engine oil choice for cold weather

Scharbag · 06-24-2019, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeMT

wow, mine is like 14.6L/100km

k now I really know how much money I saved lol

I am pretty sure something is unhappy with my car... I barely get 14L/100 on the highway...

LeeMT · 06-24-2019, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scharbag

I am pretty sure something is unhappy with my car... I barely get 14L/100 on the highway...

could be engine oil, I used Fuchs instead of Castrol 10W-60 many years ago when My M3 was out of free service, got the noticeable fuel consumption improvement and much smoother. But Fuchs oil sucks in cold weather and it's not for public sale, that's why I post this thread.

Yet, your drive style matters haha!

triggz82 · 06-24-2019, 12:01 PM

I use liquimoly 10w60. No problems in the winter. Car is parked in a garage but for a month I had to have it parked outside in -10C and colder weather and it's definitely sat in -25C for extended periods of time in it's lifespan. Starts up no issues, just let it warm for 2 min or so. I had my bearings done last month at 115k km and they had some wear, but nothing crazy.

pbonsalb · 06-24-2019, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New2Roundel

What does the Porsche motor have to do with ours?

I'm not sure I understand the point you were making about the BMW oil contract.

There can be a high revving motor using a viscosity thinner than 10W60. I don’t think the S65 must use 10W60. BMW had a contract to push it for the M engines. Are the S62 and S54 built identically to the S65? I don’t think so but BMW says you must use 10W60 in them as well. I would put the S85 as built the same, but not the others.

And then there are industry standards — many believe that based on industry standards, the S65 rod bearing clearance is too tight. By your logic, industry standards don’t matter because every engine is unique.

I guess I just don’t subscribe to the theory that only 10W60 works because BMW says so or because the S65 is more special than a GT3 motor. Or a GT350 motor (which specs 5W50).

dparm · 06-24-2019, 01:07 PM

I'd get a magnetic pan heater and the engine block heater. Even a 0wX is going to be thick at -25 C.

oolas3 · 06-24-2019, 02:20 PM

What really persuaded me to try different weight oils is the multiple Blackstone tests in this forum showing lead levels dropping after guys move to lower weights. That’s empirical evidence. Also was happy to see J Colley recommend 5w50 for reduced wear.

pbonsalb · 06-24-2019, 02:31 PM

Pan heater alone will work. Years ago when my E36M3 has a supercharger instead of a turbo (vortech recommended it for extreme cold due to tolerances but turbos seem fine in the same cold), I ran an adhesive pan heater. It was about 3” x 5” and I installed it on a flat spot on the bottom of the pan. I think mine was 250 watts, but they range from about 100 watts to about 600 watts. Choose wattage depending on whether you want to plug it in and run it all night or whether you want to plug it in for an hour or two before driving. Choose a cord length long enough to get to an accessible place on the front end where you can attach an extension cord from your outlet. Ideally look for a model with a thermostat so it will regulate itself.

I don’t use one on my naturally aspirated E90M3 and have done cold starts at -15 to -20F. But I use thinner oil. Before changing to thinner oil 5 years ago, the weather seemed slightly warmer and there were several years I ran 10W60 with cold starts as low as about -10F.

In extreme cold, I allow a minute or two or more warmup.

Never tried a block heater in the coolant. The install seems more involved — through a freeze plug — and I did not want to mess with that.

LeeMT · 06-24-2019, 02:48 PM

Thank you guys again, I have a heated garage to keep it and will always try to avoid leaving it outside for too long. It seems like 5W-50 is the best choice I should go with for running it in cold weather. My concern is just to reduce the wear and risk of damaging the engine when I drive the car, cold air is shitty. I remember everytime when I took my suv out of the garage in winter, I could hear the sound of shrinking and it took so long to warm up to operating temp.

Please don't argue with long term use, it's kind like personal preference.
we only talking about what should we use in extremely cold weather to avoid damaging engine.

Appreciate it.

06-24-2019, 12:01 PM	#25
triggz82 Private 30 Rep 86 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I use liquimoly 10w60. No problems in the winter. Car is parked in a garage but for a month I had to have it parked outside in -10C and colder weather and it's definitely sat in -25C for extended periods of time in it's lifespan. Starts up no issues, just let it warm for 2 min or so. I had my bearings done last month at 115k km and they had some wear, but nothing crazy.
	Appreciate 1 LeeMT48.50 Quote

06-24-2019, 01:07 PM	#27
dparm Stop the hate, get a V8 3851 Rep 8,625 Posts Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	I'd get a magnetic pan heater and the engine block heater. Even a 0wX is going to be thick at -25 C. __________________ Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
	Appreciate 1 LeeMT48.50 Quote

06-24-2019, 02:20 PM	#28
oolas3 Captain 388 Rep 876 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	What really persuaded me to try different weight oils is the multiple Blackstone tests in this forum showing lead levels dropping after guys move to lower weights. That’s empirical evidence. Also was happy to see J Colley recommend 5w50 for reduced wear.
	Appreciate 1 LeeMT48.50 Quote

06-24-2019, 02:31 PM	#29
pbonsalb Lieutenant General 5258 Rep 10,632 Posts Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (4)	Pan heater alone will work. Years ago when my E36M3 has a supercharger instead of a turbo (vortech recommended it for extreme cold due to tolerances but turbos seem fine in the same cold), I ran an adhesive pan heater. It was about 3” x 5” and I installed it on a flat spot on the bottom of the pan. I think mine was 250 watts, but they range from about 100 watts to about 600 watts. Choose wattage depending on whether you want to plug it in and run it all night or whether you want to plug it in for an hour or two before driving. Choose a cord length long enough to get to an accessible place on the front end where you can attach an extension cord from your outlet. Ideally look for a model with a thermostat so it will regulate itself. I don’t use one on my naturally aspirated E90M3 and have done cold starts at -15 to -20F. But I use thinner oil. Before changing to thinner oil 5 years ago, the weather seemed slightly warmer and there were several years I ran 10W60 with cold starts as low as about -10F. In extreme cold, I allow a minute or two or more warmup. Never tried a block heater in the coolant. The install seems more involved — through a freeze plug — and I did not want to mess with that.
	Appreciate 1 LeeMT48.50 Quote

06-24-2019, 02:48 PM	#30
LeeMT Private 49 Rep 99 Posts Drives: E92 & E90 M3,F98 X4M Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Thank you guys again, I have a heated garage to keep it and will always try to avoid leaving it outside for too long. It seems like 5W-50 is the best choice I should go with for running it in cold weather. My concern is just to reduce the wear and risk of damaging the engine when I drive the car, cold air is shitty. I remember everytime when I took my suv out of the garage in winter, I could hear the sound of shrinking and it took so long to warm up to operating temp. Please don't argue with long term use, it's kind like personal preference. we only talking about what should we use in extremely cold weather to avoid damaging engine. Appreciate it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote