Quick Question on Oil Opinions

[Xz Dark Star zX]

So, according to the service records of my 540, the previous owner has been running Valvoline Synthetic 15 w40 for the last 95,000 miles...

the car is a 97, and just rolled over to 130.5K today, and its "that time again" ... should i step up to a thicker oil for such a high mile engine? Or maybe quiet down the tiny valve clatter i hear every now and then?


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f204/dark___star/f94af959-1.jpg
any ideas??

[jamesdc4]

I think your good with the weight your running right now, but you might want to consider changing to a BMW LL approved oil. I have a 98 540 getting close to the 120k mile mark and I'm running Total 5w-40.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/jamesdc4/IMG_9348.jpg
What kind of engine oil should I use? (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=938280)

The original thread somehow got deleted. Original thread also had a pdf with other oils in it that I no longer have.

I'll keep this up to date as new information comes to me.

BMW - LL04
Amsoil 5-40 European Car Formula (http://www.amsoil.com/redirect.cgi?zo=1574399&page=storefront/afl)
Valvoline Synpower 5-30
Valvoline Synpower 5-40 (pending)
Liqui-Moly 5W30
Total 5W30

BMW - LL01
Mobil 1 0-40
Castrol Snytec 0-30 European
Pentospeed 0W30
Total 0W30

BMW - LL98
Liqui-Moly 5W40
Pentohigh 5W30
Total 5W40

BMW - Motorsport
Total 10W50
Castrol TWS 10W60 (http://eactuning.com/parts/product_details/07510009420)

BMW 5w-30 Oil (http://eactuning.com/parts/product_details/07510017866)

Thanks to many on this site. Please feel free to post inaccuracies.

Images of oil types by engine thanks to quattro PETE.

Jared


Edit: Elf products were removed because they were purchased by Total.

[Al's540i]

i have 136k miles and have been running Mobil 1 0W40 for over 50k miles. no probs.

[Cyrix2k]

I'm running M1 10w-40 with almost 160k.

[AlpineBmwM3]

I go with Mobile 1... except I only have 78K on my '99

[jamesdc4]

I go with Mobile 1... except I only have 78K on my '99
The OP has a 540 with an M62, but the Mobil 1 0w-40 is LL-01 approved, so it should work well.

OP,

Be aware that some 540 owners have experienced more engine (lifter and timing chain) noise using Mobil 1.

[xisco44]

i use 0 30w dyno oil on my car with 613k miles running like a charm

[quattro PETE]

i use 0 30w dyno oil on my car with 613k miles running like a charm
I don't think there are any 0w-30 mineral oils out there. They're all synthetic.

[carjoe]

Worry less about the type and more about the frequency.

From what I can tell, and I'm not an expert, dyno or synth isn't important. Weight seems to be a preference. BMW specs are kind of meaningless if you're not using the dash lights to set your intervals.

All that to say don't cheap out but don't scour the ends of the earth to find that perfect oil either.

For the record, I use pennzoil platinum in a 5-30 for winter and 10-40 for summer.