318ti.org forum

Go Back   318ti.org forum > Technical, Maintenance and Modifications > Engine

Notices

Engine Tuneups, chips, wires, spark plugs.

.
» Recent Threads
1999 M-Sport For Sale
12-31-2023 05:10 PM
Last post by Coop540iT
03-23-2024 06:39 PM
1 Replies, 105,915 Views
Once again 318ti owner...
03-20-2024 12:39 PM
Last post by two30grain
03-22-2024 02:04 PM
1 Replies, 68,878 Views
What brakes do I...
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
Last post by huirtera
03-20-2024 03:27 PM
0 Replies, 66,116 Views
View Poll Results: Syn Oil weights
0W-20 2 0.58%
0W-30 16 4.68%
5W-20 8 2.34%
5W-30 105 30.70%
10W-30 62 18.13%
10W-40 80 23.39%
15W-40 31 9.06%
15W-50 38 11.11%
Voters: 342. You may not vote on this poll

Reply Share/Bookmark
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-24-2004, 09:35 AM   #1
Sirius600
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 49
iTrader: (0)
Default Whats your weight? (synthetic oil)

Since I'm considering switching to synthetic oil, I think it's suiting to start a poll on oil weight. This is for synthetic users ONLY.

Please include your location and the average temperature where you drive.
__________________
1997 318i - All stock.....for now
Sirius600 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2004, 06:58 PM   #2
tastade
Senior Member
 
tastade's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Marion, IA
Posts: 388
iTrader: (0)
Default

I am using 15W50 Mobil 1 synthetic. I live in IA, and only drive the car in the spring/summer/fall, usually on days above freezing. Avg summer temperature is around 72 degrees (day/night average), highest high is around 100 . When temperatures are below about 20 F, it is hard starting and will idle terrible for about 10 seconds. I believe this is due to the thick oil. I do several autocrosses during the year, and some spirited driving. The thick oil works great for my driving habits. My fuel economy is worse with the thick oil, probably by about 2-4 mpg average. This current oil change I have about 6k miles and still have 3 bars left on my change indicator, I also have about 4k highway miles on this oil. My previous oil was 10w30 (fossil based).
tastade is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-2004, 01:12 PM   #3
brucelee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 107
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tastade
I am using 15W50 Mobil 1 synthetic. I live in IA, and only drive the car in the spring/summer/fall, usually on days above freezing. Avg summer temperature is around 72 degrees (day/night average), highest high is around 100 . When temperatures are below about 20 F, it is hard starting and will idle terrible for about 10 seconds. I believe this is due to the thick oil. I do several autocrosses during the year, and some spirited driving. The thick oil works great for my driving habits. My fuel economy is worse with the thick oil, probably by about 2-4 mpg average. This current oil change I have about 6k miles and still have 3 bars left on my change indicator, I also have about 4k highway miles on this oil. My previous oil was 10w30 (fossil based).

I also use Redcap but I live in San Diego where it never gets below 50F. Perhaps for winter, you should switch to 5-30 or 10-30. Seems like this would help aleviate your issues upon starting.

Castrol makes a 5-50 Syntec which also might work.

Good luck
brucelee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2004, 02:04 AM   #4
socal318ti
Senior Member
 
socal318ti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Diego
Posts: 142
iTrader: (0)
Default

I live in San Diego and the previous owner of my car always used 10w-40 synthetic so I am continuing with it. By the way its Mobil 1 stuff.
__________________
"You want to know me? Well so do I."
97' naked 318ti
socal318ti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2004, 07:26 PM   #5
NEKO
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: PA
Posts: 78
iTrader: (0)
Default

I always use Valvoline Syntech full Synthetic motor oil. For the winter I am using 10W 30.
NEKO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-03-2005, 10:55 PM   #6
318ti
Member
 
318ti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 61
iTrader: (0)
Default

Just Changed it today to 5w-30 Mobil 1. It had problems starting in -20c temps.

