BMW S52 Supercharged - Oil Suggestions?

[shrike071]

Hello all -
I have a 1993 BMW 525iT (station wagon). I've dropped in an engine from a 97 M3 (S52), and also have recently installed a supercharger. The engine I installed had 80k+ on it.

I live in Atlanta, so it doesn't get too cold....

I've been running Royal Purple since the last change, but that oil seems to have a love it/hate it rep and I'd like to go with something more established. I've been considering Mobil 1 0w40, but I really have no idea what to put in there.

Your input/advice is eagerly anticipated!

 

[shrike071]

Note - I also have a line on some Elf Excellium 5w40

 

[Reelizmpro]

I run Mobil 1 0w-40 in my M52 528i. It's BMW LL01 approved for extended drain intervals and can be store bought. You might want to try it out but perhaps shorten the OCI due to the supercharger. BMW uses Castrol TWS 10w-60 for later M engines but its hard to find anywhere except the dealer and it's expensive but it may be the way to go if you want a slightly thicker oil.

 

[glennc]

I don't know about the Elf Excellium but I have learned from hundreds of used oil analysis in the used oil analysis section of this site that a lot of the ultra-expensive, fancy-priced oils are nothing special, at least when it comes to provable performance. I'd think that what you'd want for a highly stressed motor like this is a good base oil with a very strong additive pack, to deal with higher than normal metal-to-metal forces. I think Red Line would be an excellent choice. It uses primo base stocks and has a verifiable extremely tough combination of additives. It is also specifically designed for exactly the kind of enhanced-ouput, increased-stress use you're talking about here and has a well deserved reputation in that world, IMO.

I don't know exactly what BMW's LL-xx specifications entail or how relevant the various considerations would be to a modified motor like yours. I would bet money that it would be less important to your success with whatever oil you choose than the basic base stock/add pack qualities that will work in most engines.

I would also bet that even in your application many good off-the-shelf oils would work very well. Something like Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic, a high quality oil with an enhanced add pack, or a HDEO like Delo 15w40, a very tough oil that seems to get excellent results in almost anything, would very likely work just as well as the Red Line.

The best thing to do, though, is to pick something, run a conservative interval, and do a used oil analysis to confirm that it is working. You can extend the interval appropriately depending on results. I'm thinking maybe only 2500-3k miles the first time. You obviously have some financial involvement here, so it will pay to spend a few bucks to make sure what you're doing is working. No reason to throw it away, though: I'm sure the Elf would give you decent results but you may well get even better results at lower cost elsewhere. I imagine you could end up running Red Line 10k+ miles or a good store-bought oil 5k+ miles with excellent long-term results.

 

[ffracer]

Originally Posted By: glennc
I don't know about the Elf Excellium but I have learned from hundreds of used oil analysis in the used oil analysis section of this site that a lot of the ultra-expensive, fancy-priced oils are nothing special, at least when it comes to provable performance.


This is a good point. Elf is excellent oil, but it is a common brand in Europe. Go into a parts store over there and it competes with Mobil 1, Castrol RS, Shell Helix, all great oils, but it isn't some wunder oil.

We have the choices over here - that may be limited for European oils, are still similar types.

My experience with my M3 is that the oil must be at least xW-40 or thicker or you get valve clatter.

In the USA, that means:
Mobil 1 OW-40
Castrol Syntec 5W-50
BMW 5W-40 (probably made by Castrol)
Valvoline SynPower 10W-40

 

[bmwtechguy]

If you want continue to run the RP, upgrade to the more expensive racing formula, currently called XPR 10W-40/Racing 41. This is an all around higher performance oil, probably with better base oil and better/more additives than their 10W-40 street oil.

Schaeffers makes an excellent 5W-40 or 5W-50 full synthetic, if you can find a local rep. We have a knowledgeable Schaeffer rep here at BITOG, Mark, who posts as "salesrep" and he is excellent to deal with. Schaeffers deserves a look as well as Amsoil. Pablo or Gary Allan are both Amsoil BITOG reps that could steer you the right direction to a quality oil.

For retail oils, Mobil 1 0W-40, 5W-40, or for hot summer/track use non-EP 15W-50. My favorite of these is the 5W-40 for all-around use. Redline 5W-40/10W-40 would be excellent as well, but costs more. glennc's advice is good, IMO. Lots of good choices here.

 

[Dyoel182]

Originally Posted By: shrike071


I live in Atlanta, so it doesn't get too cold....


I dunno. I almost froze to death a few Christmases ago driving through Atlanta with a car I had flown to pickup and drive home.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
I had excellent results using Delvac 1 5w-40 in my 2.8 Z3

As you are probably aware Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5w-40 is the M1 version of Delvac 1. I would opt for a HTHS vis of around 4cSt for you engine - both of these lubricants are in this realm

Regards
Doug

 

[Pablo]

You may want to take a look at this Amsoil DEO 5W-40

 

[glennc]

A lot of air-cooled Porsche guys seem to swear by Delo 15w40 or Red Line and won't touch M1. I know the applications are different but I doubt many engines need a tougher oil than those. My point: buy performance, not hype.

Nothing against Amsoil or RP or others mentioned, there are lots of good oils that will do the job.

 

[dave1251]

This sounds like an Made in Germany Castrol 0w30 Syntec job to me.

 

[gtx510]

What supercharger? Does it use the engines oil or a separate oil supply?
Do you have an oil temp gauge? oil cooler?

I'd lean more towards 5w40 HDEO's than BMW LL01 oils.
Rotella, Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck (Delvac), Mobil 1 10w40 HM, Delo, etc.