Stupid Oil question

cenix wrote

There are slight differences between the two:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=926080

That thread compares Castrol Edge professional with Castrol TWS Motorsport. I am referring to Castrol Edge 10w60.



According to this thread I thought they are the same

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1213405&highlight=Castrol+amazon&page=2

^ Sorry my bad... then disregard my post with the link. I thought it would be relevant.

dparm wrote

They are not the same, IIRC. The spec sheets are different.

According to this thread I thought they are the same.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1213405&highlight=Castrol+amazon&page=2

I was not able to find the Data sheet for Professional Edge 10w60 on Castrol's website.

If they are not the same then which is considered better? Sorry about all these questions.

Damn these Different oil names ...why cant they stick to one name that is deemed best for our cars and keep updating new versions of it.

As long as you are using a recommended synthetic you should be fine. Yes, there will be slight chemical differences since different companies use different additive packages, but it should be negligible to engine wear and performance. The only real problems has used to be on high mileage engines when switching from mineral oil to synthetic.

And, even sticking with the exact same oil you are mixing with remnants of the old oil that you couldn't get out which is full of oxidation and pooky.

Castrol or Shell...I think you would be fine either way. The more important thing is regular oil changes and never let it run low.

M'EM wrote

Dint know that..good info, thanks. Also to confirm I bought Castrol Edge 10w60 and not the Castrol edge Professional. From what I read they are the same and approved for M models except that the edge professional was available only at the dealerships. Is this correct or are there other differences?

got a picture of the bottle you bought? IIRC, after Edge Pro went retail, they changed the bottle design again. How confusing, I know...
Here's a thread on what retail bottles now look like. It should say TWS on it. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1075096

Flying Ace wrote

got a picture of the bottle you bought? IIRC, after Edge Pro went retail, they changed the bottle design again. How confusing, I know...
Here's a thread on what retail bottles now look like. It should say TWS on it. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1075096

That is exactly what I bought.


Anyways I did the oil change today so I guess I got the good stuff.

^or is it the good stuff? lol many would disagree.

On another note when I was doing the oil change I found something strange.

The drain plug size of the rear sump was different from the front sump. The front sump's was 6mm and the rear sump was 8mm - both with hex heads. While removing them I thought thats how they are but when I tried to put the brass washers from the Mann Oil filter kit that I ordered from Autohausaz, to my surprise I found that both washers were for
6mm and wouldn't fit the 8mm drain plug so I ended up using the old brass washer that came off the drain plug.

From what I have read on the BMW blog and this forum for the Oil change, the drain plugs are 6mm hex.

But on the first post of this thread on the pic with the instructions I see different torque values handwritten for M6 and M8 which seem similar to what I have on my car.

http://http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185785&highlight=lets+do+oil+change

I really doubt if the sizes are different for different cars. My car is 2012 E93. Can some experts/DIY'ERS chime in if they have faced this? I plan to call AutohausAZ as well.

...or did i drain some other fluid ??

Edit with the correct link to the thread:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185785&highlight=lets+do+oil+change

Anyone? Am I the only person with the car that has two different drain plugs?

nope, sounds like last person messed up. It should both be the same plug size. if no stripping or leaks, I would leave it as is and on the next oil change replace both plugs. I replace my plugs about once every 2 oil changes.

M'EM wrote

Anyone? Am I the only person with the car that has two different drain plugs?

Maybe not the only person, but I'd wager to say the last person who owned your car cross threaded / stripped the oddball drain bolt.

The more I ask around, the more I'm learning that people are running all sorts of shit in their cars other than 10W60 and claim to have no issues.

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Flying Ace wrote

nope, sounds like last person messed up. It should both be the same plug size. if no stripping or leaks, I would leave it as is and on the next oil change replace both plugs. I replace my plugs about once every 2 oil changes.

But if one is a M6 and other one is a M8 on my car how will a M6 fit the opening in the sump that was threaded for the M8? My problem is the rear drain plug is a M8. So next time I do the oil change I will have to get a smaller drain plug for the front sump and a bigger one for the one in the rear? Is it how it is in other cars?

Amirsm3 wrote

Maybe not the only person, but I'd wager to say the last person who owned your car cross threaded / stripped the oddball drain bolt.

How will that result in the rear sump having a bigger drain bolt size? You mean they re-bored it?

M'EM wrote

But if one is a M6 and other one is a M8 on my car how will a M6 fit the opening in the sump that was threaded for the M8? My problem is the rear drain plug is a M8. So next time I do the oil change I will have to get a smaller drain plug for the front sump and a bigger one for the one in the rear? Is it how it is in other cars?

I mean, just buy the correct set if plugs and replace all of them

M'EM wrote

How will that result in the rear sump having a bigger drain bolt size? You mean they re-bored it?

Worst case, yes, that's what I'm assuming.