Peter
1999 318ti 81k
__________________
_____________________________
Peter
1999 318ti
_____________________________
318ti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2005, 04:09 AM   #7
AlaskaBlue
Senior Member
 
AlaskaBlue's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Muncie, Indiana
Posts: 1,551
iTrader: (0)
Default

I want to switch to synthetic, but the guys at the dealership it didn't matter, and a guy at the autoparts store said that it could cause problems (fuel pump to go out? I can't remember what it was now because I asked a few months ago) I have 140,000 miles do these guys know what they are talking about or is it just crap?

I Had to edit this in sorry I forgot. I live in Indiana summer around 80 degrees winter around 32 and dealer uses 20w50 oil
__________________
AlaskaBlue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-04-2005, 05:04 PM   #8
hotdog19d
Senior Member
 
hotdog19d's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Manhattan Kansas
Posts: 242
iTrader: (0)
Default

I was using mobil1 15w50 , then switched to 5w30 for this winter.
__________________
http://smiley.onegreatguy.net/usa.gif
BUY ME !!!!! BUY ME!!!!
FOR SALE!! $4000 OBO!!!!
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5783
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=5777SOLD!!!
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D
FOR SALE!! $4000 OBO!!!!!!
96 california aqua-marine clears, H&R/Koni sports, Triflo exhaust fogged
hotdog19d is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2005, 07:58 AM   #9
hsvbama318ti
Senior Member
 
hsvbama318ti's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: huntsville, Alabama
Posts: 110
iTrader: (0)
Default

I use redline 20w-50. Superb oil!
hsvbama318ti is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2005, 02:00 PM   #10
clex2
Senior Member
 
clex2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 642
iTrader: (1)
Default

There one furmula you forgot......Mobil 1 0w-40, which I use all year round.
clex2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-25-2005, 04:34 PM   #11
Buttercup
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Springfield, VA
Posts: 10
iTrader: (0)
Default

I use 15w50 Mobil One.
Buttercup is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2005, 03:39 AM   #12
m44ic
Senior Member
 
m44ic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: madison, WI
Posts: 402
iTrader: (0)
Default

I dont use any of the weights on the pole I use 0w40
m44ic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2005, 09:35 AM   #13
demeegod
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 55
iTrader: (0)
Default

I use Royal Purple 20w50. Good stuff. Live in Los Angeles though so its rarely cold at all... and my version of cold is quite mild.

Upon changing from Mobil to Royal the idle has been smoother and maybe im just insane.. but it just feels like it has a baby amount more of oomph.
__________________

1996 318Ti, M Sport Edition, 19" ACE Alloy Monaco Rims, Adjustable Eibach Sportline Ground Control Coilover suspension, Shaved Door Kit, Xenon 8000k Ellipsoid HID upgrade, Pioneer Premier System, Charcoal Custom Metallic Gray Paintjob!

Future upgrades:
{ }E46 Front Bumper, { }Engine Dressup, { }Supersprint Muffler, { }Rogue Clutchstop, { }Armrest, { }UUC Evo Short Shift kit, { } Paint Touch ups, { } Custom Rear Bumper shave, { } M3 Clutch Replace and Aluminum Flywheel
demeegod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2005, 05:36 AM   #14
318tiwinner
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DE/MD
Posts: 11
iTrader: (0)
Default

I use Castrol Syntec 0w-30. I live near Philly. Great oil in all weather conditions. Never used in -20c though!
318tiwinner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2005, 05:47 AM   #15
GDB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Tyler, TX
Posts: 1,022
iTrader: (0)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by m44ic
I dont use any of the weights on the pole I use 0w40

That's what I've started running aswell. No problems yet, I'm sending a sample to blackstone after my next oil change.
__________________
Member #1 Keep E46 Bumpers off E36s Club
http://www.geocities.com/guywiththebluecar/GDBsig2.bmp
GDB is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:41 AM.


.
Powered by site supporters
vBulletin Version 3.8.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©1999 - 2024, 318ti.org
© vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2
[page compression: 113.93 k/137.21 k (16.97%)]

318ti.org does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information or products discussed.