Oil Change - What type of oil?

[EuroPlate]

Thanks to Chris at CG I've found a shop in the GTA to take the Banana to.

All I need is a regular check up and an oil change. The Owners Manual suggests 15W40. I went to check out the shop over the weekend and asked them what kind of oil they would use. Keep in mind I know nothing about motor oil. They said they use 10W60. They said they have found that engines run coolest using this stuff. Does this make sense to anyone? All I know is it's expensive ($15/L). I'm not sure how I feel about $120 oil changes. lol

[bimmerbob]

Makes no sense to me. Who told you this?

[woods]

They have found that engines run coolest? Bullshit. Are they driving around measuring average engine temperatures? Or bearing life? Have they done more comprehensive testing than the engineers in der fatherland? My guess is that they have a lot of 10w60 in the back room because it's what most newer BMWs are spec'd for.

If the owners manual suggests a 40 weight oil - use a 40 weight oil. A 5w40 will be just as good (and is all you can usually get these days). The first number refers to the viscosity at low temperatures (lower means better flow in the cold). The second number is the weight when the oil is warm.

10w60 is a much thicker oil and didn't even exist when your engine was developed.

I believe the E36 also allows for the use of 50 weight oil which is what I always used (15w50). Occasionally I would go with 5w40 or 5w50 in uber-cold weather. If you get a bit of lifter tick or vanos noise with the heavier 50 weight, go back to 40.

Cheers.