Engine - Oil Recommendations

9225bmw01

Group 11
Engine


Bulletin Number
11 02 92 (3491)


Woodcliff Lake, NJ
February 1992
Product Engineering


This Service Information bulletin supersedes S.I. 11 15 82 (635) which should be removed from your S.I. binder and discarded.

SUBJECT:
Engine Oils

General
Information:
The use of a high quality engine oil is extremely important for the operation and service life of an engine.

Engine Oil Specifications

BMW recommends the use of all engine oils that meet or exceed the American Petroleum Institute (API) classifications of SG or the European CCMC classification of G4. Such oils may either be mineral or syntheticbased engine oils. (Combination with diesel oil specifications CD or CE quality classifications are also permitted, e.g. SG/CE, etc.)

Note:
During the break-in period of a new engine or components of a rebuilt engine, i.e. new bearings, crankshaft, pistons, etc. only a single or multiple grade mineral-based engine oil should be used since a synthetic-based oil has friction-reducing properties which will influence the break-in behavior of an engine.

Since synthetic oils often posses improved lubricating properties, they tend to prolong the break-in period of an engine and consequently may lead to increased oil consumption during the break-in period.

Therefore, it is not recommended to use a synthetic-based oil for the initial filling of a new or exchange engine. A synthetic-based oil may be used when changing the oil for the first time in accordance with the prescribed oil change intervals. Generally, there is no problem mixing mineral-based and synthetic engine oils with the same viscosity.

Oil Change Intervals

Under no circumstances should the oil change intervals be extended due to the greater durability of a fully synthetic engine oil. The engine oil and filter should always be changed as per the vehicle's Service Indicator when the "Oil Service" or "Inspection" display appears.


Under severe driving conditions, it is recommended to increase the number of oil services.

Oil Viscosity

For the correct engine oil SAE viscosity/grade selection the BMW Temperature Viscosity Table should be used which is located in Group 11 of the BMW Operating Fluids Manual and also in all BMW vehicle Owner's Manuals.

Engine Oil Additives

The use of engine oil additives is not recommended and not necessary on BMW engines. Instead, it is recommended to use one of today's highly advanced brand name lubricating oils conforming to either API classifications SG (or higher) or CCMC classification G4 (or higher).