New car, new oil thread. 1988 BMW 535is high mile

[PulMax]

Well, the car isn't new at all. It's a 1988 BMW 535is with probably 220k miles on the clock. The engine is the 3.5 liter BMW M30 inline six. Runs great, has a slight lifter tick I think, but still fires right up and runs strong.

It's winter here right now, and I don't have any factory manuals on this thing. I've got a Bentley manual for it on the way.

What to do the oil boffins here suggest? Synth? Dino? Viscocity?

 

[mitchcoyote]

Maxlife 10w-40

 

[coffee]

Agree with MaxLife or Mobil 1 HM. Both have 10w40 versions and great oils.

 

[dave1251]

Shell Rotella 5W-40.

 

[double vanos]

You need to go to http://www.roadfly.com and get into the section that covers the series that your car is.

Plenty of serious enthusiasts there that'll point you in the right direction...Cheers! DV

 

[PulMax]

Originally Posted By: dave1251
Shell Rotella 5W-40.


5w40 or 15w40? A friend with another M30 BMW says he has used Rotella 15-40 and is happy with it.

I've used Rotella in a number of older engines as well, always pretty happy with it.

 

[hannaco]

Considering the winter temps, a 15w-40 may be a bit on the "thick side" at cold start time. For the winter a 5w-40 or 0w-40 may be the better choice.

 

[PulMax]

Apparently most people run 20-50 in these things

 

[PulMax]

I just found this:

http://www.bmwwikiwiki.com/perspective.aspx?action=view&page=bmw:OilChart

Looks like these engines like a beefy oil.

 

[hominid7]

Castrol website says 15w40 above 5*F

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/LubesSelector.do

It only rates 10w40 as good up to 68*F.

20w50 is allowable above 14*F.

My '89 Jetta really really liked Valvoline dino 20w50 year-round. Actually for the last 100K i used Napa branded valvoline. Still was running strong at 225,000 miles when i sold it. Never burned, used, or leaked any oil, never had the engine opened and was red-lined often.

Old Germans like thick oil.