bmw e30

[silver1]

hi i'm new here and i'm trying to find the links to oil discussion for the m20 motor Ive done several searches and cant seem to find them. Could some one please post some links.Thanks in advance!

 

[45ACP]

http://www.unofficialbmw.com you are welcome.

And i will save you some time.. Maxlife 10W-40 is "the preferred" motor oil for the M20B27 "ETA" engine, IIRC it is the same for the 2.5L M20B25 engine (1988+, "Super ETA" included.) The ETA had reline 4800RPM, 2.5L was more like 6800RPM or so. ETA was until 1986.

And yes, people put 20W-50 and/or 5W-50 in there and it likes it. user "RedBaron86325" advocates 10W-40; and that oil does in fact do well.. toss-up with it or a 50.

Any other questions about your 6-cyl E30 and i will be happy to try to help you out. Had one with cheap Pleatherette seats and a crank sunroof (an 85 325e) and a nicer ETA. Both long gone.

 

[silver1]

thanks 45 acp, love my Colt compact 45 acp by the way.(ccw holder IN.&FL.) My e30 is an 87 ic which is the vert,with the 2.5 L motor.

 

[JHZR2]

I'm running M1 10w-40 in my M42. Seeing some loss, no smell/smoke indication that im burning, but no drips underneath showing that I'm leaking. Very wet valve cover gasket though...

I've liked RTS 5w-40 in the past too.

 

[silver1]

by the looks of the chart 15w50 would work i never drive my vert below about 45 deg.F. Thanks

 

[Brons2]

Yea I always ran dino 20w50 in my '85 eta, the chart above indicated that it was most suitable for my climate in Texas.

With modern oils, I'd probably run T6 or similar if I still had the car.

 

[drtyler]

I use 20w50 most of the year, and 10w40 in the winter months. My '88 325iC has almost 280k miles on it.

 

[silver1]

thanks, what is t6

 

[silver1]

living in georgia I wouldn't think you would have to worry about the winter months

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: silver1
thanks, what is t6



http://www.shell.com/home/content/rotella/products/t6/

 

[silver1]

diesel oil in a bmw ?

 

[JHZR2]

HDEO is usable in gas engines.

 

[silver1]

so is the t6 rotella better than or as good as say, Mobile 1 or royal purple?

 

[JHZR2]

Better how. Lots of folks have some belief in a "value proposition" based upon basestock, which is highly irrelevant in most every application. Is it better? Well, it can be cheaper, it is a robust oil, performs well, etc.

RP is way expensive for a benefit that I do not personally see. M1 TDT is a 5w-40, Im currently running M1 HM 10w-40.

Ive run M1 15w-50, and Ive also run rotella syn 5w-40.

Dont think you can go wrong with any.

 

[silver1]

thanks for the reply. I drive this e30 less than 5k a year am I crazy for even thinking synthetic

 

[Garak]

In Indiana's weather, if your manual's oil recommendations are anything like those posted above or what my old Audi's manual called for, you could use a 15w-40 like Rotella, Delvac, or Delo year round, and skip the synthetic altogether.

 

[Shannow]

I used 15W-40 and straight 30 in mine from -7C to 40C...and a lot more than 4,800 revs. (20-105F)

Straight 30 was Caltex 4 stroke mower oil for a couple of OCI just to see what it did. Filter was the big "Z-9" for ford 6s and small blocks, as it was $20 cheaper than the correct rated BMW item.

 

[Astro14]

The T6 is a great choice for your car - it's relatively cheap, readily available and performs very well...that's what I run in the '92 300E...

 

[silver1]

so the rotella t6 is 5w40 full syn and then there's the 15w40 dino the 40w is a little thin according to bmw for summer isn't it? This is a low mile for the year, 87 325ic 105k I hope to pass it down to to my son(ater i drive it for another 10 years) plus I only change the oil once a year price is not an issue id run RP if thats whats best for it.Have you seen the wear pattern test on their web site.I Know those things can be staged but this looked impressive!

 

[Astro14]

I know that BMW spec'd up to 50 in the heat of summer...so did MB back then...but oils have improved considerably since then...The T6 is a full-synthetic that exceeds every spec your car calls for - and with a viscosity of 5W40, you can change it once a year.

Use the T6 year-round in your car - it will be just fine.

You could spend more, but you won't get anything better for this car...