oil changes? Need advice!!!!!!

[JUS]

lildee
Are you a BMW CCA member? Do you have member directory if you do look up the club member closest to your township / area. what part of NJ are you from. Some members have the tools you need.


Good Luck
Jus-n-4

 

[zman]

Sorry, this is a beginner question.

Does oil break down in time? and why?

 

[Kirby]

Oil breaks down over time for many reasons:

- Exhaust gases blow by the rings and condense in the oil. Heard of NOx & SOx exhaust emissions? These oxides mix with the oil and form Nitric and Sulfuric acids. Acids etch metal.
- On cold start, unburnt gas blows by the rings and condenses in the oil. This dilutes the oil, reducing the viscosity.
- And of course the oil gets dirty as a result of carbon in the blowby exhaust, dirt in the intake air stream, etc.


The manufacturers add detergents and other "stuff" to the oil to neutralize the acid, maintain viscosity, etc. The big question is HOW LONG is the oil "safe" to use.

I have actually seen fresh oil in a sealed container "breakdown". It was an old but unopened container of oil I found in my garage, probably 7 - 8 years on the shelf. I opened it - the detergents, etc. had actually separated from the oil.

 

[simmerthabimmer]

bmw's oil is proven to be effective past 15000. there are so many additives and detergents in the product it is absolutely ridiculous. as far as the reset goes, thats easy and you dont even need a tool for e46, except for the first 2 years of production. BMW oil is amazing, penzoil isnt... you get what you pay for

 

[Kirby]

BMW oil is Castrol Synthetic...