5w30 vs 5w40 for FBO?

shirtpants_ · 01-16-2016, 11:18 PM

Ill be FBO(no meth) by the end of the month, and I've got an oil leak that is getting checked out later this week.

Ill be changing the oil while it's in the shop, and I've been doing some research into what oil I'll go with.
5W30 is the recommended weight in the service manual, but I live in Florida, where it goes below 60 degrees only a few days per year. And the engine/oil will be running much hotter than BMW intended with the added power.
I've also got the stock oil cooler right now.

Would going to 5w40 net me any benefits over the recommended 5w30? I've done some searching around and I can't seem to come to a conclusion...

Thanks

Edit: this is for an 11' n55 335i

Dhillon92 · 01-17-2016, 12:28 AM

Ive used 5w40, now running 0w40.

mike@x-ph.com · 01-17-2016, 01:09 PM

I have been running Castrol European formula 0w-30 for years now
Never had a problem

junniior95 · 01-17-2016, 09:44 PM

Castrol 5w40

Cory S · 01-18-2016, 03:32 AM

In Florida... I would run an oil weight with a viscosity of 40 over 30.

The best oils (usually higher priced also) are rated 0 for start-up/cold engines.

Run a 0W-40, or 5W-40 in Florida climate.

theweebabySeamus · 01-18-2016, 12:45 PM

Castrol Euro, 0w-40. Go to Walmart, they have 5qts and I know you have plenty down in FL. Lol

Unklejoe · 01-20-2016, 07:10 AM

I run 0w-40. It has the flattest "viscosity with respect to temperature" curve due to the extra additives.

Plus, the 40 might be a little better for higher mileage motors that see higher than normal loads (tuned).

However, I remember reading somewhere that the N55 has an oil pressure regulation system, so it might be kind of moot.

shirtpants_ · 01-22-2016, 07:04 PM

Thanks for the responses guys,
I ended up going with 5W-40

Don't really notice much of a change, oil temps are the same, the engine does feel slightly smoother, most noticeably at idle.
But that's probably just switching from old 7500 mile oil to new oil, and the fact that I'm coming back from driving a Volt and a CRV all week

inrev` · 01-22-2016, 07:32 PM

Just curious, but which brand of oil did you get for the 5w40?

shirtpants_ · 01-24-2016, 08:56 PM

I with with Motul V300.
My repair bill went well into the 4 digit range, so I figured what the hell, ill buy the really expensive oil while I'm at it.

No real difference that I can notice. Can't say i'd recommend it, being almost double the price of most oils.
Idk how well it performs keeping oil temps, pressure and viscosity within optimal range at the track... That's probably where you'd see the difference.

01-16-2016, 11:18 PM	#1
shirtpants_ Second Lieutenant 94 Rep 268 Posts Drives: 11 335i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: orlando iTrader: (1)	5w30 vs 5w40 for FBO? Ill be FBO(no meth) by the end of the month, and I've got an oil leak that is getting checked out later this week. Ill be changing the oil while it's in the shop, and I've been doing some research into what oil I'll go with. 5W30 is the recommended weight in the service manual, but I live in Florida, where it goes below 60 degrees only a few days per year. And the engine/oil will be running much hotter than BMW intended with the added power. I've also got the stock oil cooler right now. Would going to 5w40 net me any benefits over the recommended 5w30? I've done some searching around and I can't seem to come to a conclusion... Thanks Edit: this is for an 11' n55 335i Last edited by shirtpants_; 01-17-2016 at 12:10 PM..
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01-17-2016, 12:28 AM	#2
Dhillon92 Captain 82 Rep 604 Posts Drives: '11 335xi Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Ive used 5w40, now running 0w40.
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01-17-2016, 01:09 PM	#3
mike@x-ph.com BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 24174 Rep 190,750 Posts Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (23)	I have been running Castrol European formula 0w-30 for years now Never had a problem __________________ Check out our current sale by clicking on this link! https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435
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01-17-2016, 09:44 PM	#4
junniior95 Lieutenant 38 Rep 427 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 335i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Castrol 5w40
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01-18-2016, 03:32 AM	#5
Cory S Major 305 Rep 1,163 Posts Drives: 2011 335i-X Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: N.H. iTrader: (0)	In Florida... I would run an oil weight with a viscosity of 40 over 30. The best oils (usually higher priced also) are rated 0 for start-up/cold engines. Run a 0W-40, or 5W-40 in Florida climate.
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01-18-2016, 12:45 PM	#6
theweebabySeamus Captain 373 Rep 902 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Castrol Euro, 0w-40. Go to Walmart, they have 5qts and I know you have plenty down in FL. Lol
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01-20-2016, 07:10 AM	#7
Unklejoe Second Lieutenant 98 Rep 292 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: South Jersey iTrader: (0)	I run 0w-40. It has the flattest "viscosity with respect to temperature" curve due to the extra additives. Plus, the 40 might be a little better for higher mileage motors that see higher than normal loads (tuned). However, I remember reading somewhere that the N55 has an oil pressure regulation system, so it might be kind of moot.
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01-22-2016, 07:04 PM	#8
shirtpants_ Second Lieutenant 94 Rep 268 Posts Drives: 11 335i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: orlando iTrader: (1)	Thanks for the responses guys, I ended up going with 5W-40 Don't really notice much of a change, oil temps are the same, the engine does feel slightly smoother, most noticeably at idle. But that's probably just switching from old 7500 mile oil to new oil, and the fact that I'm coming back from driving a Volt and a CRV all week
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01-22-2016, 07:32 PM	#9
inrev` Private 5 Rep 76 Posts Drives: e92 335i m sport Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Just curious, but which brand of oil did you get for the 5w40?
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01-24-2016, 08:56 PM	#10
shirtpants_ Second Lieutenant 94 Rep 268 Posts Drives: 11 335i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: orlando iTrader: (1)	I with with Motul V300. My repair bill went well into the 4 digit range, so I figured what the hell, ill buy the really expensive oil while I'm at it. No real difference that I can notice. Can't say i'd recommend it, being almost double the price of most oils. Idk how well it performs keeping oil temps, pressure and viscosity within optimal range at the track... That's probably where you'd see the difference.
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