Oil advice and recommendations here!

[ZEDDY3]

hi, hope you recommend an oil for a motorbike. I have a Honda Cbr 600, 1999, 17000 miles. The only mods are dynojet kit, k+n air filter, carbon can. The bike is garaged at the minute an hasn't been started for 3 months. I'm looking to change the oil just before it goes back on the road in March. Was thinking of flushing through with a cheap oil from halfords before putting quality oil in, would this be recommended? The bike might visit a track this year, but the majority of riding will be fast road on a 12 mile commute during the week and long runs at the weekend. The last service by the previous owner was at 13000, and Comp 4 oil was used?

Hope that's enough info,

cheers in advance

Simon

[opieoilman]

No problems, database includes bikes.

Honda state 10w-40 and as the Silkolene ones are the only ones that I do (they are one of the best though) I would recommend Silkolene PRO 4 10w-40.

You'll find details of this oil here: www.opieoils.co.uk

Cheers
Simon

[nightbringer]

I would appreciate a lot your advice.
My Car:
2002 Opel Astra Coupe 2.2L Ecotec Engine .
Just bought it with 12,000 miles.

What´s the best oil for this car, considering that I live in Venezuela (where it´s summer all year long, and temps are always around 18C - 35C)?

The prior owner used Shell Helix Plus SemiSynthetic oil 15W-40. I think this may be a little thick for this engine because the engine shakes a little in idle when started cold.

I would like to move over to fully synthetic (maybe Mobil 1), BUT a friend of mine who is a mechanic told me that changing oil from a semisynthetic to a full-synthetic one will damage de engine's valves... is this true?

[opieoilman]

Hi,

According to my book you will need a 5w-30 oil meeting the ACEA A3 spec.

Being out in higher ambient temps I would still stick with a 5w/10w-30. Most of these are semi synthetic and should be changed every 5,000 miles or so. If you can find a full synthetic 5w-30 you are looking at 10,000 miles.

There will be no issues switching from semi to full synthetic.

Cheers

Guy.

[nightbringer]

Thanks a lot opieoilman!

One last question. Is there a special procedure for changing from semisynthetic to full synthetic? or should I tell the people in the service station to just pour out the semi and fill it with the new oil?

I'm going to use Mobil 1 5w-30, hope it's good enough.

[opieoilman]

No proceedure needed.

Just drain and refil.

Cheers

Simon.

[denisb]

One for Mr Oil Man.

Is there such a thing as a high performance oil filter?

[opieoilman]

Not really in our opinion, most "high" perfoamce filters we have come accross, you are paying for branding.

As along as you are using an OEM quality filter then that is ideal.

Cheers

Guy.

[nightbringer]

Sorry for bothering you so much...

In my country it seems that 5W-50 synthetic oils are the norm, I don't know if it's because of the higher temperatures, but almost every full synthetic oil comes in 5W-50. I don't know it it's "better" or "worse" that the 5/10W-30 you said it's recommended for my astra coupe. But should it be ok to use this oil for my car? or the "50" grade is just too thick for this engine?. If it is i'll continue searching.

Thanks ofr your patinece

[opieoilman]

I would have thought that you should be able to source a 5w-40 or 5w-30 synthetic.

Regards
Simon

[chassis 33]

Simon,

I've just bought a BMW 318 (e30 model with M40 engine)
The car has done 179k, what oils do you recommend for engine, g'box and diff???

Regards
Iain

[opieoilman]

For the engine oil you have choices. Either 10w-40 semi-syn or 5w-40 synthetic.

The gearbox is more complicated so please let me know the label colour and I will recommend an appropriate oil. The notes are as follows:

Manual gearboxes: units with orange label with wording 'ATF Oil', TQD units with green label with wording 'Special Oil', REFER TO MAIN DEALER. The labels are located next to the oil filler plug

Manual gearbox units with yellow label with wording 'MTF-LT-1': REFER TO MAIN DEALER units with yellow label with wording 'MTF-LT-2': GO PN BMW 031 units with no label: EP 80W. The labels are located next to the oil filler plug

Automatic transmissions: ZF 3HP22, ZF 4HP22, ZF 4HP22EH, 4HP24, A4S270R/310R/310Z (with black rating plate), TQ DEXRON III A5S310Z, ZF 5HP 19, ZF 5HP 24, ZF HP30 (with green rating plate), REFER TO MAIN DEALER all others, check label for special lifetime fill requirements. Always check manuals/labels to ensure use of correct fluid

Cheers
Simon

[tj]

Hi, I’ve just brought a bmw e34 m5 3.8 and I’m after a bit of oil advice,
I’m giving it a full service and changing all the fluids but I’m having some difficulty finding out what oil to put in the diff (LSD),
And the gearbox (the gearbox has an orange label with wording “ATF OIL!”
The handbook says “authorized bmw service stations know the grade”

Euro Car parts sold me Fuchs titan ATF 4000 for the gearbox. Any good?

