R50/53 Mobil 1 oil - 0W-30 vs. 5W-30 vs. 0W-40
#1
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Mobil 1 oil - 0W-30 vs. 5W-30 vs. 0W-40
Hi everybody,
I am a just few miles due for oil change on my '06 MCS (39k). I used Mobil 1 5w-30 last time, but I noticed a new spec the other day (0w-30) and also 0w-40.
I live in central Florida and enjoy driving my MCS almost everyday!
Can anyone please explain the differences between these three specs?
Which one would you recommend?
Thanks!
Joseph
I am a just few miles due for oil change on my '06 MCS (39k). I used Mobil 1 5w-30 last time, but I noticed a new spec the other day (0w-30) and also 0w-40.
I live in central Florida and enjoy driving my MCS almost everyday!
Can anyone please explain the differences between these three specs?
Which one would you recommend?
Thanks!
Joseph
#2
Basically, the first number represents how thick the oil is when it's cold, and the second number represents how thick is it when it's hot. Specifically, a 5W-30 oil has the same viscosity when cold as a straight 5W oil, and the same viscosity when hot as a straight 30W oil.
So both a 0W-30 and 5W-30 will behave the same once your engine's up to operating temperature. The 0W-XX oils are usually appropriate for colder climates where a thicker oil might have problems until the engine's warmed up.
From the 2006 owner's manual, MINI recommends either 5W-30 or 5W-40. I'd go with the 5W-30 unless it's really hot out and you're worried about the heat causing the 5W-30 to get too thin when the engine's hot.
So both a 0W-30 and 5W-30 will behave the same once your engine's up to operating temperature. The 0W-XX oils are usually appropriate for colder climates where a thicker oil might have problems until the engine's warmed up.
From the 2006 owner's manual, MINI recommends either 5W-30 or 5W-40. I'd go with the 5W-30 unless it's really hot out and you're worried about the heat causing the 5W-30 to get too thin when the engine's hot.
#3
It's generally best to use the most narrow viscosity range that your climate requires. Just like everything in life, when you try to make one thing do everything, the less effective it is at doing any one thing. In Florida, there is no reason to use a 0W-XX at all. That is for seriously cold climates where you routinely see temperatures near or below 0F. Some manufacturers (like Honda) are spec'ing 0W-XXs to improve fuel economy at the expense of engine protection. The thinner oil reduces internal resistance which minutely improves mileage, but it also reduces protection. Maybe in winter in Florida you could go with a 5W-30, but I would think most of the time you would want a 10W-30 or even a 10W-40. If you go with Mobil 1, be sure to use the Extended Performance formulas unless you plan to change your oil much more frequently. The regular Mobil 1 is much lower quality than it was several years ago. I strongly recommend Redline oil, but that's a different topic.
Cheers,
-Chris
Cheers,
-Chris
#5
It's not as much of an issue with modern synthetic oils, because the oil molecules themselves can be engineered to provide a wide viscosity range without needing nearly as many modifiers. That's why you didn't start seeing oils like 10W-60 or 0W-50 until synthetics came onto the scene. You can even get 0W-60, but it's a special-purpose, hugely expensive oil.
#6
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#7
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In the old days of conventional oil, 10W-XX and 20W-XX oils were kind of a necessary evil, because you could only get a spread of 30 between the hot and cold ratings. (In other words, if you wanted the oil to act like a 50-weight oil when hot, you couldn't go lower than 20W when cold, hence the popularity of 20W-50 conventional oil in higher-performance engines.)
Likewise, if you wanted a conventional oil to behave like a 40-weight when hot, the cold rating had to be at least 10W to keep the spread at 30 or below.
With modern synthetic oils, the viscosity spread can be 40, 50 or even 60, so it's easy to make a 5W-50 or 0W-50 oil that flows really well when it's cold, but also protects well after it gets hot.
#11
So now I'm confused too, I have an 05' MCS which I've changed its oil ever 5k miles since new with 5w-30 (Factory Recommended) but Mobil 1 Full Synthetic.
I'm about to go buy some more for my 60k mi. oil change and decided to actually check the Mobil 1 website for availability (Ike Shortage) and noticed their recommendation for an 05' MCS is 0w-40: http://www.mobiloil.com/usa-english/....aspx?option=2
Now I'm not sure what to go with... But I don't feel comfortable going with 10w-40 thats recommended by some here because that isn't recommended by either MINI or Mobil 1......
I'm about to go buy some more for my 60k mi. oil change and decided to actually check the Mobil 1 website for availability (Ike Shortage) and noticed their recommendation for an 05' MCS is 0w-40: http://www.mobiloil.com/usa-english/....aspx?option=2
Now I'm not sure what to go with... But I don't feel comfortable going with 10w-40 thats recommended by some here because that isn't recommended by either MINI or Mobil 1......
#12
#13
Thanx, now the problem is actually finding any Mobil 1 5w-30 ANYWHERE!!!
#17
you should use oil that meets the BMW specs for the engine. ACEA A3/B3 and BMW LL-01. If either of those specs are not on the oil bottle, then they're not long interval oils. Both German Castrol 0W-30 and Mobil 1 0W-40 meet this spec. US made Castrol 5W-30 does not. The BMW supplied 5W-30 (from the dealership) does meet ACEA A3/B3. This oil come from Germany.....
#18
#19
#20
Looking at the M1 site,
M1 extended performance 5W30 meets ACEA A5/B5, but
regular M1 5W30 only meets A1/B1
regular M1 0W40 meets A3/B4 and BMW Longlife-01
Advanced fuel economy M1 0W30 only meets A1/B1
Racing M1 0W30 is not recommended for street cars.
Based on that the M1 0W40 meets MINI's requirements,
Ext. Perf M1 5W30 meets some,
and M1 5W30 and AFE 0W30 and Racing 0W30 don't.
BTW, Amsoil 5W40 European Car Formula (which I'm using at the moment)
is recommended for A3/B4 adn BMW LL-04 applications,
although it isn't actually formally certified for them
M1 extended performance 5W30 meets ACEA A5/B5, but
regular M1 5W30 only meets A1/B1
regular M1 0W40 meets A3/B4 and BMW Longlife-01
Advanced fuel economy M1 0W30 only meets A1/B1
Racing M1 0W30 is not recommended for street cars.
Based on that the M1 0W40 meets MINI's requirements,
Ext. Perf M1 5W30 meets some,
and M1 5W30 and AFE 0W30 and Racing 0W30 don't.
BTW, Amsoil 5W40 European Car Formula (which I'm using at the moment)
is recommended for A3/B4 adn BMW LL-04 applications,
although it isn't actually formally certified for them
Last edited by cristo; 03-14-2009 at 07:52 AM.
#21
#22
I just happened to run across a case and a half of Amsoil 5W-30 the other day. I would imagine this would meet the requirement? This oil is several to three years old but been stored in a climate controlled building all the time. But the storage age is all that sort of bothers me about it. However I can get it for free... so it is tempting...
And thoughts?
And thoughts?
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#25
I just happened to run across a case and a half of Amsoil 5W-30 the other day. I would imagine this would meet the requirement? This oil is several to three years old but been stored in a climate controlled building all the time. But the storage age is all that sort of bothers me about it. However I can get it for free... so it is tempting...
And thoughts?
And thoughts?
The XL-5W30 only rec. for A1/B1, and the 100% synthetic 5W30 is rec. for A5/B5, but not BMW LL-01.
Old stock may have different rec's, but these should be listed on the label of the oil container.