Bugger - wrong oil!!!
Author
Discussion

sshenton1975

Original Poster:

788 posts

243 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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Just got back from a quick blast in my e39 m5 and topped up oil as I do every 750 miles or so.'I have the correct M spec 10w60 but picked up the wrong can and put 5w30 in....... About half to three quarters of a litre...... Is it a disaster or will I get away with it?!

EarlOfHazard

3,630 posts

180 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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For the cost of an oil and filter change? I wouldn't take the risk.

E38Ross

36,523 posts

234 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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i would drive it as little as possible and give it an oil and filter change ASAP.

mrmr96

13,736 posts

226 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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sshenton1975 said:
Just got back from a quick blast in my e39 m5 and topped up oil as I do every 750 miles or so.'I have the correct M spec 10w60 but picked up the wrong can and put 5w30 in....... About half to three quarters of a litre...... Is it a disaster or will I get away with it?!
oil blends. 0.5-0.75 of a litre into however much the engine takes (what, 5-6 litres, at a guess?) will make next to no difference. I wouldn't worry.

E38Ross

36,523 posts

234 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
quotequote all
mrmr96 said:
oil blends. 0.5-0.75 of a litre into however much the engine takes (what, 5-6 litres, at a guess?) will make next to no difference. I wouldn't worry.
i suspect the E39 M5 will take a good 8-9 litres. an E92 M3 takes over 8L IIRC and the E39 M5 engine is even bigger

k15tox

1,680 posts

203 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
How much money do you think people have?

OP......
One change will do, your engine will be fine.

Remember wrong oil Is better than no oil

TheEnd

15,370 posts

210 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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No problem, don't worry about it.


Maximum Bobs

3,762 posts

240 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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mrmr96 said:
oil blends. 0.5-0.75 of a litre into however much the engine takes (what, 5-6 litres, at a guess?) will make next to no difference. I wouldn't worry.
This.

Magic919

14,126 posts

223 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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I wouldn't worry about it, personally.

Skodaku

1,805 posts

241 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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mrmr96 said:
oil blends. 0.5-0.75 of a litre into however much the engine takes (what, 5-6 litres, at a guess?) will make next to no difference. I wouldn't worry.
As the man above said............it'll blend in and make no difference whatsoever. Damage due to incorrect lube oil, in engines, can take a long time to make it's presence known. Almost any oil is better than no oil and your car in daily use will be relatively unstressed, so calm down and drive on. As you had to top-up you're obviously using some oil so just top-up with the correct stuff next time. All this talk of double oil and filter changes is plain silly and alarmist.

Oh, and by the way, I did spend many years working in the lubes division of a very large oil company, so know that of which I speak.

Eggman

1,253 posts

233 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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All that'll happen is your oil will be a tiny bit less viscous, just as it would be on a mild day.

Can't imagine what the earlier posters think could possibly have happened to the filter that it suddenly needs changing. laugh

Cemesis

771 posts

184 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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Leave it, it will be fine.

I've owned 4 of these BTW and often people use 5W30 in them for years as BMW said it was OK from March 2000 or something. You should run 10W60 though.

nottyash

4,671 posts

217 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
rofl Totally unnecessary

sshenton1975

Original Poster:

788 posts

243 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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Thanks very much - you guys are great!!

varsas

4,071 posts

224 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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Assuming both oils are the correct type (fully synthetic, I imagine?) you'll be fine. They do mix perfectly well.

bazking69

8,620 posts

212 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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It might also be jetwashing the internals of the engine by inserting the nozzle in the oil filler hole and blasting away, just to remove any traces of this dangerous oil that by the sounds of it will cause immediate engine failure if left undrained...


Red 4

10,744 posts

209 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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Jeez, 2 oil and filter changes biggrin

Make sure you don't put a few extra PSI into your tyres by mistake

You'll need to replace them immediately. Twice. Just in case.

Don't worry about the oil !!!


CoolHands

22,021 posts

217 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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three quarters of a litre every 750 miles? Sounds like your engines fked already. You might as well stick cheaper oil in.

pwrc

2,357 posts

174 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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I had to run the ford on 10w30 under emergency and it all seemed fine.
I tell myself the impending head gasket change is purely coincidence

E38Ross

36,523 posts

234 months

Sunday 4th December 2011
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CoolHands said:
three quarters of a litre every 750 miles? Sounds like your engines fked already. You might as well stick cheaper oil in.
it's normal for an E39 M5