mobil 1 5w-50?

[bmwmini_cooper_s]

i have a mini cooper s and i'm wondering if i can use mobil 1 5w-50 fully synthetic? the stock oil is castrol fully synthetic 5w-30 or 0w-30.. by the way i'm from the philippines (tropical country)

i also have a bmw x5 diesel and it's stock oil is also castrol fully synthetic 5w-30 and 0w-30, can a also use mobil 1 5w-50 fully synthetic?

need help!!!! tnx..

-->ed

 

[ekpolk]

Mobil does not market the 5w-50 grade in the US, so I don't think there's much experience with this product here at BITOG. We do have a fair number of non-US members, but in the 1.5 or so years I've been here, I think I recall this stuff being mentioned only once or twice. FWIW, even in a trusted line like M1, I'd be concerned about how much VI improver was in such a wide spread oil.

Beyond this, as you note, both your vehicles spec 30 wt oils. Even though you live in a hot climate, there's just no need to go that thick. You'd be losing performance and mileage for a questionable-at-best gain. Experiment with a few in-grade choices and see what seems to work for you.

 

[John in the ATL]

The thickest that I would go is a xw-40. The Mobil 1 0w-40 European Formula would be a good choice or the Delvac 5w-40 since it has less VI improvers.

The Castrol synthetic xw-30 such as SLX or Longtec would work well and are similar to the M1 0w-40 with little or no VI improvers.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Shure, you can use it. My BOSCH Center uses Syntec 5w-50 as it's only synthetic oil, and it works great.

 

[haley10]

Welcome. The guys from down under will be answering soon. 5w-50 is popular there, so I'm sure you'll get some good replies.

 

[bar1]

You can use it. MPG will probably be worse.

 

[bmwmini_cooper_s]

if i can find mobil 1 0w-40 here in our country, would it be better than the 5w-50? and which is more expensive?

 

[Losiho]

Currently have M1 5W-50 in my sister's car. Great oil, but probably too thick for a new Cooper S, even in the Philippines.

As others have said, try M1 0W-40 or Delvac 1 5W-40.

 

[John in the ATL]

quote:

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Originally posted by bmwmini_cooper_s:
is it true that my gas consumption will increase? what about power?

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Yes, the heavier oil will increase fuel consumption and the engine will make less power. You will notice it when you rev the engine through the gears assuming its a manual tranny.

 

[tdi-rick]

quote:

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Yes, the heavier oil will increase fuel consumption and the engine will make less power. You will notice it when you rev the engine through the gears assuming its a manual tranny.

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I read that so often on this site, yet when I dynoed oils specifically for power release (admittedly ten years ago) in Formula Ford 1600 engines, we only ever saw 3-4 HP difference 'tween an Xw-50 and a 10W-30, then a 0W-5, and the drivers could never pick a differnce on the track, although the stop watch could (just)

back to M1 5W-50, it's the most popular M1 variant here, and has a great reputation. I used it for years in a Ford 351C V8 with good results.
I'm with most on this thread and probably wouldn't use heavier than 0W-40 M1, or Delvac 1 5W-40, or Castrol's 0W-40 (known as Formula R 0W-40 here)

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
Mobil 1 5w-50 is a "worldwide" product but it is not sold in the US - why? I don't know!!
It has a great following here where it has been sold for many years
It is the only SAE50 oil Approved and Listed by Porsche. It is a good product with a very good reputation

Knowing your climate your could use M1 5w-50, M1 0w-40 would be a good choice for you too

But why not just continue with Castrol?

Doug

 

[bruce381]

Doug with the high amount of VII in M1 5/50 is/are there any problems with combustion chamber deposits or sludge build up?

Just for fun using the Lubrizol blend calculator I came up with a 0w/60 using PAO base oil with about 15% VII with a HTHS of 7.4

bruce

 

[Losiho]

quote:

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Originally posted by bruce381:
Doug with the high amount of VII in M1 5/50 is/are there any problems with combustion chamber deposits or sludge build up?

---

I'd be more concerned about deposits with a Group 3 5W-50 such as Castrol.

If deposits are a concern, change your oil more frequently.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hello Bruce,
no problems with deposits/sludging that I am aware of Bruce. M1 5w-50 has been a real success story for Mobil here in OZ and I have not heard a negative report - except for the price!
It was tried as a "fix" for the high oil consumption in alloy GM V8s sold here (M1 10w-30 factory fill) and it very worked well
GM fixed most of the engines under warranty so it became a non event

As Rick has indicated M1 5w-50 has shown little decrease in power and I can confirm that it was only M1R that knocked about 10hp off the V8Supercar engine used as a test vehicle for this purpose

You can purchase M1 15w-50 here too but it is usually by special commercial order or via the motorbike Industry

I had a little to do with the debvelopment of Castrol's R synthetic 10w-60 in the late 1970s early 1980s. It is a great product too in the correct application. It is a very popular oil here too. Its specs are HTHS 5.4cP, 4700cP @-25C, 170cSt @ 40C and 24.1cSt @ 100C. Pour point is -42C. In various formulations, this oil has been sold here for about 37years. In its first formulation it used castor as the ester - the smell was beautiful - just like Castrol R racing oils!!!

You said;
"Just for fun using the Lubrizol blend calculator I came up with a 0w/60 using PAO base oil with about 15% VII with a HTHS of 7.4

I am sure that some applications have a need for this types of lubricant. While we have a technical move to less viscous oils (SAE10w,20, 20w and 30 were popular oils in US cars for MY'41) some engine seem to respond very well to quite high viscosity after the start up phase is over

Many people forget that engines with hydraulic/electro actuators for valves etc and other phasers need a low viscosity at startup or serious technical and performance issues arise. This is why I mostly default to the manufacturer's recommendations

Perhaps you may comment, but this is why I see a long period of use for oils of the 0/5w-30, 0w-40 and 5w-40 viscosities too

Doug

 

[bruce381]

Yeah I think a 0w/60 is a bit much with a 15/40 being about the most practical.
I'm not of the thinner is better camp >30wt for
me.
bruce

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi Bruce,

me too!!

Doug

 

[Dr. T]

both will work

 

[bmwmini_cooper_s]

is it true that my gas consumption will increase? what about power?

 

[bmwmini_cooper_s]

so i would go for mobil 1 0w-40???

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
if you really want to move from Castrol then M1 0w-40 is a good choice
It has the appropriate Approvals

Doug