What oil weight is everyone using?

[ldsbeaker]

... man, I've been using 10w30 FOREVER.
over 200k, and I'm starting to get the low oil pressure light at idle, and up to 1k rpm when the car's warmed up. Guess it's time to do the 20w50 so I can drive it without freaking out.
(also time to do the damn M30 swap)

[Naplm00]

I use 20W50 GTX regular. It will knock when cold but will quiet down after about 30 seconds. Summer and spring only.

during the winter/cooler fall months I use 10W40

[N2MYE30]

LE 10W40 in coupe
Mobile 1 10W40 in the convertibles

[Mr Two]

What are you feeling Lance? 40 weight? 50 weight?

[E30>???]

I put 10w30 in my 325i w about 200k and I have to top it off every 2 1/2 to 3 weeks and i drive my car about 50 miles a day. Sometimes i smell a little hint of oil after sum hard driving n my oil pan gasket(minor leak) is due for a change so i guessing that's why I have to top it off so often. I'm wondering if my valve seals are going or if its becuz I'm not using a heaving weight oil... would 20w50 be better for my motor in this warm weather we have down here?

[nando]

look in your owners manual, 10w30 is definitely too thin.

[cobraken]

You guys should go check out Mobil 1's web site. If you tell it what kind of car you have an how many miles are on it the website tells you what you should be running. I did this on my cars and it said Mobil 1 (0w-40).

[E30>???]

look in your owners manual, 10w30 is definitely too thin.

Hmm, my car didn't have 1 when i bought it.. I guess that's why I'm here asking for a little advise. Since you know its thin do you mind telling me whats the right oil I should be using?

[CincinnatiKid]

You guys should go check out Mobil 1's web site. If you tell it what kind of car you have an how many miles are on it the website tells you what you should be running. I did this on my cars and it said Mobil 1 (0w-40).

go figure, it recommended a full synthetic, 0w-40, that only mobile 1 sells for me too

[nando]

0W 40 is probably not a good idea either. Mobil1 15w50 has the highest amount of ZDDP out of their oils, if you are using synthetic that's what I'd choose. 0w oils are generally made for modern engines and probably have very low ZDDP content.

M20s should usually run a 15w50 or something close. Oil chemistry is more important than the weight though.

[jhowell]

You're in FL, right? I'd just run dino (non synthetic) 20w50. I like Castrol GTX, although I heard they changed the formula so I might try some old Kendall or something. I run 20w50 year round (stock M20B25).

[Naplm00]

I put 20W50 in my vert this winter by mistake. The next day I went out to start it and it would almost not run, chuggung at low RPM and all the dummy lights on. Took almost 5 min for this to go away while playing with the pedal.

I swapped 10w40 back in after I got home from work.




Just a note to all, BMW make a high ZDDP CONVENTIONAL oil in a 10W50 weight. This would be the perfect year round oil for cars not running syn...problem is is about 6 bucks a quart.

You can find it at the motorcycle dealers, its manufactured by golden spectro and was released when the "modern" 1200cc boxer motors came out ie the R120RT.

I used this stuff in my E30s when I worked at the dealer.

Another funny side note...the oil filter on R bikes will fit the M20 motor, its just a bit shorter

[ldsbeaker]

Just a note to all, BMW make a high ZDDP CONVENTIONAL oil in a 10W50 weight. This would be the perfect year round oil for cars not running syn...problem is is about 6 bucks a quart.

You can find it at the motorcycle dealers, its manufactured by golden spectro and was released when the "modern" 1200cc boxer motors came out ie the R120RT.

I used this stuff in my E30s when I worked at the dealer.

Another funny side note...the oil filter on R bikes will fit the M20 motor, its just a bit shorter

Coincidence?

[funcrew]

Running 20W50 in my M20 with an 8oz dose (w/ every oil change) of Crane cam break-in compound for ZDDP insurance on the flat tappet cam. Good for mild winters and 115F summers, the cost is less than 10 bucks per oil change for the zinc boost.

[dannyyisntt]

Mobil 1 10w30 ALWAYS.