Oil Fanatics: Cheap LL-01 Approved Castrol 5W-40

[ericchapman]

you guys are lucky with oil prices. just like gas here its priced crazy high. when i did my oil change i used castrol edge 5w 40 and it was 53$ plus tax for a 5qt jug. i had to buy 2 since they had no little bottles so my total came to 122$ with tax just for the oil itself without the filter

[Denwad]

The country of origin has NOTHING to do with approvals or formulations.

this is true however the "German Castrol" moniker came about to refer to the Castrol 0w-30 and other weights that were actually made in germany.

[bimas]

you guys are lucky with oil prices. just like gas here its priced crazy high. when i did my oil change i used castrol edge 5w 40 and it was 53$ plus tax for a 5qt jug. i had to buy 2 since they had no little bottles so my total came to 122$ with tax just for the oil itself without the filter

Eek. Gross.

[d14704d]

I live in Florida and drive a '02 530 with 172K miles and my go-to oil is Pentosin HP II, 5-w40 Made in Germany.
Specs: API SN/CF, ACEA C3, BMW LL-04, Porsche A40, VW 502 00 / 505 00 / 505 01.

Comes in a 5 Litre bottle @36.95+ shipping and I get it from ECS tuning, Wadsworth, OH
If you live in an area that is not super cold in the winter, use this oil year round and BE DONE WITH IT.

Dave
SCPO(SW), USN, (Ret)

[mxchris727]

I live in Florida and drive a '02 530 with 172K miles and my go-to oil is Pentosin HP II, 5-w40 Made in Germany.
Specs: API SN/CF, ACEA C3, BMW LL-04, Porsche A40, VW 502 00 / 505 00 / 505 01.

Comes in a 5 Litre bottle @36.95+ shipping and I get it from ECS tuning, Wadsworth, OH
If you live in an area that is not super cold in the winter, use this oil year round and BE DONE WITH IT.

Dave
SCPO(SW), USN, (Ret)

That oil is not compatible with US gas. It will break down much quicker due to the high sulfur content. Again, it needs to be BMW LL-01 approved, not LL-04.

[d14704d]

Chris, I'll bet you know a lot more about oil than I do, so can you give a brief explanation of the relationship between the oil and the gas, and, how does the oil's lubrication process change, when the gas is not "compatible" with the oil. Thanks!

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Btw- can you comment on how Diesel fuel relates to the LL-01 / 04 discussion? Thanks again

[AutoRotate]

+1

[crazy4trains]

That oil is not compatible with US gas. It will break down much quicker due to the high sulfur content. Again, it needs to be BMW LL-01 approved, not LL-04.

So LL-04 oil is not compatible with US gas??? That sounds like a major FUBAR. You sure about that???

[dwint21]

LL-01 oils are for high sulfur content fuels - as in USA fuels.

LL-04 oil is for low sulfur content fuels - as in Germany/Europe fuels

--that info is straight from BITOG.

[d14704d]

Check this out regarding LL-01 and 04: http://www.oilspecifications.org/bmw.php

I'll stick with Pentosin HP II 5W-40 year round here in Florida.

[mxchris727]

Taken directly from BMW's TIS:

"Long-life-04 oils must not be used in spark ignition engines in countries outside Europe."

[d14704d]

where did u find m1 5w40?

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MW Longlife-04Special BMW approval for fully synthetic long-life oil. Viscosities are SAE 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30 and 5W-40. Usually required for BMWs equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Can also be used where a BMW Longlife-98 or BMW Longlife-01 oil is recommended.
www.oilspecifications.org/bmw.php

[mxchris727]

where did u find m1 5w40?

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MW Longlife-04Special BMW approval for fully synthetic long-life oil. Viscosities are SAE 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30 and 5W-40. Usually required for BMWs equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). Can also be used where a BMW Longlife-98 or BMW Longlife-01 oil is recommended.
www.oilspecifications.org/bmw.php

It's your car. I'd trust BMW's documentation over any other generic website.

This is not an argument.

[gmak]

you guys are lucky with oil prices. just like gas here its priced crazy high. when i did my oil change i used castrol edge 5w 40 and it was 53$ plus tax for a 5qt jug. i had to buy 2 since they had no little bottles so my total came to 122$ with tax just for the oil itself without the filter

You should subscribe to the cdn tire online flyer. They often have sales of the 5W-40 German make castrol for 30 or so loonies.

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this is true however the "German Castrol" moniker came about to refer to the Castrol 0w-30 and other weights that were actually made in germany.

And the oil made in Germany has a better ash ratio - Much better for your engine that the Castrol Syntec (which would not be called synthetic in Germany. It is effectively mineral oil).

[Flounderasu]

It's your car. I'd trust BMW's documentation over any other generic website.

This is not an argument.

There's a BMW TIS posted about LL-04 and not using it in the states @ BITOG.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=1564784

[lesguy]

Been using walmarts full synth 5w-30 for many years. Works for me.

[dwint21]

That's different than an ll-04 oil. But is there a reason you choose 5w-30 Walmart synthetic when Walmart carries 0w-40 Mobil 1 which is LL01.

Only curious. I don't actually think it will make a big difference. But I wouldn't get an LL04 personally.

[lesguy]

Walmarts SuperTech (Full Synthetic) is about $18 for 5 quarts. And I've been using it with no issues in several vehicles I've owned and sold over the past 15 years, including Benz and BMW. Never had the need to spend 100% (or more) more, for name brand oils where half of the cost of the oil is to cover marketing.

[gmak]

My $0.02?

If you're changing your oil regularly at 5K miles or less, it really doesn't matter what you put in so long as it has the proper temperature rating. If you're less aggressive on the changes, then better quality oils are better for your car. What is labelled as full synthetic in USA may not be elsewhere in the world.

[quattro PETE]

That oil is not compatible with US gas. It will break down much quicker due to the high sulfur content. Again, it needs to be BMW LL-01 approved, not LL-04.

Saying that it's incompatible is a little misleading. It is true that LL-04 oil is a low SAPS oil which means lower additive package, thus incapable of super long drain intervals in areas where gasoline is not ULS (ultra low sulfur). For someone who changes their oil every 5-7.5k miles, this is a non-issue. For someone who follows the car's OLM and changes every 15K miles or so, this is an issue.

However, in most stores LL-01 oils cost about the same as LL-04 oils, so I really see no reason to purposely buy LL-04 oil unless you own a modern diesel engine.

[newnovice]

Castrol 03101 EDGE 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil - 5 Quart - $23.77 on amazon.... I have been only getting oil changed at the dealer. this will be used to just top off between changes..

hope this is OK ?

[quattro PETE]

Yes, Edge 0w-40 is a good oil and will work just fine. If I'm not mistaken, it is also currently on roll-back at Walmart for $22 and change.

[djb2]

Amazon has had Castrol Edge Euro (0W40 w/ LL01 rating) at that price for at least a few months. Amazon says that I last ordered it on October 1 2015.

Right now Costco has 6 individual quarts of Mobil 1 Euro for $26 or $27 after a $10 discount, which works out to a slightly better price. Although you have to be a Costco member, and you'll be charged tax on the pre-discount price.