E30 BMW recommendations.
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JHZR2
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true, I never really thought about the amsoil ACD and its relevance for these cars.
That must be an older manual... my E30 318i takes 5.25 qts oil, ATF for the gearbox (though Im running amsoil MTF, a 5w-30 synchromesh mt oil), and IIRC 75w-90 for the diff.
if it is an LSD, a 75w-140 is the new spec fluid you'd get from the dealer, IIRC. Not a 75w-90.
JMH
That must be an older manual... my E30 318i takes 5.25 qts oil, ATF for the gearbox (though Im running amsoil MTF, a 5w-30 synchromesh mt oil), and IIRC 75w-90 for the diff.
if it is an LSD, a 75w-140 is the new spec fluid you'd get from the dealer, IIRC. Not a 75w-90.
JMH
Same chart as in my manual ('89 325i).
Why 10W-30? If I read it right the book specs that range only up to 40F.
Are you saying that because it's a tough, modern, synthetic diesel oil, you could assume it to be equivalent to an '80's straight 30wt in high-temp performance?
If so, fair enough, but that's still only 86F max.
Going by the specs here the only oil I can run marginally year round in Colorado is 15W-50. However for a long time I've run Delo 15W-40 on the basis that the heavy additives and improved base oil in modern Delo will protect as well as a conventional 15W-50 would have in '89. (Sample on the way for testing.)
However I would personally not want to run an xW-30 in summer temps without a lot of thought.
Why 10W-30? If I read it right the book specs that range only up to 40F.
Are you saying that because it's a tough, modern, synthetic diesel oil, you could assume it to be equivalent to an '80's straight 30wt in high-temp performance?
If so, fair enough, but that's still only 86F max.
Going by the specs here the only oil I can run marginally year round in Colorado is 15W-50. However for a long time I've run Delo 15W-40 on the basis that the heavy additives and improved base oil in modern Delo will protect as well as a conventional 15W-50 would have in '89. (Sample on the way for testing.)
However I would personally not want to run an xW-30 in summer temps without a lot of thought.
Most of these cars had oil coolers and are usually not run anywhere near as hard as they are designed to run. The 10w-30 synthetic would be fine (if the car has an oil cooler) and you aren't tracking the car or running at sustained high speeds
I have the same chart on my '88 325is. I've been using chevron 20w-50 with very good results, but wonder about the relavence of the outside temperature chart for the cars with an oil cooler. I *believe* there's a thermostat for the oil, so the oil temp should be relatively constant year-round. IMO, oil temp is the critical factor, not outside air temp. If the car does NOT have an oil cooler, I could imagine the oil temps getting really hot when running hard (same as any other car), necessitating a thicker oil.
I plan to use 10w-40 next time and a UOA to compare to the 20w-50.
I plan to use 10w-40 next time and a UOA to compare to the 20w-50.
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Originally Posted By: glennc
Why 10W-30? If I read it right the book specs that range only up to 40F.
Are you saying that because it's a tough, modern, synthetic diesel oil, you could assume it to be equivalent to an '80's straight 30wt in high-temp performance?
The Amsoil is a straight 30, that also meets multigrade requirements. Therefore it should have the top end of the straight 30, and the bottom end of the 10W-30.
Why 10W-30? If I read it right the book specs that range only up to 40F.
Are you saying that because it's a tough, modern, synthetic diesel oil, you could assume it to be equivalent to an '80's straight 30wt in high-temp performance?
The Amsoil is a straight 30, that also meets multigrade requirements. Therefore it should have the top end of the straight 30, and the bottom end of the 10W-30.
Many older German engine mgmt systems required very very high oil pressure numbers to keep them happy. My '89 VW Jetta (gas) only allowed 10w30 AND 10w40 up to 50*F.
In the car above, given the chart above, i'd run nothing except dino 20w50 year-round. If the temps got significantly below 0*F i'd use 10w40.
In the car above, given the chart above, i'd run nothing except dino 20w50 year-round. If the temps got significantly below 0*F i'd use 10w40.
Originally Posted By: hominid7
Many older German engine mgmt systems required very very high oil pressure numbers to keep them happy. My '89 VW Jetta (gas) only allowed 10w30 AND 10w40 up to 50*F.
In the car above, given the chart above, i'd run nothing except dino 20w50 year-round. If the temps got significantly below 0*F i'd use 10w40.
I don't think your Jetta had an oil cooler, so the thicker oils seem reasonable for hotter climates.
