a 0W.

I think it depends on how and when you run your car. I personally I don't DD my E30, I only really drive it during the summer months. So 15w-40 oil works for me. At 15 degree Celsius the Kinematic viscosity of 15w-40 is 459.60 mm²/s, at 0-1 degree Celsius 5w-30 & 0w-30 are around the same viscosity. Now If I were to run my car during the winter months, I'd definitely switch to a 0w or 5w.

Here are some charts and graphs I made a couple years ago relating to oil viscosity. Not the greatest charts around but they do the trick. If anyone's interested I can send you the excel file.




 
« Last Edit: May 08, 2015, 05:14:26 AM by Gabs »
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cristimm

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #18 on: May 08, 2015, 09:48:31 AM »
Great information.

However 0W40 it is missing from your graph and it would be interesting to see what happens at even lower temperatures like minus 30c or so.
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selespeed

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #19 on: May 08, 2015, 08:02:44 PM »
Quote from: Gabs on May 08, 2015, 05:10:59 AM
Quote
I think 15W is not a good idea because it is too thick when cold causing more wear during cold startup. try using a 0W.

I think it depends on how and when you run your car. I personally I don't DD my E30, I only really drive it during the summer months. So 15w-40 oil works for me. At 15 degree Celsius the Kinematic viscosity of 15w-40 is 459.60 mm²/s, at 0-1 degree Celsius 5w-30 & 0w-30 are around the same viscosity. Now If I were to run my car during the winter months, I'd definitely switch to a 0w or 5w.

Here are some charts and graphs I made a couple years ago relating to oil viscosity. Not the greatest charts around but they do the trick. If anyone's interested I can send you the excel file.




 

thanks but can't see your grapghs!
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Beeker1972

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #20 on: May 10, 2015, 10:02:37 AM »
I live in Mesa, Arizona.  It hardly freezes here....


Quote from: Gabs on May 08, 2015, 05:10:59 AM
Quote
I think 15W is not a good idea because it is too thick when cold causing more wear during cold startup. try using a 0W.

I think it depends on how and when you run your car. I personally I don't DD my E30, I only really drive it during the summer months. So 15w-40 oil works for me. At 15 degree Celsius the Kinematic viscosity of 15w-40 is 459.60 mm²/s, at 0-1 degree Celsius 5w-30 & 0w-30 are around the same viscosity. Now If I were to run my car during the winter months, I'd definitely switch to a 0w or 5w.

Here are some charts and graphs I made a couple years ago relating to oil viscosity. Not the greatest charts around but they do the trick. If anyone's interested I can send you the excel file.




 
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DesktopDave

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #21 on: October 28, 2015, 07:39:47 PM »
Necro bump, but I had to post some actual data. I can share the Blackstone UOAs if anyone is interested.

On my high-mileage M42, a 20 weight oil (Pennzoil Platinum 0w20) led to high wear metals being reported in my UOAs. Fuel mileage did improve noticeably, over 3%. Switching back to a nice 40 weight synth oil (Mobil1 10w40) took care of the problems but lost me some fuel mileage.
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selespeed

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #22 on: October 31, 2015, 10:09:50 AM »
Quote from: DesktopDave on October 28, 2015, 07:39:47 PM
Necro bump, but I had to post some actual data. I can share the Blackstone UOAs if anyone is interested.

On my high-mileage M42, a 20 weight oil (Pennzoil Platinum 0w20) led to high wear metals being reported in my UOAs. Fuel mileage did improve noticeably, over 3%. Switching back to a nice 40 weight synth oil (Mobil1 10w40) took care of the problems but lost me some fuel mileage.

Castro 0w30 is very good! smooth and quieter than mobil1 0w40. i hit the sweet spot much earlier than with mobil1. and so i think castrol is better
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DesktopDave

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Re: which oil you would recommend?
« Reply #23 on: October 31, 2015, 12:38:56 PM »
Keep in mind that our motors are purposefully built a bit on the sloppy side compared to more recent motors. Car manufacturers are using a lot of methods to reduce friction, including low-friction piston rings and aluminum bearing shells.

Thinner oils are more efficient but don't provide the same level of protection in higher temperature ranges.  If you regularly use thinner oils, I'd strongly recommend periodic used oil analysis to determine how well your lubes are performing. They're cheap and well worth the money. If you don't think so...just add up the costs of a full set of main & rod bearing shells...don't forget to budget for a full set of TTY bolts.

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'08 Karmesinrot 128i 6MT
'86 Zinnoberrot 635CSi (M30B32/G265/3.46 torsen LSD)

Sold: '97 Montrealblau 318iS, '91 Brilliantrot 318i, '91 Brilliantrot 318iS
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