Quick Guide to Oil in Your E36

Originally Posted by Bleiva1989

wait wait wait wait!!!!!! the e36 takes 7 quarts of oil???? omg i changed my oil about a month ago but only put 5 quarts!!!! s#!t i didnt know!!!!

Why didn't you check the dipstick???????????

But yes, the 1.8L takes 5.2 quarts, and the 6-cylinders take 6.9 quarts.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

Why didn't you check the dipstick???????????

But yes, the 1.8L takes 5.2 quarts, and the 6-cylinders take 6.9 quarts.

lol idk... this is what i did... lifted the car from one side.... unscrewed the drain plug... i replaced the filter and o rings... than added 5 quarts... and screwed everything back on and finished less than 30 mins. i never touched the dipstick idk u lol

Yeah, I would highly recommend checking the oil level every time you finish changing the oil.

penzoil ultra euro????

Oh, and Brad, if it only took you half an hour to do an oil change, you're doing it wrong. I let my car sit and drain for at least 45 minutes to an hour before I refill.

Originally Posted by tchavera

penzoil ultra euro????

That's really good stuff. Hard to find though
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Originally Posted by ethereal45

That's really good stuff. Hard to find though
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we use it at work but i've never heard of anyone running it in their e36. think i'm gonna use it

Penzoil has a pretty unique set of detergents they put into their oils. If you had an engine that had some gunk in it Penzoil Ultra would be something good to run for a few oil changes with a short oil change interval. You'd probably want to replace the filters really often, also.

Originally Posted by Moeman10

Oh, and Brad, if it only took you half an hour to do an oil change, you're doing it wrong. I let my car sit and drain for at least 45 minutes to an hour before I refill.

oh really??? well this was my first oil change on this car and im due for another in a month or so... i tried to beat jiffy lube's time...lol... but next time ill drain it for 45 mins thanks for the heads up man

Hello all. I just bought a 1998 328ic with 78,000 miles on her. The previous owner was just a broker so i know NOTHING about the vehicle's maintenance other than what i can pick up from context clues. Not knowing what kind of oil he used, does anyone have an opinion on what type i should be using? Please keep in mind i'm a total novice when it comes to car repairs/maintenance. Thanks everyone. Very helpful site.

Rotella T6 made my motor sound quiet......really quiet

Make sure your motor is warm when you do a oil change too........

Originally Posted by Bleiva1989

oh really??? well this was my first oil change on this car and im due for another in a month or so... i tried to beat jiffy lube's time...lol... but next time ill drain it for 45 mins thanks for the heads up man

Originally Posted by Eight Thirty

Make sure your motor is warm when you do a oil change too........

Exactly what I was going to say. I make sure my engine is FULL temp, and JUUUUUST when its tolerable to touch or use a rag drain it. Not a single drop after about 20 minutes... but dont touch the oil

I burned the hell outta my hand last time, because i sorta dropped the drain plug screw, tried to catch it, and shoved my hand into a bucket of hot oil.

Originally Posted by Moeman10

I burned the hell outta my hand last time, because i sorta dropped the drain plug screw, tried to catch it, and shoved my hand into a bucket of hot oil.

LOL yeah, I probably would have let the plug bask in the liquid gold for a "hot minute" before I went dark diving...

When I change the oil in my GTO, I get 2nd degree burns every time because the oil filter is located in the middle of a bundle of header tubes... Not fun. In related news, I'll probably be changing the BMW's oil tonight after work. I've dropped the plug a few times, too. Hopefully not this time.

Originally Posted by ZeGerman

When I change the oil in my GTO, I get 2nd degree burns every time because the oil filter is located in the middle of a bundle of header tubes... Not fun. In related news, I'll probably be changing the BMW's oil tonight after work. I've dropped the plug a few times, too. Hopefully not this time.

I have the same issue on my GT

I cant count how many times I have done this... I actually just changed the oil the other night (friday) and was stoked how fast and painless this car was. I have done it before, but the first time is always a learning process. It was actually the first time I DIDNT get a drop of oil on me.

My driveway is very sloped and better than the garage for this reason: I jack up one side on the jack locations, then place a jack stand on the a arm behind the wheel, repeat on other side. Now my car is technically sitting level with the front raised up 12" which makes for a much better drain scenario than tilted backwards. Then its just enough to slide the oil can under and I reach in with a socket extension on the ratchet. After it gets broke free, I just detach the ratchet and use the socket and extension to take the bolt all the way out. Little bit of oil on the socket, thats it. Meanwhile I will change the filter and all rings while its draining.. Rinse and repeat in reverse direction once its done draining!

Originally Posted by Moeman10

I burned the hell outta my hand last time, because i sorta dropped the drain plug screw, tried to catch it, and shoved my hand into a bucket of hot oil.

I feel your pain


Sent from my HTC HD2 using Bimmer App

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Hi gentlemen
I will be doing the oil & filter change to my Bmimmer @ next week and there is something that concerns me and it is about the pressure that the oil will come out at the time I remove the darning screw, Two things come up to mind; will the oil start to come out as soon I loosen the draining screw, at the middle point or when the screw is practically on its way out? If there is mucho pressure when the oil is flowing out about where do I have to place the bucket oil receiver from the draining hole?
Thx for the info!
Cheers

Originally Posted by eztuner12

Hi gentlemen
I will be doing the oil & filter change to my Bmimmer @ next week and there is something that concerns me and it is about the pressure that the oil will come out at the time I remove the darning screw, Two things come up to mind; will the oil start to come out as soon I loosen the draining screw, at the middle point or when the screw is practically on its way out? If there is mucho pressure when the oil is flowing out about where do I have to place the bucket oil receiver from the draining hole?
Thx for the info!
Cheers

If she is warm enough, the oil shoots out about 3" to start. Screw will start to drip just after half way out, but is machined like all others I have changed and will not start pouring until you fully remove the bolt. Fairly simple

oh yeah i was looking at my oil filter yesterday to make sure its not leaking like a vid i saw on youtube.....and i put my face pretty much up to it and i see bubbles ,when pressing the gas, but no oil actually flows out just tiny tiny TINY bubbles that you can only see when your face is close to the filter housing....should i just let it be?

my oil level is still the same, and i used the oem kit from pelican too

Dont forget to take off your oil cap up top too...

It will drain faster this way.

Originally Posted by Dino1394

oh yeah i was looking at my oil filter yesterday to make sure its not leaking like a vid i saw on youtube.....and i put my face pretty much up to it and i see bubbles ,when pressing the gas, but no oil actually flows out just tiny tiny TINY bubbles that you can only see when your face is close to the filter housing....should i just let it be?

my oil level is still the same, and i used the oem kit from pelican too

I would say o ring on the cap. Also, when I buy my filters they come with two rubber washers, and you only need to use one. Are you using both of them on top and bottom of the filter?

Originally Posted by Eight Thirty

Dont forget to take off your oil cap up top too...

It will drain faster this way.

Thx I'll keep this in mind