[shax]

Hello i have b48 330e hybrid and now use ll-04 5w40 oil, but bmw recommended ll-14 or ll-17 0w20 oil. Because it is a hybrid and the engine is often cold. Now I've read the forums and I'm completely lost as to which oil to take. ll-01 0w40 with porsche a40 or ll-17 0w20? Can you give me some advice?

My climate is varied. Summer warms up to +30 degrees outside, winter is sometimes -20 degrees

[Billfitz]

Use the grade that BMW recommends. I can't see using 5w40 except in the summer only.

[Itogliano]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Use the grade that BMW recommends. I can't see using 5w40 except in the summer only.

I know this is a hotly debated topic so take this for whatever you deem it worth, but my mechanic, a BMW and race car specialist, told me BMW's switch to 0w20 was to prioritize hitting emissions requirements and better fuel mileage, not engine health or longevity.

His recommendation is to stick with the formerly called for 5w30 if the engine is under 50,000 miles, and then switch to 5w40 after 50,000 miles. It might not actually make much, if any, difference but that's what I've been doing and my oil analyses have been indicating great engine condition.

[Itogliano]

Originally Posted by shax

Hello i have b48 330e hybrid and now use ll-04 5w40 oil, but bmw recommended ll-14 or ll-17 0w20 oil. Because it is a hybrid and the engine is often cold. Now I've read the forums and I'm completely lost as to which oil to take. ll-01 0w40 with porsche a40 or ll-17 0w20? Can you give me some advice?

My climate is varied. Summer warms up to +30 degrees outside, winter is sometimes -20 degrees

Check me reply above to Billfitz but just to address a couple things in your comment, BMW has changed their recommendation to 0w20 for all engines produced 2015(?) onwards (M engines might be different). The fact it is a hybrid makes no difference. The reasoning it's often cold, makes no difference. Only the first number in the oil weight pertains to cold viscosity. e.g. A 0w20 and 0w500 would behave the exact same when cold. The second number is the oil viscosity at operating temp. Use a 0wXX if you're concerned about cold performance.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Itogliano

I know this is a hotly debated topic so take this for whatever you deem it worth, but my mechanic, a BMW and race car specialist, told me BMW's switch to 0w20 was to prioritize hitting emissions requirements and better fuel mileage, not engine health or longevity.

That's absolutely correct. I guess we just have to trust that the BMW engineers have made whatever improvements necessary to run with 0w-20 without compromising engine life. Considering the Toyota and Honda engines rated to use 0w-16 I don't see that as an impossible task. If one wants to hedge their bets and use 5w30 there's no law that says you may not do so.

[edycol]

Guys, grade is irrelevant, HTHS is what matters.
That means that you might stumble on 5W30 with higher HTHS than some (usually lower quality oils like Castrol Edge 5W40, various Liqui Moly etc) 5W40 oils.
This is also fairly simple explanation. There is more to it (type of additives) etc.
But, previous statement about 0W20 is absolutely correct. That is bcs. lower grade yields lower HTHS. Higher HTHS=more resistance.
Move to 0W30 LL01 FE was done for same reasons.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

That's absolutely correct. I guess we just have to trust that the BMW engineers have made whatever improvements necessary to run with 0w-20 without compromising engine life. Considering the Toyota and Honda engines rated to use 0w-16 I don't see that as an impossible task. If one wants to hedge their bets and use 5w30 there's no law that says you may not do so.

FYI- I've been using 0W40 since I got my N55 EWG. It was one of the oil viscosities approved by BMW. But last winter I observed the OFHG leaking upon ice cold startup when the ambient temperature was in the 20's. As the engine warmed up the leaking would stop. A BMW mechanic told me that he observed this when he worked in New England. My OFHG was less than 6 months old.

I replaced the OFHG again and the serpentine belt which could have been oily. I switched to 5W40 with the assumption that it won't be quite as thin as 0W40 when the temperature drops again this winter. I'm going to continue to use 5W40 as the best all around viscosity for summer and winter.

[Billfitz]

You have to be of a certain age to remember the days of 20w-30 mineral oil that was so thick below 10 degrees that it wasn't unusual for the battery to die before the engine would start. Below zero you needed a block heater. I recall the first time I was in Minnesota and noticed AC outlets outside the units. They weren't for charging plug in hybrids, they were for block heaters. I also recall when I started using Mobil 1 5w-20 in 1974 and the need for block heaters and jumper cables went away. It wasn't just the viscosity, it was because it was full synthetic. When it became available in 1980 I went to 5w-30. I still use 5w-30 because I haven't had a oil related failure or problem since that first fill with Mobil 1.

[lucasborka]

Recommend reading this! Very good info

https://www.bimmerworld.com/BMW-Engine-Oil/

[edycol]

Originally Posted by johnung

FYI- I've been using 0W40 since I got my N55 EWG. It was one of the oil viscosities approved by BMW. But last winter I observed the OFHG leaking upon ice cold startup when the ambient temperature was in the 20's. As the engine warmed up the leaking would stop. A BMW mechanic told me that he observed this when he worked in New England. My OFHG was less than 6 months old.

I replaced the OFHG again and the serpentine belt which could have been oily. I switched to 5W40 with the assumption that it won't be quite as thin as 0W40 when the temperature drops again this winter. I'm going to continue to use 5W40 as the best all around viscosity for summer and winter.

There are 0W40 oils that are thicker than 5W40.
Your OFHG leaks while cold bcs. it contracts. When it heats up it expands.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by lucasborka

Recommend reading this! Very good info

https://www.bimmerworld.com/BMW-Engine-Oil/

There are a lot of mistakes and omissions.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by edycol

There are a lot of mistakes and omissions.

