Is M1 0W40 still the BITOG favourite?

[camrydriver111]

After the reformulation and loss of LL-01 spec is M1 0W40 still BITOG's favourite oil?

After reading BITOG for a few months it seemed like M1 0W40 was the holy grail of motor oils. I've read posts of people using in everything from grocery getters, muscle cars, and European cars.

It may seem ridiculous to people not in the know, but when you consider all the factors:

-price
-availability
-A3/B4 and impressive list of manufacturer specs
-Group 4 content
-impressive physical properties (HTHS, TBN, etc.)
-valvetrain pictures

It seemed like it was the best oil on the market.

After the reformulation are you still a fan, or is M1 0W40 quickly losing its luster?

 

[RooflessVW]

It lost LL01, so it has lost it's luster to me.

It has also been reformulated to GTL base stocks. Whether this indicates an improvement or a decline in performance has yet to be measured.

I have switched to Castrol Edge 0W-40 in my vehicles.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: camrydriver111
After the reformulation are you still a fan, or is M1 0W40 quickly losing its luster?

I never was enough of a fan to actually try it for any of my applications. For one, it's in those ridiculous 4.4 L Imperial Oil containers up here. Secondly, you know what it's like chasing a deal up here, and it only recently started coming in the jugs, and 1 L containers are still too much even on special. Beyond that, the Imperial Oil distributor here gives a much deeper discount on HDEOs than on PCMOs, so that's what I stick with. I still get Delvac 1 ESP 5w-40 cheaper any day of the week than I would get M1 0w-40 on the better specials I've seen.

Of course, if I had something that required it or its competitors, that would be another matter altogether.

 

[B320i]

Its certainly not a bad oil by lacking LL01 certification - but for folks who'd prefer to stick to the beaten track, it brings in a new unknown.

It will be interesting to see if anyone posts a VOA (or has, I haven't searched yet) of this stuff to compare any visible difference with the previous formulation.

And... It will also be interesting to see if this oil gains some sort of BMW certification (it may have been reformulated to meet a different standard) or not. What I recall seeing is that this particular M1 product has lost different manufacturer specs over time.

That said, it seems to have gained a reputation for making engines noticeably louder in some vehicles. I and my car am in that camp.
While I doubt a bit of lifter tap is really any concern (nor is VANOS noise) when one considers the engine runs perfectly well, gets great economy and still pulls nicely, its just not something I like hearing. So I (personally) would avoid it.

FWIW - I did do a UOA back in January of the oil in my car, its still ticking away ("The Ultimate Ticking Machine" ), but the UOA came up fine after 5,442km. I never did get around to doing the UOA before servicing, but one year and 10,000km ought to have been easy for any modern synthetic.

If folk are concerned about this oil - their 5w50 apparently carries "BMW High Performance Diesel" certification, which I cannot find information on anywhere.

Otherwise - find another oil that meets the spec you are interested in. While the German/Belgium Castrol isn't the BITOG "Mythical Pixie Elixir" it once was, it is still supposed to be good stuff.

Or... You can just buy whatever is on sale that meets your requirements, that simple. Remember, if an oil meets cert, it meets cert. Some products may be marginally better, but fact of the matter is if it passes the approval criteria, then it ought to be fine.
Only exception is if you know your car "doesn't like" a certain type/brand/weight of oil, then choose otherwise.

 

[SR5]

I've never used M1 0W-40, but I'm sure it's a good oil, just way too expensive for me.

I use Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 instead. It has all the correct specs (SN, A3/B4, MB 229.5, BMW LL-01, Porsche A40, etc) but costs half the price of M1 0W-40.

If I get bored of SHU then Castrol Edge 0W-40 and Valvoline SynPower 0W-40 are good options that still cost a lot less than M1 for me.

 

[Falcon_LS]

I'm slowly started switching over my fleet to German Castrol 0W-40, which still has many approvals. Certainly has quietened down the engines some, and they appear to run smoother. Although that's debatable.

 

[josephp732]

I have experienced the same situation with M1 0W-40. In my 2013 Volvo 3.2L engine - very noisy valve train - German Castrol solved that issue.

 

[Trav]

Castrol 0w40 has all the specs the M1 has and the LL-01. I would still use the M1 if there was no other option but for now due to the reformulation, lower viscosity and loss of spec its off the menu.

 

[demarpaint]

Lately it seems Castrol is once again stepping up their game. A few years back it seemed they dropped the ball, it looks like that changed now. Good on them!

 

[skyactiv]

My wife and I own cars that can use it but we don't. Mobil1 is a very popular synthetic oil. But there are many things I've found to dislike Mobil1 for. Regardless of NOACK, some users swear oil consumption is higher when using Mobil1 vs other synthetics of the same viscosity. Engine noise. The supposed higher Mobil1 iron UOA numbers vs other oils, but BITOG has been on the UOA's don't matter kick lately. Valvoline claiming a certain Mobil1 product didn't pass the sequence IVA test. I don't care for the higher ash content and moly in Mobil1 0W40 for use in a turbocharged GDI engine.

 

[surfstar]

OH NO, THE END IS NEAR!!!


geez. its motor oil.

When I can buy another VW 502 oil for 22.88/5qts and get a $12 rebate, I'll jump all over it. For now M1 is going in my next 3 OCIs.

 

[tig1]

All M1 oils are high quality. Use the wt specified on the oil cap of your engine.

 

[Turbo_Lemming]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Lately it seems Castrol is once again stepping up their game. A few years back it seemed they dropped the ball, it looks like that changed now. Good on them!


Very long overdue. Castrol even seems to have their labeling in order. Black bottles, and gold bottles. No confusing names and labels, only very small references to the confusing labels of previous. I very much welcome that change.

