Another oil question

[Mike1]

100% correct Raybimmer.

Ok, hydrocracked oils can be mixed but Fully Synthetics cannot. Oils have advanced so much that you can now buy a 0W20 with a 40 000km drain interval for Jap branded cars... Thats insane but it can safely be done.

Engine maintenance starts from day one, you cannot start using expensive synthetic and Mobil 1 etc at 200 000km... The engine will hate you. :nonono:

 

[andrewbuch]

I switched from whatever the mechanic was putting in my car (assuming castrol) to Shell helix Ultra @ 143K km.. am now on 151K km & not a drop of oil used .. And looking inside at the timing chain, it looks cleaner.. also I had some oil seep from some of the gaskets before & now its not as bad with the shell & I drive the car hard (once its warmed up) - 2000 E46 318i


Now this SLX story is worrying me, as I got 1L top up oil for my moms E90 320i from BMW & they supplied Castrol SLX (gold bottle??)... Now the car is on 17K Km's & OBC says service is still far far away..

 

[Legacy]

+10000000 Shell Helix Ultra FTW!

A true fully synthetic oil!

:fencelook:

 

[P1000]

A true fully synthetic oil!

:fencelook:

No, not really. True fully synthetic means it is synthesized like plastic, from PAO (poly-alpha-olefins), which shell is definitely not - shell is also hydrocracked.

If you want to be sure to get a true fully synthetic, buy Mobil 1. The definition of "fully synthetic" is different between Mobil and other oil suppliers.

 

[Slamz]

Henry, with older cars like yours I am very wary of advice so would rather give you this phone number...

021 448 5564 - SOS Oil

Chat to Freddi there and tell him his son sent you to him for advice. My dad will be able to give you exactly the answer you need. :=):

hi Mike, i got a 2006 E90 320i doing about 145k, which oil woud you suggest?
i was using SLX as the stealers advised that, now the last oil change i did they told me to use castrol magnatec professional A3 5W-40...

 

[Swiegie]

Howsit

My problem is exactly that, some BMW dealers use Castrol SLX and some use the Petronas or even Shell Helix Ultra........

Do I request them to only use the Petronas? Cannot think that the SLX can be that bad, as BMW used it on the first two services of our car.....

Is the Petronas a full Synthetic? I am concerned that they might use the SLX on the next service and if it is not advisible to mix the two then I need them to use the correct oil.

Please advise

 

[Mike1]

P1000 - Please do me a favour and advise.

I cannot bare to repeat myself again. :fencelook:

 

[P1000]

Howsit

My problem is exactly that, some BMW dealers use Castrol SLX and some use the Petronas or even Shell Helix Ultra........

Do I request them to only use the Petronas? Cannot think that the SLX can be that bad, as BMW used it on the first two services of our car.....

Is the Petronas a full Synthetic? I am concerned that they might use the SLX on the next service and if it is not advisible to mix the two then I need them to use the correct oil.

Please advise

The petronas is not a true full synthetic, just like 90% of oils that have that on the label. That said, it is still a very good oil. I suggest you find a dealer that use the Syntium or the shell, and take your car there if you want that oil. I know Sovereign BMW in bloem use Syntium. My car is out of motorplan, so I avoid the stealers like the plague...