YIKES ! I PUT THE WRONG OIL IN MY 330ci !!

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bmwcoupedriver

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Yesterday, when I parked my car, the oil light came on. I checked the oil and it was almost 1 quart low.

I went to an auto supply store. They didn't have 5W 30 synthetic but they did have 5W 40 synthetic (which is also OK, according to BMW)

I took one from the rack. In the midst of pouring it into my engine, I noticed that I had some how picked up a 10W 40 Synthetic.

How much of a problem can this cause ?

Thanks, (Happy Holidays Too)

Joseph
[driving2]
 
E

epj3

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It shouldn't cause any problems. It's just one quart, and your car takes something like 7 quarts??

I'd say change the oil sooner if you're worried, but I really dont think it's going to make that much of a difference. As long as you didn't put more than 1
 
codex57

codex57

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I just asked my g/f's brother. He's a head mechanic. And yes, we're both sitting here in San Francisco. He said 1 quart (less it sounds like from the post) isn't gonna make a lick of difference in this climate. Don't bother stressing at all. If you have a choice, yes, you want 5W 30, but accidentally pouring in 1 quart of 10W 40 isn't gonna do anything to your car. If you only poured in 1/2 a quart, just get a quart of 5W 30 and top it off.
 
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sly

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bmwcoupedriver said:
Yesterday, when I parked my car, the oil light came on. I checked the oil and it was almost 1 quart low.

I went to an auto supply store. They didn't have 5W 30 synthetic but they did have 5W 40 synthetic (which is also OK, according to BMW)

I took one from the rack. In the midst of pouring it into my engine, I noticed that I had some how picked up a 10W 40 Synthetic.

How much of a problem can this cause ?

Thanks, (Happy Holidays Too)

Joseph
[driving2]
Click to expand...

An oil’s viscosity is identified by its SAE’s (Society for Automotive Engineer’s) number. The thinner the oil, the lower its number, e.g. SAE 10 W. The W signifies that the oil is suitable for winter use. So SAE 10 is just a tad thicker than SAE 5, but when diluted with your existing oil, it's no big deal.
 
AIO

AIO

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5W 30? Huh?? My dealer told me to use SAE 0W/30 (Castrol SLX for example) on my 2005 E46. Am I the only odd one out here?

[???1]
 
codex57

codex57

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Might nto be that different. I was just referring to people living in California. In general, out weather is so mild, you can pretty much use anything. So, the difference btw 0 and 5W may not be critical out here. If 5W is easier to find in the stores, then maybe that's what the dealers recommend. If you live somewhere where the temperatures go to more of an extreme, then which oil you use matters more.
 
aNoodle

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Dude, I wouldn't worry at all about the one quart of 10w40. Not a big deal at all!! BMW has changed it's oils. The 1999 328i came with recommended oils of 5w-40 or 15w-40. Now they've gone to 5w-30 and they don't even sell the synthetic 5w-40 that they used to. It just goes to show that slight variations in the oil is fine.

But I would be concerned how you lost an entire quart of oil?? I change my own oil, and I've never had to top off my oil between changes. Loosing a quart is no small amount, I'd be more concerned about that, than the type of oil you used.
 
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bmwcoupedriver

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I know my car isnt leaking oil. I drove from NYC to San Francisco in August and checked it a few times along the way. This is the second time since I got the car (3/03) that the oil light has come on.

Now I have the added problem of finding a good body shop since some sciumbag decided to key the rear quarter panel.

Thanks To All For Your Posts Though,

Joseph
[driving]
 
///M SPEED

///M SPEED

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It is not uncommon for an E46 to use a quart of oil now and then. My M3 oil light came on once and while I was at the BMW dealer I bought a quart of oil and asked the GM about this. I was concerned that my car was burning oil and he stated it was not uncommon at all.

I haven't had to put any more oil since that time. I check my oil regularly (every time I gas up now) and it has always been at the proper levels.
 
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