Oil

[Planman350i]

I know this topic has probably been done to death before but can anyone advise me on the best oil to use in my 350i. Has a hybrid cam and stage 3 heads so don't know whether that has any bearing on things.

Is semi-synthetic ok if I change it every 3000m?

[bobble350]

Depends what it's running now, if the engine is a high miler and FOS, the detergents in fully synthetic may flush the crap round to where you don't want it.
There's no substitute for regular oil changes and my belief is that you'd be better off using a 20/50 mineral oil such as Duckams Q and changing oil and filter every 2-3000 miles. Oil £6, filter £2.50.

[Planman350i]

Hi, thanks for the advice. It is a serpentine engine that has done only 12,000 miles. Previous guy ran it on Mobil 1 but it is expensive if you are gonna change it every 2/3000 miles.

Whats FOS?

[Planman350i]

Now realised. FOS = Full of sxxt

[ANDYM]

If you continue to run it on Mobil 1 you wont need to change it every 3000 miles, frequent changes are really only if you use a mineral oil.I would have thought 5 to 6000 would be fine for fully synthetic.

[jmorgan]

Mineral oil here and changed every 3000 miles. Valvoline but have to check the tin for viscosity etc. Thats for a block thats probably less than 5 years old.

[Planman350i]

jmorgan said: Mineral oil here and changed every 3000 miles. Valvoline but have to check the tin for viscosity etc. Thats for a block thats probably less than 5 years old.

Hmmm, as I thought, several options. Your engine looks similar (but more tuned) spec to mine. What thickness of Valvoline do you use?

[jmorgan]

20W50 and its called Valvoline racing oil.

>> Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 20th March 11:31

[Planman350i]

Thanks. I think I will bag myself some of that.

Nice pics on your profile by the way.

[jmorgan]

Cheers.
Oil changes for me are under warranty so I don't know where to get it. Told its not normally off the shelf so you might have to do a bit of hunting.