Also what engine oil would you suggest? It’s done 145k
The handbook says 15w-40 or 15w-50

[opieoilman]

TJ,

For the diff, have a look at the Castrol SAF XJ, this is the BMW longlife 75w-140 for their LSD's.

Fuchs Titan ATF4000 is fine if the gearbox requires an ATF.

For the engine, if it is just commuting and fast road use I would look at a BMW approved 5w-40 full synthetic,if the car is driven hard or used on track then look at a 10w-50, Silkolene and Motul are tops and BMW approved.

Cheers

Guy.

[tj]

Thanks for the quick reply.
If there’s a better oil for the gearbox I’d gladly take the oil back they sold me.
Many thanks for all your help
Tim

[opieoilman]

We supply Fuchs oil, and they are good oils.

The Fuchs ATF400 is good stuff, its one I would have suggested.

Cheers

Guy.

[Elvis McBush]

Hi Everyone, great forum, really interesting and MASSIVE!!

Hope someone can help me out I'm a bit of a noob with performance engines (previously owned a '93 rover 214 and an '87 fiesta). I've just bought a 1994 (L) Honda CRX Del Sol VXi (Japanese import) with a 1.5 SOHC VTEC Engine.

It's a good little car with an apparently bulletproof engine but it sounds a bit like a diesel at the moment. The noise is coming from the valves and it sounds like they are just flapping around in there. The noise is worst when the engine is cold. The fella i got it off said that it started sounding like that after the last oil change when his mechanic, for reasons best known to himself, put in a part synthetic 10w 40 instead of his usual fully synthetic 5w 40. So I have 3 questions.

1) Could this change in oils have caused the diesel sounding problem?

2) What oil should I be using for this engine given that I do about 5000 miles a year mostly in town?

3) Should I use an engine flush (Forte Advanced Motor Flush Maybe?) before I upgrade to a fully synthetic from the part synthetic?

Very grateful to anyone who could shed some light on any of these questions for me

Thanks for looking, Elvis

[avance70]

hi again opie!

im interested in the best oil for BMW compact from year 2000 engine 1.9 (petrol, no mods).

local oil manufacturer "modrica" produces very high quality 5W and 0W-40 oil. could i use one of those or some other oil?

Edited by avance70 on Sunday 4th June 14:00

[opieoilman]

Elvis McBush said:

Hi Everyone, great forum, really interesting and MASSIVE!! Hope someone can help me out I'm a bit of a noob with performance engines (previously owned a '93 rover 214 and an '87 fiesta). I've just bought a 1994 (L) Honda CRX Del Sol VXi (Japanese import) with a 1.5 SOHC VTEC Engine. It's a good little car with an apparently bulletproof engine but it sounds a bit like a diesel at the moment. The noise is coming from the valves and it sounds like they are just flapping around in there. The noise is worst when the engine is cold. The fella i got it off said that it started sounding like that after the last oil change when his mechanic, for reasons best known to himself, put in a part synthetic 10w 40 instead of his usual fully synthetic 5w 40. So I have 3 questions. 1) Could this change in oils have caused the diesel sounding problem? 2) What oil should I be using for this engine given that I do about 5000 miles a year mostly in town? 3) Should I use an engine flush (Forte Advanced Motor Flush Maybe?) before I upgrade to a fully synthetic from the part synthetic? Very grateful to anyone who could shed some light on any of these questions for me Thanks for looking, Elvis

1) 5w oils flow better than 10w and therefore are better at cold start
2) We recommend 5w-40
3) Don't flush, it's aggressive stuff, just switch

Cheers
Simon

[opieoilman]

avance70 said:

hi again opie! im interested in the best oil for BMW compact from year 2000 engine 1.9 (petrol, no mods). local oil manufacturer "modrica" produces very high quality 5W and 0W-40 oil. could i use one of those or some other oil? Edited by avance70 on Sunday 4th June 14:00

If the car is on variable service then use a BMW LL01 oil (0w-30, 5w-30 or 0w-40), if on fixed service intervals than a decent 5w-40 synthetic BMW Approved will be fine.

Take a look on our website, bit of a sale going on! Use the members section.

Cheers
Simon