change to syn 5w40 oil and cold weather

[bowtoy70]

I am currently running M1 syn 0w40 in my 1FZE with about 240K miles and I am using a LOT of oil. I am using a quart every couple hundred miles. It doesnt drip on the driveway and doesnt smoke. After scouring the forums I decided to try the syn 5w40 diesel oil. My question is how it would handle the occasional below 0 temps here in the winter? I dont put alot of miles on it so I dont change the oil very often... so I want what ever oil I am running to work any season. Thanks

 

[Akella]

I have been using Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 with big oem oil filter for more than a year. The coldest temp i had was -27C and i had no problem starting even though i had pretty old battery. I use a quart about every 1500 miles. I usually change oil every 5000 but once had run the oil for 7000 and oil was fine based on visual appearance. What brand you switching to?

 

[ybhc]

I had no problems with 15-40 in sub-zero weather.

Just dont go racing it off immediately after starting it.

I usually let it idle for 30-45 seconds in warm weather, and at least double that when its cold .

I cant see how 5-40 would be any issue.

 

[prarietlc]

i use Mobile 1 10w-30 year round with no problems during winter time with temp reaching -40 deg celcius. i have oil pan heater, no garage and no problems starting in the morning.

 

[bowtoy70]

I might try shell rotella 5w40 syn. I drive truck for a living and we use shell 15w40 dino oil in our trucks. They are all very high mileage and the shell seems to work well. Now I just need to decide between 5w40 and 15w40.

 

[MINO]

I'd stick to the 0/40. It has better cold start protection.
Once you're warmed up, all 40 wts perform nearly identical.

 

[LINUS]

Oil is like religion - it's best to simply state your beliefs, and let others do the same - but any effort to persuade someone to your camp is an excersise in frustration & futility.

That said, I run Mobil 1 5-30 & the bigger case size 1515 Napa filter. I only do about 12,000 miles annually & only change it once a year.

I can tell you that BMW originally spec'ed a 0 - ? Mobil 1 synthetic oil in a recent model (I don't remember which - if you want to search, Bimmerforums.com will have the answer) ---- But the big issue as the story was told to me was the oil was a nightmare to keep it in the motor - they lost it out the gaskets, the main seals, and the tailpipe --- so they changed the spec'ed oil to a 5 - ? Mobil 1 synthetic & that cured things aside from some gaskets that were replaced under warrenty for the existing cars out there running 0-w? oil.

It might have been the current generation 5 series, as that's what a friend's & fellow BMW guy's Mom drives & I'd swear I heard it from him.

If BMW used that as a solution, that would tell me what I'd do.

Best of luck - both in oil & religion. --- Ben

 

[Tools R Us]

I pick oil by the lowest temp that the motor is likely to be started.

1fzfe Engine
20w50 oil -7 deg to 38+C 19 f to 100 f
15w40 oil -10 deg to 38+C 14 f to 100 f
10w30 oil -18 deg to 38+C 0 f to 100 f
5w30 oil -30 deg to 8C -22 f to 46 f