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      12-13-2016, 03:08 PM   #1
cruisingdownthestreet
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0W-40 motor oil for bmw z4 4 cylinder?

i've had a few auto shops tell me for my 5 series and z4 to NOT use 5w-40 but rather to use 0w-40. i live in LA in mild weather. can anyone confirm this?

Last edited by cruisingdownthestreet; 12-13-2016 at 05:38 PM..
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      12-13-2016, 03:31 PM   #2
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What does your owner's manual say?
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      12-13-2016, 07:16 PM   #3
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0W-40 is the euro oil weight recommended for bmws. There is NO benefit of using this over 5w-30. They both cover the same temperature ranges. I use euro formula because I want to use Amsoil and that's the oil they make that's suitable for BMW. Your service guy is whack.
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      12-14-2016, 01:33 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
0W-40 is the euro oil weight recommended for bmws. There is NO benefit of using this over 5w-30. They both cover the same temperature ranges. I use euro formula because I want to use Amsoil and that's the oil they make that's suitable for BMW. Your service guy is whack.
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Originally Posted by paris1 View Post
What does your owner's manual say?
SAE 5W30
longlife-01
longlife-01 FE

longlife-01 is 0w-40 compatible

http://www.costco.com/Mobil-1-Advanc...100169676.html

Last edited by cruisingdownthestreet; 12-14-2016 at 02:02 PM..
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      12-14-2016, 10:09 PM   #5
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Like jparnes1 said there's no advantage. There's also no disadvantage. I've been using Mobil 1 ow-40 in all my Bimmers for years.
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      01-30-2017, 07:09 PM   #6
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living in California I would use nothing but a 5w.

avoid 0w40.
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      01-30-2017, 07:30 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by 6IX-F10-N52 View Post
living in California I would use nothing but a 5w.

avoid 0w40.
i did my research and Mobil 1 SAE 0w-40 is longlife-1 (LL-1) compatible for both my dad and my BMW.
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      01-30-2017, 09:15 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cruisingdownthestreet View Post
i did my research and Mobil 1 SAE 0w-40 is longlife-1 (LL-1) compatible for both my dad and my BMW.
the user manuals specifies 5w30/5w40.

a 0w shears quicker then a 5w and regardless of the "winter" W designation, a thinner oil cannot protect your engine at full operating temp as well as a 5w would.

a 5w will make your engine run quieter and smoother, as well as maintain temps under a variety of driving/ weather conditions.

trust me, you shouldnt use anything else but specifically what the manual specifies. all this 0w drama was started with the strict CAFE requirements in north america for emissions and fuel economy purposes. I suggest you read up on CAFE and dont fall for this bullshit..
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      01-30-2017, 10:11 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6IX-F10-N52 View Post
the user manuals specifies 5w30/5w40.

a 0w shears quicker then a 5w and regardless of the "winter" W designation, a thinner oil cannot protect your engine at full operating temp as well as a 5w would.

a 5w will make your engine run quieter and smoother, as well as maintain temps under a variety of driving/ weather conditions.

trust me, you shouldnt use anything else but specifically what the manual specifies. all this 0w drama was started with the strict CAFE requirements in north america for emissions and fuel economy purposes. I suggest you read up on CAFE and dont fall for this bullshit..

https://mobiloil.com/en/product-selector?Year=2013&Make=Qk1X&Model=WjQ%3D&Engine=c 0RyaXZlMjhpIDQtQ3lsIDIuMCAoTjIwQjIwQSkgKEdBUyk%3D
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      01-31-2017, 07:30 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6IX-F10-N52 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by cruisingdownthestreet View Post
i did my research and Mobil 1 SAE 0w-40 is longlife-1 (LL-1) compatible for both my dad and my BMW.
the user manuals specifies 5w30/5w40.

a 0w shears quicker then a 5w and regardless of the "winter" W designation, a thinner oil cannot protect your engine at full operating temp as well as a 5w would.

