oil question

Hi guys,

I'm thinking changing my oil when i reach 5000 miles. Is this a good idea? Thx

Changing oil more often is always a good idea. The question is, is it cost effective? Some will say yes while others will say no. It is your call.

There are a couple of threads already discussing this issue in extenso, containing valuable user feedback & opinions. Run a search and you will find these.

I would change it, and am next week when I take my car in for the DCT lag issue and a few other things. My car has 3,600 miles on it.

Another poster (do a search) posted an oil analysis he did with about 5K on the oil. It was ready to be changed.

Synthetics are wonderful oils, and last a long time. However, the additives in the oils don't last longer than in any other oil. Also, during the first 5K or so (even more), you are still "breaking in" the motor, so you will have more metallics, etc. in the oil.

I am going to change my oil every 5K at the most. To me, it's cheap insurance.

yes

Just do It. Its cheaper than a new engine

GT3 Tim wrote

I would change it, and am next week when I take my car in for the DCT lag issue and a few other things. My car has 3,600 miles on it.

Another poster (do a search) posted an oil analysis he did with about 5K on the oil. It was ready to be changed.

Synthetics are wonderful oils, and last a long time. However, the additives in the oils don't last longer than in any other oil. Also, during the first 5K or so (even more), you are still "breaking in" the motor, so you will have more metallics, etc. in the oil.

I am going to change my oil every 5K at the most. To me, it's cheap insurance.

Forget the oil. Any info/rumors about a turbocharger system?

jimh103 wrote

I'm thinking changing my oil when i reach 5000 miles. Is this a good idea? Thx

No.

It's not a bad idea with a new engine. During break in, microscopic metal shavings can get into the oil stream which is best to have filtered out with an oil change. Again, it can't hurt to do an oil change and given it's such a low cost maintenance item, why not?

I am gonna do it closer to 8500, in between the 1200 and the 15000.

Nick@Jlevi SW wrote

It's not a bad idea with a new engine. During break in, microscopic metal shavings can get into the oil stream which is best to have filtered out with an oil change. Again, it can't hurt to do an oil change and given it's such a low cost maintenance item, why not?

It's an absolute waste is why not. The 1,200 mile change is there allow an inspection of the break in oil, replace it and set you up for the long haul. Synthetics oils, as used in the M3, are expensive because they require a lot of energy to make and they contain stabalizing formulations that keep them stable over wide heat ranges and for a long duration. Changing them prematurely wastes resources and doesn't do you car any good in normal usage.

Dave

I disagree with the idea that Synthetic oils do not break down as fast as pure petroleum based oils... I run synthetics in my planes and boats, after 10-25 hours of run time both show signs of degrading. I realize that in an aircraft it is not something you want to even think about screwing around with, but an engine is an engine period. I change the oil in my BMW every 7500 miles… most oil is recycled anyway in one form or another… The only waste is to your wallet.

So, you can simply look at lubricants and tell if they're degrading after a few hours? That's simply amazing. Your perception skills are exceptional, akin to one of those cancer sniffing dogs.

I'll take the recommendations of scientists that actually design tests and validate their findings. People are welcome to waste oil, but I don't think that more frequent oils changes than BMW recommends are useful at all, in normal usage.

Dave

I have the oil in my planes tested everytime... The boat just burns the hell out of the oil after 25 hrs. $300 worth of oil for the boat is alot cheaper than $250,000 for engines... as for the planes... the report show degrading after 10 hours on the Pitts and 15 hours on the 180... Pitts being acrobatic, and the 180 is my tansport. To me once degrading starts to appear... change it... I dont have the oil in my car tested, its just a car... I do change it after 7500 miles though... It makes me feel better...

dcstep:

You are clueless when it comes to the S65. Since you chose to take the recommendations of scientists, see the below post.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3970520&highlight=#post3970520

dcstep wrote

It's an absolute waste is why not. The 1,200 mile change is there allow an inspection of the break in oil, replace it and set you up for the long haul. Synthetics oils, as used in the M3, are expensive because they require a lot of energy to make and they contain stabalizing formulations that keep them stable over wide heat ranges and for a long duration. Changing them prematurely wastes resources and doesn't do you car any good in normal usage.