Mobil1 0W-40 and 15W-50 oils were probably their two very best. If there was a "reformulation," it reminds me of when there used to be the Red Cap version of that one. Its probably still a good oil, maybe a touch not as good as it used to be.

It would take an increase in Castrol quality to then better the Mobil 1 oil. Perhaps that has happened.

I also appreciate how the frequent report of increased noise can be discussed in a professional way. Some still disagree that it increases noise. It comes down to that it seems to increase engine noise for more people that it doesn't.

Some stores have Castrol on sale periodically, and I haven't seen much M1 0W-40 at Walmart as much as once was.

All these things come into play, I think.

 

[69GTX]

The FS reformulation makes M1 0w-40 even closer to a 30 grade which works perfect for my use. The drop in viscosity and HTHS works to my advantage.

At $10.88 net for a 5 gall jug of M1 ($2.17/qt), Castrol 0w-40 really can't touch it. M1 is too cheap via rebates for me not to use it. And the 0w-40 grade has a completely different additive package than the 20 and 30 grades which are lower calcium/high magnesium oils. M1 0w-40 is much more similar to PP/PU/Castrol Edge which are high calcium, negligible magnesium, no sodium oils.

 

[901Memphis]

I'll probably still use it

 

[edyvw]

I never had impression it had status among Euro owners as Castrol 0W30 GC.

 

[lawrencerd]

I've used it exclusively in the past. This past change in my Audi, I changed to the Castrol equivalent because it was a couple dollars cheaper - shocker, it runs exactly the same as the Mobil. I wouldn't be afraid of the new formulation unless I was using it in a late model BMW.

 

[artificialist]

I remember when Shell Rotella Synthetic 5w40 was considered the ultimate oil on BITOG.

I find it interesting how in European gasoline engines BITOG
1. Preferred Castrol Euro 0w30
2. Preferred M1 0w40
3. Preferred Castrol 0w40

It looks like people did a 180 degree turn because of how similar Castrol 0w40 is to Castrol Euro 0w30.

The other thing that got my attention was people paying attention to manufacturer specific approvals.
VW/Audi guys knew Shell RT6 didn't meet VW502, VW505, or VW505.01 but it was used in numerous VW and Audi engines. Using it in a gasoline or diesel VW/Audi engine always resulted in great UOA scores and engine life.
When the new M1 0w40 came out and didn't meet BMW LL-01, BMW owners quickly looked for something else. I don't recall BMW BITOG-ers using any non-BMW approved oil.

The R35 Nissan GT-R was built with M1 0w40 and has the recommendation on the oil cap. I don't know if any BITOG-er has an R35 GT-R or they know someone who does.

I'm glad Mitsubishi doesn't have any unique oil specifications, so I just use Castrol 0w40 without thinking about it much.

 

[edyvw]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I remember when Shell Rotella Synthetic 5w40 was considered the ultimate oil on BITOG.

I find it interesting how in European gasoline engines BITOG
1. Preferred Castrol Euro 0w30
2. Preferred M1 0w40
3. Preferred Castrol 0w40

It looks like people did a 180 degree turn because of how similar Castrol 0w40 is to Castrol Euro 0w30.

The other thing that got my attention was people paying attention to manufacturer specific approvals.
VW/Audi guys knew Shell RT6 didn't meet VW502, VW505, or VW505.01 but it was used in numerous VW and Audi engines. Using it in a gasoline or diesel VW/Audi engine always resulted in great UOA scores and engine life.
When the new M1 0w40 came out and didn't meet BMW LL-01, BMW owners quickly looked for something else. I don't recall BMW BITOG-ers using any non-BMW approved oil.

The R35 Nissan GT-R was built with M1 0w40 and has the recommendation on the oil cap. I don't know if any BITOG-er has an R35 GT-R or they know someone who does.

I'm glad Mitsubishi doesn't have any unique oil specifications, so I just use Castrol 0w40 without thinking about it much.

I am not sure when T6 was favorite oil of Euro owners although SOME used it.
However, I would say 90% of Euro owners are using oil that first and foremost meets specification they need.
As for GT-R I would say that is marketing more then actual specification as no one ever saw Nissan GT-R specification requirements.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: edyvw
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I remember when Shell Rotella Synthetic 5w40 was considered the ultimate oil on BITOG.

I find it interesting how in European gasoline engines BITOG
1. Preferred Castrol Euro 0w30
2. Preferred M1 0w40
3. Preferred Castrol 0w40

It looks like people did a 180 degree turn because of how similar Castrol 0w40 is to Castrol Euro 0w30.

The other thing that got my attention was people paying attention to manufacturer specific approvals.
VW/Audi guys knew Shell RT6 didn't meet VW502, VW505, or VW505.01 but it was used in numerous VW and Audi engines. Using it in a gasoline or diesel VW/Audi engine always resulted in great UOA scores and engine life.
When the new M1 0w40 came out and didn't meet BMW LL-01, BMW owners quickly looked for something else. I don't recall BMW BITOG-ers using any non-BMW approved oil.

The R35 Nissan GT-R was built with M1 0w40 and has the recommendation on the oil cap. I don't know if any BITOG-er has an R35 GT-R or they know someone who does.

I'm glad Mitsubishi doesn't have any unique oil specifications, so I just use Castrol 0w40 without thinking about it much.

I am not sure when T6 was favorite oil of Euro owners although SOME used it.
However, I would say 90% of Euro owners are using oil that first and foremost meets specification they need.
As for GT-R I would say that is marketing more then actual specification as no one ever saw Nissan GT-R specification requirements.

I didn't say T6 was specifically popular with Euro users. I said it was popular with VW and Audi owners. I said nothing about people who had a BMW or Benz.