The Oil Thread

[kayger12]

Curious - does anyone have any data about a ZHP engine that was damaged by using the "wrong" oil?

I don't think you'd find that.

I think it's difficult to ever prove, but the concern for me would be reduced longevity.

Maybe with the wrong oil the motor gives up at 200k instead of 270k.

So many variables that it really just boils down to intangible peace of mind for me.

Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

[danewilson77]

I don't think you'd find that.

I think it's difficult to ever prove, but the concern for me would be reduced longevity.

Maybe with the wrong oil the motor gives up at 200k instead of 270k.

So many variables that it really just boils down to intangible peace of mind for me.

Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

Agree...plus...the ones that do die...I think are mainly due to wrecks or cooling system failure overheats.

[Hermes]

Just read a lot about this... I didn't realize we couldn't run a LL04 oil.

Apparently the LL04 spec is for cars that'll run gasoline without any sulfur. So that'd limit it to cars in the EU. Since there's sulfur in US gas, we shouldn't use an LL04 oil for longer than 4-5k miles. I'm not sure I'll use it at all. Going to do some more reading...

after doing some more research I have to confirm this. Apparently if you want to use LL-04 approved oil you will need to do old school oil change intervals (which I do anyways). The only way around this in the US is if you are somehow able to regularly and only purchase ethanol-free gas.

I'll try to have a Blackstone report done when I do my next oil change.

[aurelius]

FWIW, Mike Miller of Roundel and Bimmer magazines considers 5W-30 "arctic oil" and as noted in his Lifetime Maintenance Schedule, he uses Redline 10W-40 in his M54 motor @ 10k change intervals.

[LivesNearCostco]

Yes, but that 5w-40 is also "Low SAPS" the one I was thinking of at AutohausAZ is not Quartz INEO MC3 5w-40, it's Quartz Energy 9000 5w-40. Here's the spec sheet for that one; compare page 6 to page 10.
http://www4.total.fr/pdf/lubricants/...sengerCars.pdf

both Ineo blends are LL-04, the last LL-01 I used was BMW Castrol 5W-30
here is the spec sheet on Quartz Ineo MC3 5W-30
http://www.lubadmin.com/upload/produ...ang_1/5832.pdf


and here is the sheet for 5W-40
http://www.total-lubricants.ca/Pages...NT0000F6E2.pdf

[Hermes]

As a general FYI, I was talking to my buddy about oils the other day... he is friends with the President of Total Lubricants USA. He said that after a long conversation about this subject neither of them are sure as to why LL-04 is not approved in the US market. As far as he knows the LL-04 Quartz Ineo MC3 5W-40 is blended for use in the North American market with our blended gasoline despite BMW not approving it.

[UdubBadger]

So I'm about to get an oil change at local Firestone. Last time they used 5w-40 full synth and filter. Been 3000 miles and I'm due again but for $80 is it worth me going and doing when I could be using BMW oil and getting 7500 mile intervals safely? What is so different about the BMW oil to last so long? Is it LL oil?


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[UdubBadger]

Also the last time I went there they say they used 7 qts of oil. Is that BS?


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[Washburn]

7 qts is right
3000 mile OC intervals is BS - you can go at least 7-8k on a good syn oil.
its BS to pay $80 for some unknown 5/40 syn when you can buy BMW (Castrol) 5/30 LL01 oil and OEM filter from dealer (or online even cheaper for any other LL01 approved oils) and use a pump and change it yourself. 8k intervals will be just fine.

or if you don't wanna DIY, ask the place if u can bring your own oil and filter and just have them do the work and pay just for the labor - some places allow that and you'll still save money by buying oil/filters online.

[UdubBadger]

Yeah saying $88 for some 5w-40 full synth.


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile