There are multiple threads on this topic all over the internet, but I've been using M1 for the last 2 oil changes with no issues to date. I believe someone stated that BMW was switching to Shell as their recommended brand. Either way I don't think you're going to see any noticeable differences.


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lol, an opinion ?


castrol or bmw all day

 

Castrol.
Full synthetic. 0w40 or 5w30.
Either oils are fine mate


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Yes but which 5W30? Most don't meet spec particularly M1 5W30.

 

I guess it comes down to proven track record vs. the Made in Germany / BMW recommended brand.

Mobil 1 0W-40 is also the dealer oil outside of the US. What BMW "recommends" nowadays is more of a marketing decision than an engineering one.

Both are high quality lubricants that will do a great job of protecting your engine. Another option to throw into the mix is Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5W-40. You can buy it on Amazon and have it delivered to your door for pretty cheap.

 

It does not matter which one. Not one bit.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7Tc-YkJRxk

 

You'll be fine using any LL-01 oil.



I don't know what this video is supposed to prove. Since he's Russian I assume that's Celsius? Heating the oil to a temperature it will never experience in the engine (more than double normal oil temperature) and seeing how much crud it forms? Pseudo-scientific test IMO.

 

Use any oil that has the BMW LL-01 logo on the bottle. Period!


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This

 

I use the Castrol in all of my cars. The Mobil 1 is too thin for my liking.

 

Castrol Edge 0W-30 is a bit thinner than Mobil1 0W-40 (12.2 cSt vs. 13.5 cSt at 100 C), Castrol Edge 0W-40 has the same dynamic viscosity at 100 C as Mobil1 (13.5 cSt), and Castrol Edge 5W-40 is very slightly thicker (13.9 cSt at 100C).
All these oils are LL01 certified.

 

Conclusion

Thanks very much guys. I think my conclusion is that there is no significant difference between the new Castrol Edge 0W-40 and the Mobil 1 0W-40. In all likelyhood, Castrol saw Mobil 1 was doing so well in it's own country's cars and needed to produce as similar a product as possible. They really look very similar in terms of the certifications and their logos all over the bottles.

Since the Mobil 1 is cheaper per five quart jug by $3 ($22.16 per jug) and I intend on buying 8 five quart jugs, I will stay with Mobil 1. The car idles quietly at 600 RPM and everything sounds quiet with no problems. Also to mention is that I change oil with Mobil 1 0W-40 and the Fram CH8081 oil filter ($9) every 6500K miles (twice a year or less).

An equally important thing to do is go light on the accelerator and brake for starts and stops. I am pretty good at keeping RPMS under 2,100 during starts, which is not easy to do. I also shift smoothly into neutral on longer downhills and when I anticipate stopping further ahead.

My Car: 2002 BMW 325i, 115K Miles, quiet runs like new engine sound and performance.

Thank you: 325CiBrett, wasp9166, Rapuara, HLG600, todd92, mickey513, sprintman, camrydriver111, markusmarkus, mxchris727, Megalocnus.

-Marc

 

Thanks very much guys. I think my conclusion is that there is no significant difference . . . and the Fram CH8081 oil filter . . . .

"Fram"?? Now you've gone and done it. Standing by with my popcorn.

 

I just switched from M1 0w-40 to Castrol edge 0w-30 in the e46 and Castrol edge 0w-40 in the VW Tiguan. In both cases valve noise has been reduced a bit.

 

Very interesting Sansho. Is there a reason you are not using Castrol Edge 0W-40 in the E46 as well (as 0W-40 resists thinning out at the higher temps better to protect) ?

Maybe the engine is quieter because the oil is thinner and the engine does not have to work as hard? Or maybe because it is just new oil fresh after an oil change?

 

Until recently, the US approved oil list had 5 choices, one of which was Castrol 0w-30 European formula syntec (now edge). So, in switching from M1 to Castrol, that was a natural choice. I use 0w-40 (VW approved) in the Tiguan since it has a turbocharger. Both are LL-01 approved, too. I haven't tested this, and don't know what they're comparing against, however, BMW says: "The Castrol 0W-30 lubricant offers a 1% fuel saving due to its low friction qualities."

 

Very interesting, thank you. Perhaps there is an additional safety in going with something tried and true (Castrol Edge 0W-30) rather than a very recent new item (Castrol Edge 0W-40). Lower resistance assuming similar protection and no need for extreme temperature protection may be advantageous as well.

 

I think there is no difference. Especially if you plan on changing the oil at 6,400k miles. I believe the factory oil change interval is 15,000k miles. Try the oil and see if it works for you.

Castrol is actually a Birtish company, owned by BP. They probably used Castrol becuase they gave them the best deal. They recommend Shell now. I wouldn't place too much importance on this.

 

camrydriver111: Thank you, that makes a lot of sense, I appreciate it.

 

While I would appreciate an even quieter more efficient engine with slightly thinner yet still approved Castrol 0W-30 oil, that may mean slightly less protection and less stability for the typical person who might rev a little high in the heat for a while.