It also seems to hint at the fact that off the shelf "walmart" oils are lower tier than higher end botique oils - which is not even remotely true.

Walmart oils like Pennzoil, castrol edge, mobil1, valveoline etc are far superior than some "high end" big name oils that you commonly see.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by F87source

It also seems to hint at the fact that off the shelf "walmart" oils are lower tier than higher end botique oils - which is not even remotely true.

Walmart oils like Pennzoil, castrol edge, mobil1, valveoline etc are far superior than some "high end" big name oils that you commonly see.

Ampng other things.
I kind of lost focus when I read API SP addresses only 0W16 and 0W20 oils, which could not be further from the truth.

[lucasborka]

Originally Posted by F87source

It also seems to hint at the fact that off the shelf "walmart" oils are lower tier than higher end botique oils - which is not even remotely true.

Walmart oils like Pennzoil, castrol edge, mobil1, valveoline etc are far superior than some "high end" big name oils that you commonly see.

Okay, I understand. Where can I get good reliable info about oils?

[F87source]

Originally Posted by lucasborka

Okay, I understand. Where can I get good reliable info about oils?

bob is the oil guy and edycol - he's one of the knowledgeable people on there and also on here.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by edycol

There are 0W40 oils that are thicker than 5W40.
Your OFHG leaks while cold bcs. it contracts. When it heats up it expands.

That may be true in general, but I was using the same brand so I'd expect their 0W to be thinner than their 5W.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by johnung

That may be true in general, but I was using the same brand so I'd expect their 0W to be thinner than their 5W.

That doesn't matter.
In reality XW40 oils are very close in KV100. We are probably talking at most 2-3% difference.
What oils you used?

[NR93]

I have a question, and I didn't see it in this thread (may have missed it) but what do we think about getting SN+ rated oils (such as Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 5w-30,0w-20, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-A...-5-qt/17034372) to combat Low Speed Pre-Ignition in 4 cylinder engines? Do BMW 4 cylinders seem affected by this?

I visited the Alfa Romeo Giulia forum and they discuss how much those engines need it, and even Alfa Romeo have updated their owners manual to require SN+ rated oils. (Specifically mentioned in this post here: https://www.giuliaforums.com/threads...ms13340.50969/)

Since the 4 cylinders take 5w-30, would it be safer to just go for the SN+ rated oils?

[AspektUSA]

Originally Posted by NR93

I have a question, and I didn't see it in this thread (may have missed it) but what do we think about getting SN+ rated oils (such as Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 5w-30,0w-20, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-A...-5-qt/17034372) to combat Low Speed Pre-Ignition in 4 cylinder engines? Do BMW 4 cylinders seem affected by this?

I visited the Alfa Romeo Giulia forum and they discuss how much those engines need it, and even Alfa Romeo have updated their owners manual to require SN+ rated oils. (Specifically mentioned in this post here: https://www.giuliaforums.com/threads...ms13340.50969/)

Since the 4 cylinders take 5w-30, would it be safer to just go for the SN+ rated oils?

AFAIK the only LPSI events I can think of affect(ed) Ford and Honda before the standards were updated.

It doesn't seem to be a Euro car problem.

[Draken]

I've read a lot and there's so many brands/types being thrown around.. I just bought a 2018 328d. I plan on changing the oil myself since the dealership quoted me $200 which is a bit ridiculous.
I'm coming from the truck world (cummins in particular) and it's a lot easier to choose a oil thats not the OEM I feel like..
Overall, for the diesel engines in BMW (N47T), other then OEM whats the recommended? I currently live in NorCal so temps don't get below 30 hardly at all if not ever.
Thanks!

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Draken

I've read a lot and there's so many brands/types being thrown around.. I just bought a 2018 328d. I plan on changing the oil myself since the dealership quoted me $200 which is a bit ridiculous.
I'm coming from the truck world (cummins in particular) and it's a lot easier to choose a oil thats not the OEM I feel like..
Overall, for the diesel engines in BMW (N47T), other then OEM whats the recommended? I currently live in NorCal so temps don't get below 30 hardly at all if not ever.
Thanks!

Pennzoil Euro L 5w30 can be bought at Walmart.

Pentosin SP3

Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 (No longer LL04 but has 229.51, 504/507 , C30. These are approvals for gas and diesel vehicles in the US).

You might be able to get away with any oil which has ACEA C3.

[Itogliano]

Originally Posted by Draken

I've read a lot and there's so many brands/types being thrown around.. I just bought a 2018 328d. I plan on changing the oil myself since the dealership quoted me $200 which is a bit ridiculous.
I'm coming from the truck world (cummins in particular) and it's a lot easier to choose a oil thats not the OEM I feel like..
Overall, for the diesel engines in BMW (N47T), other then OEM whats the recommended? I currently live in NorCal so temps don't get below 30 hardly at all if not ever.
Thanks!

Fwiw, ~$200 is pretty standard for an oil change for BMW/Merc/Audi. My indie shop I think comes out to $18X for my 6 cylinder.

If you check your manual it should say something along the lines of "any oil meeting BMW Spec XXXX is suitable." As you said, you'll find a tonne of debate on the forums about which is the "best" oil but if you're not abusing the car, it really doesn't matter too much. Find one that is readily available to you, meets BMW spec, be diligent about following oil change interval (I'm not as familiar with diesel engines but it's 5000 miles for gasoline engines), and the car will serve you well for many years to come