Castrol Syntec 5W-50

[Goofynick6]

Anyone use it? Seems like a good oil and it's only $5.09 a qt at Walmart. Full synthetic, meets all the standards, etc.

Any thoughts?

[///M3 CRAZY]

why so thick?

[Jkim]

blah! just get the good stuff. MOBIL 1 or REDLINE. And dont go cheap on the oil, espeically with the money you're pouring into this.

oh btw nick, help me find an m3!!!!! this is dan ^_^

[BoostFed325]

I am using it in my 95 325i turbo. I was using 15w50 mobil but noticed the valve train was noisy especially at start. BMW is using 10w 60 castrol in the newer M3s. Mobil uses the syntec package that castrol originally designed.

[StealthBimmer]

im using 5w-40 syntec right now...just change the oil today from mobil 1 10w-30

[Randy Forbes]

A plug for Castrol; I've been using it in every vehicle I've owned since 1973. I've had plenty of opprotunities to go back inside engines I'd built years before and there was never a trace of sludge, the insides could be wiped CLEAN with a paper towel. And while I've done my share of damage to engines, I've NEVER had an oil related failure as long as I've used Castrol products.

I use 10w/40 Syntec in my SC S-52, 10w/60 TWS in my S-54 and 5w/30 Syntec in the X5 4.4. The Healey runs on 10w/40 GTX (dinosaur).

[e36'n]

blah! just get the good stuff. MOBIL 1 or REDLINE. And dont go cheap on the oil, espeically with the money you're pouring into this.

oh btw nick, help me find an m3!!!!! this is dan ^_^

Castrol 0w-30 Made in Germany is better than any off the shelf Mobil 1 or Redline oil.

Anyways, I'm using 4 litres of Castrol 5W-50 and mixing it with 3 litres of OW-30 Made in Germany. The local dealership said that 5W-50 is what they use for the non-M e36's now.

I still think that you need a thin oil at start up. From what I've read to believe, start up is the most important. In the latest bavauto flyer they have a comparison done by Liqui Moly on:

"how long it takes for different weights and types of oil to reach the remotest lubrication points in an engine when cold starting at 32 degrees F."

0W-40 synthetic: 0-4 seconds
5W-40 synthetic: 4-10 seconds
10W-40 semi-synthetic: 9-30 seconds
15W-40 mineral: 28-48 seconds

I'm sure it's slightly biased as they didn't care to compare a 15W-40 synthetic and used a mineral oil instead, but it does show something.

If I didn't have access to the German CS 0W-30 I'd use straight 5W-50.

[gerry_miranda]

Not all Castrol or Mobil1 is BMW LL-01 approved. The German Castrol 0w-30 is LL01 approved and the American 5w-40 is LL- 98 (older BMW requirement) approved.

Mobil1 , the only BMW approved oil is PLAIN Mobil 1 0w-40 for BMW LL-01. None of the Extended drain stuff is approved.

[Goofynick6]

So is 5w40 a good weight? I'm not real smart with oils, I know the basics, but some of you guys are very into them. They have no "German made" Syntec..I looked! Didn't know if I should go 5w50 because it's easy to get here and they didn't seem to have a 0w40.

I think I'll try it

[e36'n]

So is 5w40 a good weight? I'm not real smart with oils, I know the basics, but some of you guys are very into them. They have no "German made" Syntec..I looked! Didn't know if I should go 5w50 because it's easy to get here and they didn't seem to have a 0w40.

I think I'll try it

I don't know where you can get it down in the States but it's at Part Source here in Canada.

I'd go with the 5w50, extra protection up high.

[BlownM3]

I think that the oil BMW sells under their name is in fact Syntec.

[thedude]

5w50 syntec is okay since it protects in a wide range of operating temperatures. But it has alot of viscosity modifiers in it. Those break down over time/miles, so be sure to keep up with very regular oil changes.

Eg. 5w50 oil will eventually become 5w40,5w35,5w30 and further down with time and wear. If you have a very high performing engine, it will break down the oil faster than say a corolla engine will. For some reason, alot of members here dont agree with the 3k mile oil change interval. If you are one of those people, I'd probly go with Mobil1 15w50.

Dont quote me on any of this. Cheers.

[BOOSTED4DRM3]

I use mobil 1 5w-30 on my car.

[Goofynick6]

Yeah, I'm all about 3k oil changes on boosted cars. My Jetta says 7k changes, but it doesn't get abused so I don't mind going to around 5-6k with it. I think the 5w50 is a good balance and should be good for my setup after it gets broken in.

