newbie questiln aboit fluids

[DarinS]

While I may be new to e34s I've been in to e30s for nearly ten years, and thats why I have a few fluid questions.

Engine oil. When I worked at the dealership we used BMW synthetic on all engines from m50 and newer, and everything older (m20/30/42) got 15w40 dino juice. When I bought my e34 with the m50NV I put in the synthetic stuff and called it good. But looking at the Bentley manual and its nifty oil chart, it recommends a 15w50 or 20w50 for my climate. That seems much too heavy for a modern dohc engine like the m50 or m60, and the manual does not say which engine that chart is for. It seems to me like that chart would be for an m20 or m30. So my question is, what is a good weight for the m50? Is 5w30 too light? And is 20w50 too heavy?

Trans fluid. It's a GM tranny, so no fancy german engineering. I assume regular dexron/mercon III would be fine, ya? What about synthetics? Are they overkill on a trans like this? Royal purple seems to be popular with domestics, anyone using that? I've always used Redline on German stuff, i assume its ok in this thing too. Again, looking for input.

Thanks guys!

[auto da fe]

Mobil 1 0w-40 or, if you prefer something a bit more robust, Mobil 1 10w-40 High Mileage. Don't get your knickers in a twist and don't use 20w50.

[bubba966]

I put Amsoil Euro formula in a friend's M50TU (it's 5w40). Have run Mobil 1 5w30, Delo 5w40, & Amsoil 0w30 in my M60 and much prefer the Amsoil 0w30. Would run the Amsoil 0w30 in the M50TU if it didn't cost as much as it does. I've not liked Mobil 1 in any weight in any car I've tried it in.

20w50 is a bit thick for the PNW in my opinion. 5w30 should be just fine. 5w40 runs fine as well. Go ahead and run whatever synthetic engine oil that floats your boat.

And for the tranny any decent Dexron III is fine. Wouldn't bother with RP or any other synthetic in a tranny that calls for Dexron III. When I had a custom very high performance GM tranny built for my truck I was told by the builder that spendy synthetics for a tranny that doesn't call for it are a waste of $. Put whatever decent non-synth fluid in that you find and make sure you drain & refill it every so often. A drain & refill is much more important than running synth.

[zubbie]

gee another oil thread.

[nsr13196]

I put Amsoil Euro formula in a friend's M50TU (it's 5w40). Have run Mobil 1 5w30, Delo 5w40, & Amsoil 0w30 in my M60 and much prefer the Amsoil 0w30. Would run the Amsoil 0w30 in the M50TU if it didn't cost as much as it does. I've not liked Mobil 1 in any weight in any car I've tried it in.

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I would run the Amsoil 0w-30 unless you have an oil burning problem then I would go with a bit thicker oil.

[bolloc]

I would run the Amsoil 0w-30 unless you have an oil burning problem then I would go with a bit thicker oil.

Why?

[nsr13196]

Why?

In my everyday experience (not studies) the thicker oil helps to not burn also many speed shops have told me the same.