[ReaperF30]

I have a 2016 328i N26, what oil do you guys recommend I use for the engine? The temperature dips to 30F and goes as high 70F.
The car also has 130k miles, I know bmw recommends 0w-20 but seems to thin imo

[ooshnoo]

Do a forum search please. This topic has been asked and answered, beaten to death.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by ReaperF30

I have a 2016 328i N26, what oil do you guys recommend I use for the engine? The temperature dips to 30F and goes as high 70F.
The car also has 130k miles, I know bmw recommends 0w-20 but seems to thin imo

Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40.

[lucasborka]

BMW recommends 0w-20 LL17FE oil

Don't mess with different viscosity if you haven't changed bearing clearance

[sspade]

The N20 was designed to run 40 weight oil but 30 weight should also be fine.

Anyone running 20 weight is an idiot. The engine is the same throughout the entire production run, why would BMW adjust the recommendation? Hm.

I wont argue facts. Do some research if you're still confused.

[ReaperF30]

Originally Posted by sspade

The N20 was designed to run 40 weight oil but 30 weight should also be fine.

Anyone running 20 weight is an idiot. The engine is the same throughout the entire production run, why would BMW adjust the recommendation? Hm.

I wont argue facts. Do some research if you're still confused.

Could there be any damage in running 20 weight oil?

[sspade]

Originally Posted by ReaperF30

Could there be any damage in running 20 weight oil?

It seems obvious that the recommended oil was changed midway through the lifecycle to increase CAFE numbers. This does not bode well for longevity on an engine originally designed for at minimum a 30 weight oil.

Been running 40 weight for two different N20 powered vehicles over approximately 135k miles total. Change every 5k miles.

Still get around 35mpg cruising on the highway?! Is it worth running 20 weight to squeak out 36-37 mpg? Not for me.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/laws-regulatio...e-fuel-economy

[edycol]

Originally Posted by lucasborka

BMW recommends 0w-20 LL17FE oil

Don't mess with different viscosity if you haven't changed bearing clearance

That ABSOLUTELY doesn't make any sense.

[edycol]

BMW base oil requirements on HTHS, not grade per se.
In N20/26 engines due to timing chain guide issues, one wants thicker, ZDDP rich oil.
Go Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. You really, REALLY want approved oil like this PPE 5W40 (people with N51/52/53/54/55/62/63 can use oils without BMW approval but MB229.5 approval) as 2018 update of BMW approvals includes timing chain test on N20/26 engine.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by sspade

It seems obvious that the recommended oil was changed midway through the lifecycle to increase CAFE numbers. This does not bode well for longevity on an engine originally designed for at minimum a 30 weight oil.

Been running 40 weight for two different N20 powered vehicles over approximately 135k miles total. Change every 5k miles.

Still get around 35mpg cruising on the highway?! Is it worth running 20 weight to squeak out 36-37 mpg? Not for me.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/laws-regulatio...e-fuel-economy

Yes. It was done strictly for CAFE. Hence FE in approval designation.

One thing people have to understand that running thicker oil is not an issue. Running thinner than required can be major problem.

[ReaperF30]

Originally Posted by edycol

Yes. It was done strictly for CAFE. Hence FE in approval designation.

One thing people have to understand that running thicker oil is not an issue. Running thinner than required can be major problem.

I ended up buying this oil

[Draken]

Originally Posted by edycol

BMW base oil requirements on HTHS, not grade per se.
In N20/26 engines due to timing chain guide issues, one wants thicker, ZDDP rich oil.
Go Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. You really, REALLY want approved oil like this PPE 5W40 (people with N51/52/53/54/55/62/63 can use oils without BMW approval but MB229.5 approval) as 2018 update of BMW approvals includes timing chain test on N20/26 engine.

Same recommendation for the diesel engines?

[ReaperF30]

Originally Posted by Draken

Same recommendation for the diesel engines?

I mean the engine sounds like a diesel so might as well add the same oil 😂

[Draken]

Originally Posted by ReaperF30

I mean the engine sounds like a diesel so might as well add the same oil 😂

Haha yeah, just trying to figure out what to use since there’s so much debate out here. Not wanting to pay $200 for an oil change.
Sounds like Penzoil and Castro are the go tos?

[ReaperF30]

Originally Posted by Draken

Haha yeah, just trying to figure out what to use since there’s so much debate out here. Not wanting to pay $200 for an oil change.
Sounds like Penzoil and Castro are the go tos?

Yeah Liquid Moly is pretty good too, and is supposed to make the engine a bit quieter from what I've heard, but any oil that's bmw approved and is 5w-30 or 5w-40 should be good.

[Draken]

Originally Posted by ReaperF30

Yeah Liquid Moly is pretty good too, and is supposed to make the engine a bit quieter from what I've heard, but any oil that's bmw approved and is 5w-30 or 5w-40 should be good.

Sweet thank you ! I’ll probably go with what’s available in stores like penzoil or Castro

[edycol]

Originally Posted by Draken

Same recommendation for the diesel engines?

You must go LL04. Pennzoil Platinum Euro L 5W30, Motul X-Clean+ 5W30 would be my choices.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by ReaperF30

Yeah Liquid Moly is pretty good too, and is supposed to make the engine a bit quieter from what I've heard, but any oil that's bmw approved and is 5w-30 or 5w-40 should be good.

Generally, Liqui Moly is average oil. Whether it makes engine quiet or not is not indicative of performance.
Thicker oils will give smoother sound as well as certain combustion of additives and base stocks. But thick oil is not what matters. It is HTHS that is most important variable. Some blenders (Liqui Moly) have to bump KV100 (kinematic viscosity at 100c) to get appropriate HTHS. Some blenders like Pennzoil, Mobil1, Motul use very sophisticated base stock to bump HTHS, but their KV100 is on thinner side. The reason is golden rule of lubrication: as thick as necessary, as thin as possible.

[ReaperF30]

Originally Posted by edycol

Generally, Liqui Moly is average oil. Whether it makes engine quiet or not is not indicative of performance.
Thicker oils will give smoother sound as well as certain combustion of additives and base stocks. But thick oil is not what matters. It is HTHS that is most important variable. Some blenders (Liqui Moly) have to bump KV100 (kinematic viscosity at 100c) to get appropriate HTHS. Some blenders like Pennzoil, Mobil1, Motul use very sophisticated base stock to bump HTHS, but their KV100 is on thinner side. The reason is golden rule of lubrication: as thick as necessary, as thin as possible.

Idk have heard a lot of great reviews about liquid moly, but generally I think as long as the oil you use is meets bmw standards and has a multi grade rating such as 0w-40 or 5w-40 you should be good.

[Draken]

Awesome, thanks for all the responses. I’ll give Penz a try, I’ll be changing it every 5k miles either way so.

[jsouth]

Originally Posted by Draken

Awesome, thanks for all the responses. I’ll give Penz a try, I’ll be changing it every 5k miles either way so.

Just be sure you use 5 Liters, not 5 quarts. If you buy a 5 quart container, add nine more ounces (assuming N20/N26 engine). That was one of the things I liked about Liqui Moly - it comes in 5L container. Dump it in and be done with it.