Unofficialbmw.com

donaldan · Joined: 01 Jul 2001 Posts: 1881 Location: Ft. Myers, FL

I just notice that Wal-Mart in south Ft. Myers has the 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 on sale for $19.82 plus 6% tax. I believe that price must be the cheapest around for quite a while. Being a cheapskate, I went ahead and bought 4 jugs of 15W50.

JRS · Joined: 09 Jun 2002 Posts: 2386 Location: USA

Don,

Give me your $0.02 on this subject.. I mechanic friend of mine told me that it would NOT be good to switch to a synthetic motor oil if my E30 has only seen regular oil for all of its life. He mentioned that leaks may happen because of the gaskets not being 'accustomed' to thinner oil.

I'm not an oil-specialist here... just an E30 owner that would like to run synthetic.

JRS

donaldan · Joined: 01 Jul 2001 Posts: 1881 Location: Ft. Myers, FL

My 1989 Ford Van is a cargo/business vehicle. I bought it new and is now turning over 254k. It has a minor oil leak. For that reason and for the reason that it accumulates a lot of miles every year, I don't use synthetic. It is just too costly.

I stick to Mobil 1 for both of my BMW's. The 1997 528i was bought at 30k and I immediately switched to Mobil 1. There was a tiny oil drip when I bought it and the drip has diminished or nearly gone. Whether it is due to changeover to Mobil 1, I don't know. My daily beater is a 1991 325i that I bought at 109k and I also switched to Mobil 1. It has no oil drip at all. I have had another 325i previously that I swtiched to using synthetic at around 130k without any ill effect. So that has been my experience.

I did a lot of reading on this subject before I fully embraced synthetic, because like you, I heard a lot about synthetic promoting oil leak. Apparently, it is not exactly true. In fact, it may be some old wife's tale. I assume that one can always switch back to petroleum based oil if not satisfied with synthetic. For sure, it wouldn't harm the engine. If I remember correctly, Mobil 1 website addresses that subject very well.

JRS · Joined: 09 Jun 2002 Posts: 2386 Location: USA

Don,

Do you change your synthetic oil every 10K miles ?

JRS

donaldan · Joined: 01 Jul 2001 Posts: 1881 Location: Ft. Myers, FL

Whether with synthetic or petroleum based oil, I religiously change oil and filter at 3000 mile interval, but no later than eight months whichever comes first. And I have done this in the last 40 years. Regular oil change is one of the best low cost insurance for a healthy and long lasting engine. Each oil change costs about the same as an average restaurant served dinner. So consider it as a dinner treat for my cars.

sifang1 · Joined: 13 Dec 2003 Posts: 29 Location: Sparta, TN USA

Donaldan, I use Amsoil, but at that price I would buy M1 too. Mobil 1 is great oil. Wish Wal-Mart would sell M1 here at that price in Tennessee.

JRS, Synthetic oil penetrates & supports gaskets & seals. Fills out the gaskets & keeps the seals pliable so they don't lose their stretch or grip.

Along with creating sludge (a grinding compound), Petroleum oil coats the gaskets & seals with a thick varnish or shellac. This stops the oil from getting to the gaskets & seals. This then causes the gaskets to dry out & shrink & can cause their clamping bolts or nuts become loose. Same thing with the seals. When they dry out, the rubber loses it's pliablilty & then grip & sometimes wears faster.

Installation of synthetic oil will reveal which gaskets & seals are leaking.

The question is: Do you want to continue to operate equipment with dried out gaskets & seals which will ultimately leak anyways, or do you want to upgrade your lubrication to synthetics & fix what is leaking?

I chose to protect my metal moving parts with synthetic & fix what ever gaskets & seals that showed up leaking. No regrets since 1993.

One Caveat: Installation of any synthetic will release the varnish & sludge sticking to the interior of the engine & disperse it into the new synthetic oil turning it black quickly. Remember, sludge is a grinding compound. I suggest buying a can of engine flush & using it with the old oil to clean out that junk & drain it all out before you install the new synthetic oil. It will stay cleaner longer. Amsoil has a good one. But any will work. Good Luck! -Marvin

E28 84 528e auto 238k Boogies
E30 84 318i stick 136k Faster Boogie
E36/7 99 Z3 auto 250k Screaming Boogie (my son’s)

Roadstergal · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 5:57 pm Post subject: Mobil 1 on sale

3K is a megashort interval for synthetic oil changes. A lot of the Z3 folk have gotten into oil analysis, sending a sample out with every change, and after 7.5K (half the 15K BMW recommends for synth) the additives and physical properties in the oil are still well within spec. They change it anyway beacuse they feel the filter life is not going to go to 15K.

IMHO. I change ~3.5-4K on dino (no track on the 325, no stop-and-go traffic; easy use).

donaldan · Joined: 01 Jul 2001 Posts: 1881 Location: Ft. Myers, FL

Roadstergal, you are absolutely correct. Three thousand mile interval may be too short. But then we like to baby our cars, don't we? It may be an emotional thing. It could even be pure paranoia. Who says that everything we do must be rational? As long as it makes me happy, and not hurting anything, that is most important. Yes, some environmentalists may complain about wasting natural resources and so on. Fortunately, technology allows us to enjoy life at very reasonable cost so feel blessed and enjoy it.

JRS · Joined: 09 Jun 2002 Posts: 2386 Location: USA

Folks.. let's bottomline the "why we change oil after 'X' miles/months":

These are BMWs (E30s) that are more than paid for. We owe nothing on them and we can afford to buy this that or upgrade this/that.

The minimum mileage before changing oil is 3K. That is a given.

JRS

k1hb · Joined: 20 Nov 2002 Posts: 1239 Location: boston

donaldan: walmart does not sell/advertize automotive stuff on the internet???

fred

donaldan · Joined: 01 Jul 2001 Posts: 1881 Location: Ft. Myers, FL

I really don't know. Have you checked on the Internet or called your nearest Wal-Mart on that question?

JRS · Joined: 09 Jun 2002 Posts: 2386 Location: USA

quote:
Originally posted by k1hb:
donaldan: walmart does not sell/advertize automotive stuff on the internet???

fred

Would it have to do with shipping regulations on combustible items such as carb-spray ? If they sold it on the internet, then they would be to abide by stringent shipping rules. Oil is also considered a hazmat item. If it breaks during shipment, then Walmart would be liable for any EPA charges dealing with the 'clean-up' of the oil.

JRS

Greenhornet84 · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 406 Location: Uper Darby PA

Hey Junior,
Who are you writing copy for? I'm sure someone wrote you a check for that screed.
I admit that I change my oil at 3000M. But it is only out of guilt, history or just the fact that I can afford it. Couple years ago I changed out the oil pan gasket and WIWT I cleaned the gunk out of the bottom of the pan. 6000M later the oil was still yellow, not black, on the dipstick. Fact is, since we swicched to unleaded gas cars run a lot cleaner.
#2 I work with a lot of good Benz mechanics who put Mobil 1 into customers cars but not one of them uses it in thier own car.
Mark