Dave

+1

Also I'm very curious how one thinks they can look at their oil and tell if it's degrading???

dcstep wrote

It's an absolute waste is why not. The 1,200 mile change is there allow an inspection of the break in oil, replace it and set you up for the long haul. Synthetics oils, as used in the M3, are expensive because they require a lot of energy to make and they contain stabalizing formulations that keep them stable over wide heat ranges and for a long duration. Changing them prematurely wastes resources and doesn't do you car any good in normal usage.

Dave

1: Please tell me how you inspect oil without sending a sample of the oil for an oil analysis. 2: What are stabilizing formulations??? Do you mean the additive package??? 3: Why are you concerned about wasting resources if you drive an M3.

Personally I don't think you know what you are talking about. You should not pretend to know and then make recommendations to a person asking a serious question. The OP did not want your opinion or he wanted a real answer. BTW: I am a Mechanic by trade.

To the OP a 5k mile oil change interval is a good plan if you intend on keeping the car for a long time. However, if you intend to only keep it for a few years or are leasing it with no intention to purchase then just do the BMW recommended intervals. Any damage/decreased life from the extended intervals will not show up until the engine has 100k+ miles on it.

J08M3 wrote

+1

Also I'm very curious how one thinks they can look at their oil and tell if it's degrading???

That is of course they are wearing a serious Mr. Peanut monocle.



The only thing that is degrading is this thread.

alpineweissM3 wrote

dcstep:

You are clueless when it comes to the S65. Since you chose to take the recommendations of scientists, see the below post.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3970520&highlight=#post3970520

Maybe you can't read or comphrehend what you're reading. There's no validity at all to comparing metals content to "averages" of who-knows-what from other samples. Those will vary a ton based on the metals of the engine. That whole first section of the report shows nothing disturbing.

As for viscosity, where does the "should be" come from? Even it it's correct, the difference is very minor at 210-degrees. More important, what is the characteristic of the fresh specified oil and how has it changed, if at all. This particular oil sample was short circuited and meaningless because the oil hasn't even begun to be stressed apparently. There's almost nothing scientific out this example. Looks to me like a lab thought of a way to make some money on the side.

Also, the OP blew up an earlier engine, so I wonder if his usage can be classified at "normal". Note that all my posts suggests complying with the BMW oil change recommendations for "normal usage." I suspect that the OP is a racer and high temperature operation probably should lead to modifying the oil change routine. OTOH, our OP on this thread didn't mention racing or any other high stress usage.

Dave

J08M3 wrote

+1

Also I'm very curious how one thinks they can look at their oil and tell if it's degrading???

Old school engine builders, ie Big Daddy Don Garlits and a long list of others used to visualize oil all the time... the school of though was... If it's burnt change it... with todays modern technology you have a bunch of techie types who like to use scientific methods... this is a good thing... Like I said in my post above, I have my airplanes tested everytime, because that is so much more important to have as many diagnostic tools as possible... as for my boats, the one I really care about runs twin 1250 hp Sterling Motors, these are bullet proof who cares about weight torque monsters... after about 25 hrs the oil is just starting to brown out, it is no longer translucent... I change the oil, I dont really care if the oil still has more life in it... The same goes for my cars...

Big Daddy rebuilt the engine after every run!! The stresses of 1500 hp are not what we're talking about. Beside, Big Daddy was using cave man oil, the best available in his day.

Dave

dcstep wrote

Maybe you can't read or comphrehend what you're reading. There's no validity at all to comparing metals content to "averages" of who-knows-what from other samples. Those will vary a ton based on the metals of the engine. That whole first section of the report shows nothing disturbing.

As for viscosity, where does the "should be" come from? Even it it's correct, the difference is very minor at 210-degrees. More important, what is the characteristic of the fresh specified oil and how has it changed, if at all. This particular oil sample was short circuited and meaningless because the oil hasn't even begun to be stressed apparently. There's almost nothing scientific out this example. Looks to me like a lab thought of a way to make some money on the side.

Also, the OP blew up an earlier engine, so I wonder if his usage can be classified at "normal". Note that all my posts suggests complying with the BMW oil change recommendations for "normal usage." I suspect that the OP is a racer and high temperature operation probably should lead to modifying the oil change routine. OTOH, our OP on this thread didn't mention racing or any other high stress usage.

Dave

I will repeat: You don't know what you are talking about. Please stop, you are just making yourself look stupid to those of us that do know.