Maybe it is better to be safe (with slightly thicker more stable oil and longer proven track record) than sorry.

Once again, it probably makes no difference but here is my priority anyway:

1) Mobil 1 0W-40 (Widely available, continuously available, cheaper, Longer Track Record)

2) Castrol Edge 0W-30 (Slighter thinner for better fuel economy, if driving softly without the need for high protection)

3) Castol Edge 0W-40 (Probably great, but unsure/unproven, Slightly more expensive).

 

so castrol edge 0w-30 is no good if you beat on it like you should?


this thread has died

 

The Packaging

I will say this silly point though: The Castrol Edge 5 Qt jug does look a lot more serious (black), is more ergonomic (shape and handles), has a smaller more precise spout, and has more precise and labelled level markings on the side. Mobil though should stick to their slightly fatter, boxy, and taller looking bright flashy american design, just to keep the recognized and trusted look.

 

Liqui Moly 5W-30 4600

 

Liqui Moly 5W-30 4600

That's an LL-04 certified oil, however, not LL-01.

 

Thats true.

From what I understand about it -- is LL04 is completely fine for the M54 as long as you are in Europe, as the gas here and in the states is slightly different. In the US LL01 is all I would ever allow in my car.

Liqui Moly does make a 5w-40 LL01 oil which you can use in the US.

 

As near as I can tell my BMW has always had official BMW oil in it. Then I came along. I've been using the mobil 0-40 ll-01 approved oil. I noticed no difference. I'm thinking about using it in everything. I think it probably meets spec for lawnmower, snowblower, generator, and toyota - but need to double check before I commit to having only one type of oil in the garage. . .

I'm thinking I could use a 0-40 to replace both 0-30 and 10-30 (and probably 10-40). What do the oil experts think???

 

You need to look at each device/vehicle that you want to move to synthetic 0w-40. Our lawn mower, snowblower and generator, for example, do not recommend synthetic oil in that range.

 

I don't know if 0w-40 synthetic was even available when these owners manuals were produced.

Lets consider a specific example. 25 year old Honda lawnmower.
It says to use a high-detergent premium quality 4-stroke engine oil that meets or exceeds API SG, SF/CC CD.
They recommend 10w-30 for general all purpose use, but 10w-40 or 20w40, or 20w50 for high temperature use.
In the past I've always used 10w-30 (I just assumed that it met the API specs, silly me). It seems to meet the temperature range I'm likely to mow in. I don't mow when it is below freezing, or, above 100 degF.

I use the same oil in my 1994 Toyota truck.

Now this Mobil 0w40 comes along. It is rated API SN SM SL. I assume this meets or exceeds SG. Is this correct???

Is there any harm in using a 0w40 instead of a 10w30? Seems to me the more range the better. But I could be wrong . . .

Thanks for helping me learn

 

Oil religion. You all spend WAY too much time worrying about oil.

LL-01 for your BMW. Brand, viscosity, what your mechanic likes, what your buddy swears by doesn't matter. If it says LL-01, it's fine.

For your lawn mower, boat, jet ski etc, synthetic is a waste of money. You change it every season and it doesn't get hot enough or have enough hours put on it for synthetic to have any benefit. Cheapo store brand 10W-30 or 10W-40 dino oil is more than fine.

 

Change it once a year works for me. Unless I'm lazy, or busy, then I might go two years. I think as I run out of other oil, I'll just switch to this M1 0w40 stuff. One oil for everything appeals to my lazy side . . .

 

Conclusion Part II

Thanks everyone.

My conclusion is still to stay with Mobil 1 0W-40 and keep easy on the accelerator (and brake). While it is better for me to have the cold temperate ease of flow with the 0W rating when I start my car in -10 degree Fahrenheit weather, I am probably not getting the benefit of the HT/HS of the 40 high temperature rating. The 40 high temperature protection (instead of 30) maybe makes the oil slightly thicker than it needs to be under normal calm driving conditions.

If anything I may switch to Castrol Edge (Syntec) 0W-30 for a quieter engine with less resistance and slightly better economy. But Walmart does not stock this, so maybe not. The Castrol Edge 0W-40 is probably as good as the Mobil 1 or every so slightly better, but is more expensive, not as widely available, and does not have as long a track record. It is just too hard to tell without a controlled long term experiment. For now that 400 degree burn test is one of the only controlled comparison experiments I have seen. Both results are similar, but to draw a conclusion from this test alone may be omitting other important real world factors.

If anyone has any real world experience / experiments with these BMW LL-01 approved oils, please share.

-Marc

 

I wasn't saying you're wrong. I meant literary, there must be an error in the sheet.

 

"I'm not always right but I'm never wrong"

 

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/July-1-2014.php


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http://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/July-1-2014.php

Interesting Article. I believe it confirms there is no significant difference at all in some UOA (Used Oil Analysis) tests of a Mini Cooper between Mobil 1 5W-30 and Castrol 5W-30. Mobil 1 metal particles are microscopically higher on some graphs because the oil was used longer in the car.

 

Total 5w40 euro blend FTW:evil: