1991 bmw 318i - Rotella Synthetic 5w-40

[JHZR2]

This is my UOA from my 91 BMW 318i (5sp, M42 engine, E30 body). This car has a dinan chip in it, and makes about 144 hp. It has been getting a lot of highway driving, but also had a LOT of very cold starts after sitting extended periods this winter. I am very happy with rotella syn in this engine, and have it in there again. I doped the oil with LC at the correct dosages, and also used FP as perscribed.

Note, despite the great UOA and use of LC/FP, the car still failed NOx emissions test for NJ. This oil was in the sump when it failed.

Some other (not continuous results) UOAs are in there as well.

code:

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Lab Number 1293956 810246 567560

Sample No WC-M1076096 WC-M1075191 WC-M1042203

Sample Date 6/28/2005 4/10/2004 7/10/2003

Unit Age 97679 91572m 87249m

Time on Fluid 3793m 2804m 2972m

Time on Filter 3793m 2804m 500m

Fluid Maint. Changed Changed Changed

Filter Maint. Changed Changed Changed

Fluid Rotella Syn 5w-40 M1 15w-50 Pennzoil LL 15w-40

Iron (Fe) 7 16 22

Chromium (Cr) 0.6 1.4 1.3

Nickel (Ni) 0.9 1.4 0

Titanium (Ti) 0.2 0 0.3

Silver (Ag) 0 0 0

Aluminum (Al) 1.5 3.2 5.5

Lead (Pb) 2.1 3.6 1.9

Copper (Cu) 2.8 2 1.5

Tin (Sn) 0 0.1 0

Silicon (Si) 4 12 7.1

Sodium (Na) 3.5 0.7 3.4

Potassium (K) 11 3.3 0

Boron (B) 9.9 198 140

Barium (Ba) 1.4 0 0

Molybdenum (Mo)4.3 80 123

Magnesium (Mg) 33 19 13

Calcium (Ca) 2964 3212 3990

Phosphorus (P) 974 919 1352

Zinc (Zn) 1011 1014 1523

Sulfur (S) 4025 2118 4350

Cadmium (Cd) 0 0 0

Manganese (Mn) 1.2 1.2 0.3

Vanadium (V) 0 0 0

Soot(%) 0 0 0

Oxidation(PA) 95 45

Nitratrion(PA) 25 40

Sulfation(PA) 17 57 27

ZDDP 0 0 -0.02

Kv@100°C 13.05 13.33 13.94

White Metal NONE NONE NONE

Babbitt NONE NONE NONE

Precipitate NONE NONE NONE

Silt NONE NONE NONE

Debris NONE NONE NONE

Dirt NONE NONE NONE

Appearance NORML NORML NORML

Odor NORML NORML NORML

H2O(Emul) NEG NEG NEG

H2O(Free) NEG NEG NEG

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[TR3-2001SE]

Looks like you have found an excellent oil for this engine. I would not change a thing. Excellent report.

 

[LubeOiler]

This oil in a Camry did not do near as well. I know the Toyota calls for 5/30 that may have something to do with it. It did very well in the BMW so I would continue with it. We have so many good 5/40 oils like Amsoil and a few others but Rotella is as good in most cases.

 

[JHZR2]

Interesting about the camry... It makes me wonder:

-Toyotas are supposedly specced for 30 wt oils here in the US because of cafe, and should have 40 or 50 wt oils in the rest of the world.

-BMWs are specced for 40/50 wt oils throughout the world... at least the older ones like mine

Could it be that Toyotas arent actually built for 40/50 weight oils, and as a result arent getting the horrid injustice from CAFE that some make it out to be?

Or would my BMW do better with a 30 wt oil???

Just a thought, since the CAFE/40/50 weight oil discussion comes up so often.

Overall though, likely its impossible to compare the two UOAs because of driving profile, location, etc.

Just makes me wonder though...

JMH

 

[Steve S]

nox is from being lean"feul" or the egr is not working or the chip has changed the operation.

 

[JHZR2]

the car has no EGR - came that way from the factory. I am thinking it is lean either because of the dinan chip I had int here or for some other reason.

It should have spiked the nitration numbers (and likely oxidation as well), but it didnt compared to the M1 15w-50 that I had in the car before I had the dinan chip!

Thanks,

JMH

 

[Geoff]

NOX - bad cats. Are they original? 10 years/100K miles is about all you get.

 

[JHZR2]

replaced them after everything else... still high Nox, negligible change.

I think it has to be the chip!

JMH

 

[Dr. T]

Don't think that Toyotas are 'made for' 30 weight oils as the sludge monsters problems are confined to US cars only using 'fuel economy' grade oil.