N55 engine - 30wt or 40wt oil?

[ps2cho]

Hi all,

Just bought a 2016 535i 31k miles, N55 engine. Phoenix so no cold temps to worry about.

I have QS 5-40w LL01 oil and wondering if that’s good for the long haul or if I should consider going to PP Euro 5-30w for the long haul?

Any opinions?
Thanks

 

[blufeb95]

Euro 5W-30 and 5W-40 are effectively interchangeable, to make a 5W-30 with an HTHS of 3.5 you end up with an oil with a KjuV100 viscosity right on the edge of a 30 and 40 grade, QS Euro 5W40 is 13.3 CSt at 100C on paper although VOAs have shown it closer to a thick 30 grade than a 40. The cut off for 30 grade is 12.5. Since the Euro oils are designed around targeting the HTHS of at least 3.5 and not really an SAE grade some oils are just thin enough to be a thick 30 grade and some just thin enough to be 40 grade, for all practical intents and purposes they are the same grade.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Hi all,

Just bought a 2016 535i 31k miles, N55 engine. Phoenix so no cold temps to worry about.

I have QS 5-40w LL01 oil and wondering if that’s good for the long haul or if I should consider going to PP Euro 5-30w for the long haul?

Any opinions?
Thanks

QS 5w40 is fine. All euro certs are based on long drain intervals. BMW oil specifications are in part based on HTHS rather than oil weight The N55 was originally spec'd for thicker 30/40w oils and have the designation of LL01 or LL04 (hths 3.5 or more). BMW back spec'd this engine for 30w oils which have a lower hths range of 2.9 to 3.5 (i.e. LL01FE).

I've run LL01, LL04 and LL01FE in my N55.

 

[edyvw]

Hi all,

Just bought a 2016 535i 31k miles, N55 engine. Phoenix so no cold temps to worry about.

I have QS 5-40w LL01 oil and wondering if that’s good for the long haul or if I should consider going to PP Euro 5-30w for the long haul?

Any opinions?
Thanks

Keep that!
I personally would go 40 over 30 in N55 due to sensitive rod bearings, although they were updated in 2014.

 

[ps2cho]

Great thanks all - the Quaker State 5-40w is cheap, comes in 5qt jugs and I can order it from Walmart so unless PPE comes out in 5qt jugs I’ll just stick to this!

 

[kschachn]

Yes this is why the approval is important.

 

[edyvw]

Great thanks all - the Quaker State 5-40w is cheap, comes in 5qt jugs and I can order it from Walmart so unless PPE comes out in 5qt jugs I’ll just stick to this!

You are good. For future, if you can’t find LL01, ANY MB229.5 will do good in N55. Just stay on 40 side in that engine. Also, sny work on oil filter housing (gaskets) or disconnecting oil cooler lines, you MUST prime oil pump!

 

[Deleted member 89374]

Hi all,

Just bought a 2016 535i 31k miles, N55 engine. Phoenix so no cold temps to worry about.

I have QS 5-40w LL01 oil and wondering if that’s good for the long haul or if I should consider going to PP Euro 5-30w for the long haul?

Any opinions?
Thanks

You're good. That QSFS 5W-40 is on the low side of a 40wt oil or the thick side of a 30wt. It has the correct approval, and it's excellent oil. Stick with it.