a 5w will make your engine run quieter and smoother, as well as maintain temps under a variety of driving/ weather conditions.

trust me, you shouldnt use anything else but specifically what the manual specifies. all this 0w drama was started with the strict CAFE requirements in north america for emissions and fuel economy purposes. I suggest you read up on CAFE and dont fall for this bullshit..
With all due respect, I'm not sure you understand what the viscosity numbers mean. The first number is the oil's maximum viscosity and flow at a cold temperature (at start up). The second number is the maximum viscosity and flow at hot temperatures (normal operating temps). This means that 0W-40 is thinner at start up for better flow when it's cold and thicker at high temps for better wear protection compared to 5W-30. Does it really make a difference? I doubt it but that's what I use.
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      01-31-2017, 08:33 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jparnes1 View Post
With all due respect, I'm not sure you understand what the viscosity numbers mean. The first number is the oil's maximum viscosity and flow at a cold temperature (at start up). The second number is the maximum viscosity and flow at hot temperatures (normal operating temps). This means that 0W-40 is thinner at start up for better flow when it's cold and thicker at high temps for better wear protection compared to 5W-30. Does it really make a difference? I doubt it but that's what I use.
I have tried both in the past and the 5w operated quieter and smoother at operating temp. it fills your bearings better. Yes, I know that the 5/0W stands for its flow on start up.

but a 0W is overall thinner then a 5w. theres no magical chemistry at play here, an overall thinner oil will not protect your engine as well as a thicker one would. if the W weight only applies for cold weather, why is there such a big difference between the two, *even at operating temp*

Like i told the other guy, I strongly suggest you read up on the north american CAFE Requirements. you will note that ONLY north american spec'ed engines, and not a single other place in the world requires a 0w oil. even russia, with its frigid temperatures still spec's a 5w.

your engine isnt going to be running cold forever. I am simply giving you a heads up because BMW's have looser bearing clearances (to run thicker oil and thus therefore protect critical parts like rod bearings better) and also control oil temperature more effectively.

http://syntheticperformanceoil.com/s...es/5w20oil.php

if you are interested in learning more about the CAFE requirements, here is a great starter link.
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      01-31-2017, 08:36 AM   #12
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my 2011 owners manual makes no mention of any 0w.

if the newer owner manuals suddenly spec a 0w, you are telling me that BMW specifically re-engineered all of their rod bearings with tighter clearances to safely spec a 0w? that doesnt make any sense.

again, you didnt read up on the CAFE requirements.
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      01-31-2017, 09:20 AM   #13
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Back a couple of years ago when BMW used castrol as their BMW labeled oil, they recommended castrol as an acceptable alternative. But it was the castrol euro formula, which was 0W-40.
My point about the oil viscosity is that 0W-40 is thicker at full operating temp then 5W-30 because a 40 weight oil is more viscous than a 30 weight. Your subjective findings about sound and smoothness aside, that is the property of these oils.
In Europe, the 5W-30 oils made by European companies are LL-04 (Check Amsoil, Elf, liqui-moly, etc). LL-04 oils are made for cars running on low sulfur gasoline, which we don't have in the US. This is why 0W-40 is recommended here as an alternative, because it's the required LL-01 spec.
Conversations about motor oils always draws a lot of opinions. Use what you like.
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      02-01-2017, 11:43 AM   #14
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I've been running nothing but Mobil1 0W-40 in So Cal ever since I bought my E46 years ago. It's now at 243,000 miles and purring like a kitten. The last time the valve cover was off at around 215,000 miles when I replaced the VANOS seals it looked shiny and clean under there.

Here's a link (pdf) to a BMW document that shows their approved oils.

Quote:
BMW Long-life rating LL-01
Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market
Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30
Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30
Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30
My own Z4's owner's manual shows this:

Quote:
Approved oils belong to the following viscosity
classes: SAE 0W‑40, SAE 0W‑30, SAE 5W‑40,
and SAE 5W‑30.
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