How much do you guys normally use? 7qt's even? I know you should had a little for the turbo and it's oil line, but wasn't sure what you guys usually put in for a total amount.

Thanks

[Jim M3]

I just switched over to Royal Purple 10w40.

[e36'n]

5w50 syntec is okay since it protects in a wide range of operating temperatures. But it has alot of viscosity modifiers in it. Those break down over time/miles, so be sure to keep up with very regular oil changes.

Eg. 5w50 oil will eventually become 5w40,5w35,5w30 and further down with time and wear. If you have a very high performing engine, it will break down the oil faster than say a corolla engine will. For some reason, alot of members here dont agree with the 3k mile oil change interval. If you are one of those people, I'd probly go with Mobil1 15w50.

Dont quote me on any of this. Cheers.

IMO 15w50 is too thick at startup. I agree with you that it has alot of viscosity modifiers in it and that's why the range is so wide. Here an analysis I found on it:

Here are the Blackstone numbers on Castrol Syntec 5W-50 with 5,600 miles.This was on a '99 Ford Econoline 150 with 4.2L Six at 24,300 miles.The driving conditions were seven weeks of mostly freeway and hot weather.One half quart of make-up oil was added.Universal Averages are in (#).
Alum 2 (5)
Chrom 0 (1)
Iron 8 (40)
Copper 6 (16)
Lead 8 (9)
Tin 0 (1)
Moly 38 (37)
Nickel 1 (1)
Manganese 1 (1)
Silver 0 (0)
Titanium 0 (0)
Potassium 0 (6)
Boron 28 (37)
Silicon 16 (28)
Sodium 2 (50)
Calcium 3023 (1575)
Magnesium 6 (382)
Phosphorus 717 (843)
Zinc 904 (996)
Barium 4 (2)

Sus Viscosity@210F 88.5 (77-88)
Flashpoint in F 445 (>385)
Insolubles 0.3 (<0.6)

Comments:Nothing too unusual showed up in this sample. All wear read at or below averages for this type of engine, which is a very good indication of normal wearing parts and careful operation. The lead did read slightly high compared to iron,though at this low of a level,we don't suspect it is coming from a problem. The universal averages show normal wear after about 3,700 miles on the oil. Feel free to run the next oil 8,000 miles. If wear and insolubles still read low,you should be able to go even longer. No fuel dilution or anti-freeze was found.

[e36'n]

Further to that though, 5w50 has alot of polymer which makes turns gummy and forms hard carbon when overheated....etc.

Here's a good read (but LONG):
http://faq.f650.com/FAQs/OILFAQ.htm

The author also used 5w50 in his bike for 7000miles and did an analysis which turned out fine. I'm sure the oil is fine, but is there a better one for a turbocharged application with a good low temp start up flow? I'm not sure.

[paul e]

Not all Castrol or Mobil1 is BMW LL-01 approved. The German Castrol 0w-30 is LL01 approved and the American 5w-40 is LL- 98 (older BMW requirement) approved.

Mobil1 , the only BMW approved oil is PLAIN Mobil 1 0w-40 for BMW LL-01. None of the Extended drain stuff is approved.

Thats true. However, I like to do Mobil 1 oil changes with 3 qts 0w-40 and 3 qts 15w-50.

[paul e]

I use mobil 1 5w-30 on my car.

I wouldnt... if you had read some of the real world measurements on this oil after use, you wouldnt either.. the stuff thins out so badly, you might as well use vegetable oil. Ok, granted, thats overstated. But over the years, I have seen numerous oil analyses showing this oil shears back, in use, to something akin to a 5w-20. More use can bring it back via oxidation to near a 5w-30 again. But Id be afraid of it; would want something a little thicker.

[gerry_miranda]

I just buy BMW 5w-30 and be done with it. I had 2 oil analysis and it came back fine.

[paul e]

the bmw 5w-30 is fine.. its a far cry from the M1 5w-30!

[BOOSTED4DRM3]

you guys use 6 or 7 qts?

[gerry_miranda]

7 qts

[rpet]

Anyone use it? Seems like a good oil and it's only $5.09 a qt at Walmart. Full synthetic, meets all the standards, etc.

Any thoughts?

Here is the official recommended list for US owners by BMW from the BMW website

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ngineOils.aspx

[DavidsM3]

I would think with the higher heat FI motors produce one would want the thicker oil. 10-40 or 15-40. Maybe run the 10-40 for the colder months, and the 15-40 10-50 for the summer months.