Semi-Synthetic engin oil for E90 320 LCI

[lipquan]

HI guys, i did my engine oil changed recently at 20k km with Petro canada semi synthetic 10W-40. It somehow solved my problem with engine oil indicators dropping as compare with the previous 5w-30 fully synthetic. surprisingly this engine oil consumes less petrol that allows me to burn more kms and has more power...i'm not sure if this semi is good for my 1 year old bimmer... please comment.

 

[Schwepps]

lipquan, the vast majority of cars on the road use semi-synthetic oil and live long lives with it. Just be aware that a Group II mineral oil with only the additives being synthetic, can legally be called a semi-synthetic. So there are semi-synths and there are semi-synths - there's no standard of what constitutes one. Also be aware that the risk of getting sludge in a BMW engine is higher with a mineral oil. Just change your oil and filter often, say every 6,000 km, and you'll be fine.

Having said that, the warranty and BSRI on your 1 year old car would be void if BMWM found out.

 

[onghb]

Just changed voltronic fully syn 5w40 for my e90. Anyone heard about this brand before?

 

[lipquan]

juz passed my 1.5months semi syn engine oil testing on 4 plotter e90. The results are

fuel consumption mix driving mode : 11.6k/L on average
Millage on speedometer cruised : proximate to 580km for each full tank of ron95. (63Litre)

i realized tht my fuel consumption with semi syn engine getting better, as compare with previous fully syn stock oil from AB.

will be having my 30k free service with AB coming up, and will compare again with their free 5w-30 fully syn engine oil next.

 

[firdaus72]

Thats good to hear you got more mileage from th semi synth. Anyway, I heard once you used full synth, we cannot go to semi synth..any of this true. Bro Lipquan here seems to get good result out of it..

 

[kayzhen911]

dudes....
am also thinking of changing to semi.
but many sifooosss are against that.
all that thing abt sludging and spoiling the engine.
can any clear explanation be given?

 

[nautica1973]

dudes....
am also thinking of changing to semi.
but many sifooosss are against that.
all that thing abt sludging and spoiling the engine.
can any clear explanation be given?

Briefly, oil chemical composition changes over time. imagine cooking oil from a deep fried pan if used and re-used over a period of say 1,000 cookings would eventually change its viscosity to somewhat thicker in composition. now imagine the same thing in your engine block.

With that in mind, the next explanation is SHORT DISTANCE DRIVING deteriorates your engine oil much quicker than long drives. This is due to the oil being warmed up but does not reach its optimum operating temperature when the engines shuts down again when doing short distance drives. Then we zoom in to the molecular composition of oil here to understand that once the changes take place the molecules get all topsy turvy in their bonding and adhesion, either among themselves or adhesion to your metal piston rings, walls etc. which would over time result in wear and tear of metal scraping metal.

I have had the pleasure of being shown the sludge from an E60's engine when the owner complied with the BMW service manual of oil changes every 20,000km. the background questions showed that it was short distance drives, irregular usage, 20,000km change. And Walla, the residue that was in the engine block looked very similar to dried rubber paint.

So, 5 to 8 thousand kms would be a good indicator to change your engine oils. And bear in mind that your engine runs during traffic lights, traffic jams, stopping to allow stray animals to cross the road safely and the many other times your engine runs whilst you or your spouse runs an errand at the post office