The engine management system on the E30 325 is 100% electronic. Oil pressure has nothing to do with it.
I have an E30 325is. Compression is even and at the top of the specified range, and the engine runs fantastic with 243k on it now. When I bought it at 220k, there was a Jiffy Lube sticker on it stating 10w-30 was used. As far as I know, 10w-30 could have been used for it's entire life before I bought it. Who knows? If it was, it certainly didn't hurt anything. I fully expect to get at least 300k out of the motor, and more likely 400k.
Many older German engine mgmt systems required very very high oil pressure numbers to keep them happy. My '89 VW Jetta (gas) only allowed 10w30 AND 10w40 up to 50*F.
In the car above, given the chart above, i'd run nothing except dino 20w50 year-round. If the temps got significantly below 0*F i'd use 10w40.
I don't think your Jetta had an oil cooler, so the thicker oils seem reasonable for hotter climates.
The engine management system on the E30 325 is 100% electronic. Oil pressure has nothing to do with it.
I have an E30 325is. Compression is even and at the top of the specified range, and the engine runs fantastic with 243k on it now. When I bought it at 220k, there was a Jiffy Lube sticker on it stating 10w-30 was used. As far as I know, 10w-30 could have been used for it's entire life before I bought it. Who knows? If it was, it certainly didn't hurt anything. I fully expect to get at least 300k out of the motor, and more likely 400k.
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Originally Posted By: Ray Garlington
Most of these cars had oil coolers and are usually not run anywhere near as hard as they are designed to run. The 10w-30 synthetic would be fine (if the car has an oil cooler) and you aren't tracking the car or running at sustained high speeds
No ordinary run of the mill E30 had an oil cooler. Just run 15w/40 in any moderate climate and it'll be just fine.
Most of these cars had oil coolers and are usually not run anywhere near as hard as they are designed to run. The 10w-30 synthetic would be fine (if the car has an oil cooler) and you aren't tracking the car or running at sustained high speeds
No ordinary run of the mill E30 had an oil cooler. Just run 15w/40 in any moderate climate and it'll be just fine.
JHZR2
Staff member
30-85F being the temp range for a straight 30wt is a good set of temperatures for many... If the amsoil 15w-40 is like the 10w-30 ACD, i.e. VII-less... then it could be a good summer/winter swap.
That said, 5w-40 HDEOs are good enough these days that they serve year-round use quite well...
JMH
That said, 5w-40 HDEOs are good enough these days that they serve year-round use quite well...
JMH
Originally Posted By: Ken E.
Originally Posted By: Ray Garlington
Most of these cars had oil coolers and are usually not run anywhere near as hard as they are designed to run. The 10w-30 synthetic would be fine (if the car has an oil cooler) and you aren't tracking the car or running at sustained high speeds
No ordinary run of the mill E30 had an oil cooler. Just run 15w/40 in any moderate climate and it'll be just fine.
Gee, I must be lucky. I have had 5 e30s, and they all have oil coolers except the 325e model. As far as what I currently run, my wife' 89 325ix gets Mobil 1 10w-30 and she mostly does short trip, around town driving in a warm climate (NC). I use Mobil TDT for 'spirited' driving. No problems and probably 200k miles of driving e30s.
Originally Posted By: Ray Garlington
Most of these cars had oil coolers and are usually not run anywhere near as hard as they are designed to run. The 10w-30 synthetic would be fine (if the car has an oil cooler) and you aren't tracking the car or running at sustained high speeds
No ordinary run of the mill E30 had an oil cooler. Just run 15w/40 in any moderate climate and it'll be just fine.
Gee, I must be lucky. I have had 5 e30s, and they all have oil coolers except the 325e model. As far as what I currently run, my wife' 89 325ix gets Mobil 1 10w-30 and she mostly does short trip, around town driving in a warm climate (NC). I use Mobil TDT for 'spirited' driving. No problems and probably 200k miles of driving e30s.
Originally Posted By: Ken E.
No ordinary run of the mill E30 had an oil cooler. Just run 15w/40 in any moderate climate and it'll be just fine.
At a minimum, all of the "is" models did. My 325is certainly does have one. Looks like this:
oil cooler
No ordinary run of the mill E30 had an oil cooler. Just run 15w/40 in any moderate climate and it'll be just fine.
At a minimum, all of the "is" models did. My 325is certainly does have one. Looks like this:
oil cooler
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