What type of engine oil should be used for BMW cars?
1 Answers
BMW recommends using LongLife-01 engine oil, specifically Shell brand. For subsequent maintenance and oil changes, you may choose among Shell, Mobil, or Castrol. The official manual recommends oil specifications of 0W30, 5W30, 5W-40, or 0W20. The viscosity of engine oil changes with temperature, so special attention should be paid to its performance under both low and high temperatures. For example, in 5W-30, the first number indicates low-temperature fluidity, with 5W representing the ability to withstand temperatures as low as -30°C. The smaller this number, the better the low-temperature fluidity, resulting in smoother cold starts for the vehicle. The latter number represents the kinematic viscosity of the oil at 100°C, with higher values indicating better ability to maintain viscosity under high temperatures, which can also be understood as better lubrication performance under high-temperature conditions. The method for changing BMW engine oil is as follows: Wait for the engine temperature to decrease, allowing the oil to flow back into the oil pan; Use a wrench to loosen the oil drain plug, placing an oil pan underneath to catch the old oil until it stops flowing. Start the engine for about 30 seconds to allow the oil in the main oil passages to drain out; Remove the oil filter using a specialized wrench; Apply a small amount of new oil to the seal of the new oil filter and hand-tighten it clockwise; Add new oil through the engine valve cover's oil filler port, typically filling about three-quarters of a standard oil container; Start the engine and let it run for 5 minutes, checking for any leaks around the oil drain plug and oil filter. If leaks are found, perform necessary repairs; After turning off the engine, remove the oil dipstick to check that the oil level is within the standard range.
