Oil noob needs info

[330 Drop Top]

Hi Chaps

I drive a 330ci and it is due for a service. I bought all my parts at BMW. When I got home I noticed they gave me Shell Helix oil for high mileage vehicles.

My vehicle is currently on 97 540km. The car was serviced under MP up until now. I do not know what oil the dealership was using.

I might just give them a ring tomorrow to find out.

I spoke to a few mates and they reckon I should get the Castrol Edge. I am not sure which Edge.

I went back to BMW to return the oil, I was told they do not sell Castrol Edge but could offer me Castrol Magnatec 5w30.

At this point, I thought let me do some research to determine what's the best oil to use on my precious.

Any oil gurus out there care to share a few words of wisdom with me?

Thanks!

 

[Raybimmer]

Welcome to the forum .

I am not a tribology expert but can offer the following advice :
Find out what oil was used previously , you cannot mix Synthetic and mineral oils .
The shell helix is a normal oil , do not put it in until you know what was used previously .
I would use a 5w30 oil , the high mileage oil is most likely 20w50 or some are 20w60 -this is too thick .
Good luck ,

 

[330 Drop Top]

Welcome to the forum .

I am not a tribology expert but can offer the following advice :
Find out what oil was used previously , you cannot mix Synthetic and mineral oils .
The shell helix is a normal oil , do not put it in until you know what was used previously .
I would use a 5w30 oil , the high mileage oil is most likely 20w50 or some are 20w60 -this is too thick .
Good luck ,

Thanks for the reply.

I will call BMW tomorrow morning and enquire.

 

[Philip Foglar]

Most likely Castrol Magnatec Professional 5W30 - best is to get it directly from the Castrol depo. Costs roughly R60 a litre versus R90 from the agents etc...

 

[Thunder]

okay, So you guys are saying that Castrol GTX High mileage is good or bad?

 

[Mike1]

Bad.

 

[Raybimmer]

Mike ...... one word answer ? :rollsmile:

High mileage oils for taxis :rollsmile:

IMHO I want start up protection to keep the car lubricated at the time when most wear takes place . After 10 minutes the oil is at working temp , the thick oil has been battling to get around the engine and that is not what I want .

 

[Mike1]

Sorry, yeah as you said. The thicker the oil the thicker the resistabce within the motor.

Furthermore a thicker oil, especially a rubbish oil like GTX will not move heat away from the motor at the same level as a half decent hydrocracked lubricant which is only a couple tenners more.

At the end of the day its once a year, fork out a bit on the most vital part of a car.