E36 oil change question - United Bimmer Community

**merlin** · 02-09-2009, 08:43 PM

This is my first post, so any help is greatly appreciated. I recently bought a 1996 328i with about 115,000 miles. I need to get an oil change. I know it hasn't had synthetic run in it, so what do you all recommend for viscosity of oil. I figured I would run 5W-30, but welcome all suggestions, and what's best for the car.

Thanks!!

**Radix325i** · 02-09-2009, 10:08 PM

You are in a tropical weather, in my personal opinion i think that the best oil must be 20W50 synthetic because you have a engine with over 111.000 miles.

up to 111000 miles 10W40
over 111000 miles 20W50

**scooter** · 02-09-2009, 10:39 PM

synthetic may not be the best for him considering the mileage, the seals may leak some.
if you know for a fact that the car had dino oil in it just keep using it, 10w40 sounds good.

**Jetty** · 02-10-2009, 01:57 AM

My owners manual recommends thicker oils for colder climates and thinner oils for warmer climates. Some people reverse this. Seems like if you ask ten people about oil you get ten different opinions. It seems logical to use highest quality thicker oil for cars with higher milage. I use mobil 1 synthetic 10w-30, I would have used 10-40 but they did not carry it at the shop. I would refer to the owners manual and consult with a dealer or ask an expert who has already gotten 200 plus miles. Personally, 5w-30 sounds a little too light. It would be nice to really get the straight scoop on the oil. I wondered about using synthetic myself.

**ricks330i** · 02-10-2009, 07:27 AM

I use 10w-30 on my 325is with 155000 miles. The car does not smoke and runs well with this weight oil. I have been rebuilding Chevy engines for over ten years and added one quart of synthetic oil in the crankcase with the regular oil for extra protection and upon inspection found the bearing surfaces to be like new after a season of drag racing. I know its not the same type engine but has the same principal.

**tree36** · 02-10-2009, 12:27 PM

10w40 or 10w40 thats what i run. i would use mobil 1 syn.

**tree36** · 02-10-2009, 12:29 PM

wait scooter. higher milage cars shouldn't use syn oil? my cars got 170000 ive always used syn.

**falak sher** · 02-10-2009, 12:50 PM

hey guys i have an e36 316i. its done 157000 km.. i need to change my oil so can you guys please tell me what type to use for good performance and protection and btw its really hot around here... please reply asap

**scooter** · 02-10-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tree36

wait scooter. higher milage cars shouldn't use syn oil? my cars got 170000 ive always used syn.

they say you shouldn't start high mileage cars on Syn, seals being broken in usually start leaking when you switch over, there's a school of thought that you can switch from dino to Syn while the car has relatively low miles.

Quote:

Simply change the oil as you would normally. Any “confusion” is just myth. You can switch from conventional motor oil to synthetic (and back again, if you want), without following any special procedures. The only exception to this is with a higher-mileage engine that has never used synthetic motor oil, or with an engine that has used conventional motor oil and been poorly maintained. In these cases, you should still follow the same basic oil-change procedures (drain the old oil, remove the old oil filter, put in new synthetic and put on a new oil filter), but you should follow a regimen of one or two shortened oil-change intervals. For instance, let’s say that your regular oil change interval is 5,000 miles. If you’re switching to synthetic under the circumstances mentioned above, make your next synthetic oil change in 2,500 miles, your third synthetic oil change 3,500 miles after that, and then follow your normal 5,000 mile oil-change interval. The reasoning behind this staggered interval is that a high-mileage engine, or one that has seen infrequent oil changes, will likely have a considerable build-up of sludge and deposits.

**falak sher** · 02-10-2009, 10:40 PM

hey bro thanks for the info.. really helped man

and btw im quite infrequent with oil changes therefore thr might be alot of deposits plus my car is burning oil

so now tell me if i should put syn oil or normal oil? and what type 5w30 or 5w40 or etc. hope to hear from you again

thanks

**tree36** · 02-15-2009, 09:16 AM

Listen to Scoot. Keep using what you've been using. and i would say 10w40 or 10w30. go with mobil 1 if your using syn.

**falak sher** · 02-16-2009, 06:28 AM

hey thanks man i'll definatley use scoots and ure advice.