10w-30 verse 5w-30

Can I use 10w-30 instead of 5w-30 in my 2006 X3? I live near Ft Bragg, North Carolina

Warm region - 10W30
Cold region - 5W30

This is completely your choice but I would not make that switch.

1) engine was spec'd with euro grade 5w30 (aka BMW oil or castrol euro 5w30). This is a much lighter 5w30 than us grade 5w30

2) what benefit will you see? I live in California...also a warm climate...and have always ran the spec'd 5w30 for the last 103k miles. Mpg is still around 24 (90/10 hwy vs city)

I take a conservative approach to engine oil and try to stay consistent with brand and grade. I also only use oil spec'd for the motor. Part of my approach is from experience. The only car I ever had oil related engine issues was the one I did not follow the above advice on. I experimented almost every oil change with different brands (ie whatever the cheapest dyno oil was that day) and occasionally ran with 10w30 instead of 5w30.

Originally Posted by x3brian

This is completely your choice but I would not make that switch.

1) engine was spec'd with euro grade 5w30 (aka BMW oil or castrol euro 5w30). This is a much lighter 5w30 than us grade 5w30

2) what benefit will you see? I live in California...also a warm climate...and have always ran the spec'd 5w30 for the last 103k miles. Mpg is still around 24 (90/10 hwy vs city)

I take a conservative approach to engine oil and try to stay consistent with brand and grade. I also only use oil spec'd for the motor. Part of my approach is from experience. The only car I ever had oil related engine issues was the one I did not follow the above advice on. I experimented almost every oil change with different brands (ie whatever the cheapest dyno oil was that day) and occasionally ran with 10w30 instead of 5w30.

I agree 100% on this. I personally run nothing but OE BMW oil which is 5w30. It's priced very close to other approved oils and it eliminates that nagging "is this oil ok?" question.

Originally Posted by RegalNC

I live near Ft Bragg, North Carolina

Welcome!

My wife and I met in Fayetteville, were married on Ft Bragg, spent 17 years there total, and that's where I retired. We have some great memories of the place.

I wouldn't go up to a 10W weight. Most folks run some variation of 0/5W and 30-40 grades. Either stick with the BMW one or find something that specifically list the BMW LL-01 approval on the back.

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

.... or find something that specifically list the BMW LL-01 approval on the back.

But the Long Life approval may not be as critical as the High Temperature/High Shear (HT/HS) viscosity - at least for those changing their oil before BMW says so.

The ACEA A3/B3 spec. requires a HT/HS number > 3.5.

Some N. American full synthetics meet ACEA A1/B1 but not ACEA A3/B3.

They meet extended drain interval criteria but not the attributes that BMW consider necessary in their (high performance) engines.

This is likely to be the 20986th oil thread.............but I just use my own best judgment and don't try to overanalyse. There's plenty of good oils out there and many varied opinions, and few engine failures attributed to poor oil choice especially for these non-M engines which are a bit more tolerate. I've used the German Castrol 0W-30 which meets LL-01 spec forever and recently switched to the extended-drain service interval given my driving profile and the cleanliness of the engine when I did the valve cover gaskets this past summer. And after careful thought and some research, I even switched my mom's 325i (N52 engine) to a LL-04 spec oil this past oil change despite the worry regarding fuel quality outside the EU (don't start on this please, it's a conscious decision). I definitely liked the way the engine reacted when I drove her car over Thanksgiving, and my parents remarked positively to the Pentosin 0W-30 that I switched them to as well.

M1 0/40....cheap, they have it at walmart and meets all the specs......

Originally Posted by x3brian

This is completely your choice but I would not make that switch.

1) engine was spec'd with euro grade 5w30 (aka BMW oil or castrol euro 5w30). This is a much lighter 5w30 than us grade 5w30

2) what benefit will you see? I live in California...also a warm climate...and have always ran the spec'd 5w30 for the last 103k miles. Mpg is still around 24 (90/10 hwy vs city)

I take a conservative approach to engine oil and try to stay consistent with brand and grade. I also only use oil spec'd for the motor. Part of my approach is from experience. The only car I ever had oil related engine issues was the one I did not follow the above advice on. I experimented almost every oil change with different brands (ie whatever the cheapest dyno oil was that day) and occasionally ran with 10w30 instead of 5w30.

No, the engine is spec'd with BMW LL-01. There are 5W-30, 0W-30, 0W-40 and 5W-40 oils that all meet BMW LL-01. No 10W-30 that I know of.

Originally Posted by Supercourse

But the Long Life approval may not be as critical as the High Temperature/High Shear (HT/HS) viscosity - at least for those changing their oil before BMW says so.

The ACEA A3/B3 spec. requires a HT/HS number > 3.5.

Some N. American full synthetics meet ACEA A1/B1 but not ACEA A3/B3.

They meet extended drain interval criteria but not the attributes that BMW consider necessary in their (high performance) engines.

BMW LL-01 includes the BMW HTHS spec. The only spec you need to know is BMW LL-01.

For the OP, why would you want to use 10W-30. Most engine wear occurs during start-up and the 0W and 5W oils are MUCH better at providing oil pressure quickly during cold starts.

Why does this subject come up continuously on all BMW boards. Just use BMW oil and don't worry about it. Plain and simple.

Originally Posted by X3emist

Why does this subject come up continuously on all BMW boards. Just use BMW oil and don't worry about it. Plain and simple.

+1

I had a good experience regarding oil at my dealership. I have one of those nifty little BMW oil bags to carry a spare qt of oil in the car.



We went to visit our daughter and like I always do I popped the hood on her Toyota and it was over a qt low so in went my qt of BMW oil. Fast forward a month or so later and I take my X3 to the dealer to get my new tires put on. While I'm waiting I drop by the parts counter to buy a replacement bottle of oil. They gave it to me at no charge.

walmart is 2 minutes from my house and the BMW dealer is about 30 minutes + sitting in horrible seattle/tacoma traffic, thats why I dont get BMW oil haha

Yeah but you use 0w40 m1. It's ll01 approved. That's close enough for govt work .