[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

I really hate it when car manufacturers stop putting dipsticks for engine oil. Beside the ability to check the oil level with my own eyes, not having a dipstick also makes it difficult to get a few drops of oil to see its condition.(with my eyes or running it between my fingers)

Absolutely. I'm still mourning the loss of the dipstick in my M2. Thankfully I still have one in my Exige and RDX.

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

I really hate it when car manufacturers stop putting dipsticks for engine oil. Beside the ability to check the oil level with my own eyes, not having a dipstick also makes it difficult to get a few drops of oil to see its condition.(with my eyes or running it between my fingers)

Well, then you should be thankful they removed the dipstick, because running the oil through your fingers only accomplishes the goal of getting your fingers dirty with oil. Nothing more.

You cannot assess oil by looking at or touching it. Untold benefit of no dipstick.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Well, then you should be thankful they removed the dipstick, because running the oil through your fingers only accomplish the goal of getting your fingers dirty with oil. Nothing more.

You cannot assess oil by looking at or touching it. Untold benefit of no dipstick.

Incorrect.

In the case of low mileage, and if you should change your oil, it's beneficial to feel and smell the oil to see if it should be changed. The higher the milage, the less it matters.

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Incorrect.

In the case of low mileage, and if you should change your oil, it's beneficial to feel and smell the oil to see if it should be changed. The higher the milage, the less it matters.

You can say I’m incorrect, but that doesn’t make you correct.

Enjoy your oily fingers, but it’s meaningless. You do you though, I prefer butter.

Cheers!

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

BMW has been doing 10k mile synthetic oil changes for over 20 years now and there’s been no increase in engine failures in all that time.

No, not 20 years. It used to be CBS 15K/24 months prior to MY 2014. But BMW revised this in 2013 reducing the OCI from 15K to 10K (and 24 months to 12 months). The service bulletin is posted here:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=868293

The 15K OCI started when BMW started paying for oil changes. My first E36 was 10000 km (6200 miles) or once per year.

[MadBullogna]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

….I send samples to Blackstone to analyze and it always comes back that, even at 1 year, there's tons of life left in it. Additives are still present, no fuel or water dilution, etc…..

This, IMO, is the important part. Anything other than an actual OA is pure speculation, whether for increased or decreased OCIs. At the end of the day, the owner of the car has to decide what’s appropriate for their vehicle & their driving habits.

Our non-bmw, (‘21 Acura RDX, with its trusty K20C), gets an oil change every ~5.5k-6k miles, despite the MM claiming ~60% oil life remaining. Why? Because our OA consistently shows high amounts of fuel dilution (which jives, as we have a lot of short trips) as well as reduced TBN. I’d rather make the minuscule investment in ‘earlier’ OCI based on data, hopefully helping to ensure longevity, than blindly follow any manufacturer guidance or computer which at the end of the day has zero responsibility to me post-warranty period.

I’ll be doing the exact same thing when we take delivery of the Z4 - plan to follow manufacturer guidance, but conduct an OA at each oil change to gauge the sweet spot for that particular car and use pattern, which may or may not result in more frequent OCIs.

[murderspice]

OT, but has anyone read the ‘oil changes 101’ on blackstone’s website? Hilarious. https://www.blackstone-labs.com/info...l-changes-101/

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Well, then you should be thankful they removed the dipstick, because running the oil through your fingers only accomplishes the goal of getting your fingers dirty with oil. Nothing more.

You cannot assess oil by looking at or touching it. Untold benefit of no dipstick.

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Incorrect.

In the case of low mileage, and if you should change your oil, it's beneficial to feel and smell the oil to see if it should be changed. The higher the milage, the less it matters.

Originally Posted by M2siast

You can say I’m incorrect, but that doesn’t make you correct.

Enjoy your oily fingers, but it’s meaningless. You do you though, I prefer butter.

Cheers!

In the same way you can say you’re correct and it doesn’t mean you are. I’m not sure about the feel, but the smell of the oil can definitely give indications of its condition. Eliminating the dipstick is far and away one of the most STUPID things automakers have ever done!!!

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

In the same way you can say you’re correct and it doesn’t mean you are. I’m not sure about the feel, but the smell of the oil can definitely give indications of its condition. Eliminating the dipstick is far and away one of the most STUPID things automakers have ever done!!!

But I didn’t say he was incorrect. He did.
So, it’d behoove him (and now, you) to post up the proof, like I did when I shared the link to the turbo oil analysis to dispel the myth that 5k oil changes are necessary.

We’ll wait for the link that shows us how to smell oil and learn something, please share at your convenience.

Cheers!

[cooolone2]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilver.X1

I really hate it when car manufacturers stop putting dipsticks for engine oil. Beside the ability to check the oil level with my own eyes, not having a dipstick also makes it difficult to get a few drops of oil to see its condition.(with my eyes or running it between my fingers)

^^^THIS^^^

In addition to having to start the engine and get it up to operating temperature in order to electronically check oil level. I'm confused as well, who or what engineers thought this was a good idea!? I always checked color, feel and smell of the oil! Sometimes, 1000 hard miles is the same as 5000 easy driving Mrs Daisy miles!

I'm old school, even with synthetics, 5k miles, 6 months and keep the engine interior as clean as possible!

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by M2siast

But I didn’t say he was incorrect. He did.

huh??

[prostcfc]

I drive under 5k a year and change oil around 10-12 months. I have a 2020 M340 with 15,000 miles. I WFH, so daily it's daycare drop-offs and pickups, not even 1/2 mile from my house. Twice a week or so I get the oil up to 212F and drive around a bit. I'm sure it's not ideal, but I'm not going to turn a 5 minute roundtrip into 15 every time I go out.

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by prostcfc

I drive under 5k a year and change oil around 10-12 months. I have a 2020 M340 with 15,000 miles. I WFH, so daily it's daycare drop-offs and pickups, not even 1/2 mile from my house. Twice a week or so I get the oil up to 212F and drive around a bit. I'm sure it's not ideal, but I'm not going to turn a 5 minute roundtrip into 15 every time I go out.

You could turn a 5 minute roundtrip into a 15 minute walk, though. No downsides, only upsides.

[prostcfc]

Originally Posted by M2siast

You could turn a 5 minute roundtrip into a 15 minute walk, though. No downsides, only upsides.

Yeah, for sure. The roads are pretty busy though and no sidewalks, so not conducive to shepherding three kids to daycare. I feel lazy regardless.

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by prostcfc

Yeah, for sure. The roads are pretty busy though and no sidewalks, so not conducive to shepherding three kids to daycare. I feel lazy regardless.

Ah that’s less than ideal. I may have it easier living downtown and my son’s daycare is the exact same distance as your kids’… but I do have a safe and pleasant walk because it’s downtown. I understand you a bit more, corralling 3 kids is also a different beast.

But if you can manage it somehow, your car and your body (and maybe your kids) will feel much better. I sometimes refuse to turn my car on if it’s for a short drive, but have driven to daycare too (if I’m sick in bed, for example).

Hopefully you’ll get a sidewalk or something sometime! cheers

[Rafichicago]

The whole debate here will not convince unconvinced. There’s a reason why some ze transmissions wouldn’t make it past 70K miles without valve body rebuild because of lifetime fluid. Many problems that those engines have after more or less 100k miles could be avoided with 5k-6k oil changes intervals. Haters trying to save a buck going to hate.