Break in oil - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

CA330i · 09-11-2005, 04:31 AM

It is my understanding that synthetic oil is insuffecient (too slick) to proberly seal the rings for break in. I will acquire my 330i at the end of the month, and intend to immediately replace the synthetic oil with dino oil to facilitate proper break in. To me, this seems like a no-brainer, and I am surprised that this has not been brought up before. Am I missing something? Please advise.

Oz · 09-11-2005, 04:33 AM

Actually, this has been discussed a lot here recently. I just passed the break in period last week (currently 1360 miles) and I don't plan to change it until my next service

And I'd rather not do the first oil change myself. I worry that I might mess something up. How much does the dealer charges for a wanted oil change?

HRC · 09-11-2005, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA330i

It is my understanding that synthetic oil is insuffecient (too slick) to proberly seal the rings for break in. I will acquire my 330i at the end of the month, and intend to immediately replace the synthetic oil with dino oil to facilitate proper break in. To me, this seems like a no-brainer, and I am surprised that this has not been brought up before. Am I missing something? Please advise.

BMW has designed this engine to run on synthetic, not like the engines we are used to. I would leave it in, dino oil will ruin your car!

Danny

CA330i · 09-11-2005, 04:43 AM

Hi OZ, thanks for the reply. I don't believe that the issue of whether or not synthetic oil is suffecient for break in as opposed to dino oil has ever been discussed here. There has been plenty of discussion regarding when to change the synthetic oil though. To me that is clear... 1200 miles to flush out shavings etc.. My question concerns the initial (and all important) <50 miles when the piston rings seal. It has always been my understanding that dino oil is superior to synthetic in that regard when it comes to sealing the rings. I would appreciate any thoughts on dino v. synthetic during the short but vital break in period.

CA330i · 09-11-2005, 04:54 AM

HRC - thank you for your reply. I appreciate your comments, but to say that BMW has designed the engine to run on synthetic oil without data as to how, concerns me. The rings still need to seal. The slippery nature of synthetic still concerns me. Unless they figured out a way for the rings to seal adequately with syn as opposed to dino then I am still concerned. Dino oil is superior to synthetic for break in. Am I mistakin'?

E90Fleet · 09-11-2005, 06:08 AM

The tolerances to which these engines are built means they dont need break-in oil.

We tested a E46 at a tuner before work was carried out on it. The car had normal BMW paid services at the stipulated intervals and had over 100,000Km on it, and we tested the compression in each cylinder. The compression was perfectly within factory spec for each cylinder

So the rings were perfectly seated with the normal oil.

With the older engine building technology and tolerances one had to run mineral oil because it took quite a while for the rings to seat, but has not been the case for BMW engines for quite a while now

David325Australia · 09-11-2005, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA330i

Dino oil is superior to synthetic for break in. Am I mistakin'?

Please tell me or better still us what the difference is between the 2 oils. How is the Dino oil better for break in period better than synth oil and why do you believe BMW doesn't use it at all?

I have owned BMWs from new since 1992 without any break in or further problems using BMW's oil. This issue you have just brought up interests me if what you understand from Dino oil holds true.

Are there conclusive tests carried out on cars to show that Dino oil is better? What about long term use of Dino oil?

I await further information with much anticipation. Thanks very much.

n21k · 09-17-2005, 10:52 PM

What engine oil do you use? My friend recommended Torco racing oil(SAE 10w-30), anyone using?

I'm planning to change my engine oil after the break in period, can someone recommend the right engine oil besides Castrol which BMW recommends.

romeo26 · 09-19-2005, 03:10 AM

i thought it was 0w-40??? or some thing close to that!!

n21k · 09-25-2005, 08:29 PM

That's was what my friend used on his E46 and claims very smooth. Not sure if Torco Racing oil comes in 0w-40.

But most lightly, I will stick to Mobil 1 since is LL01 or/and recommended by most BMW mechanic, especially for me since I'm not using my E90 for track or race.

09-11-2005, 04:31 AM	#1
CA330i Private First Class Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 89 iTrader: (0)	Break in oil It is my understanding that synthetic oil is insuffecient (too slick) to proberly seal the rings for break in. I will acquire my 330i at the end of the month, and intend to immediately replace the synthetic oil with dino oil to facilitate proper break in. To me, this seems like a no-brainer, and I am surprised that this has not been brought up before. Am I missing something? Please advise. __________________ E90 330i Ti Grey Burl/ZSP/ZPP/Navi/PDC Manual

09-11-2005, 04:33 AM	#2
Oz Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 2006 330i, 2004 X5 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Wayne, NJ Posts: 1,769 iTrader: (0) View Oz's Garage	Actually, this has been discussed a lot here recently. I just passed the break in period last week (currently 1360 miles) and I don't plan to change it until my next service And I'd rather not do the first oil change myself. I worry that I might mess something up. How much does the dealer charges for a wanted oil change? __________________ 2006 330i Steptronic/Alpine White/Black Leather/Burl Walnut Trim/Premium Package/iDrive/Heated Seats/Winter: STYLE 159 Blizzak LM-22 RFT/Summer: TBD 2004 X5 Steptronic/Alpine White/Grey Leather/Poplar Trim/Premium Package/Heated Seats/iPod Adapter

09-11-2005, 04:43 AM	#4
CA330i Private First Class Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 89 iTrader: (0)	Hi OZ, thanks for the reply. I don't believe that the issue of whether or not synthetic oil is suffecient for break in as opposed to dino oil has ever been discussed here. There has been plenty of discussion regarding when to change the synthetic oil though. To me that is clear... 1200 miles to flush out shavings etc.. My question concerns the initial (and all important) <50 miles when the piston rings seal. It has always been my understanding that dino oil is superior to synthetic in that regard when it comes to sealing the rings. I would appreciate any thoughts on dino v. synthetic during the short but vital break in period. __________________ E90 330i Ti Grey Burl/ZSP/ZPP/Navi/PDC Manual

09-11-2005, 04:54 AM	#5
CA330i Private First Class Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA Posts: 89 iTrader: (0)	HRC - thank you for your reply. I appreciate your comments, but to say that BMW has designed the engine to run on synthetic oil without data as to how, concerns me. The rings still need to seal. The slippery nature of synthetic still concerns me. Unless they figured out a way for the rings to seal adequately with syn as opposed to dino then I am still concerned. Dino oil is superior to synthetic for break in. Am I mistakin'? __________________ E90 330i Ti Grey Burl/ZSP/ZPP/Navi/PDC Manual

09-11-2005, 06:08 AM	#6
E90Fleet Major General Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa Posts: 6,515 iTrader: (0)	The tolerances to which these engines are built means they dont need break-in oil. We tested a E46 at a tuner before work was carried out on it. The car had normal BMW paid services at the stipulated intervals and had over 100,000Km on it, and we tested the compression in each cylinder. The compression was perfectly within factory spec for each cylinder So the rings were perfectly seated with the normal oil. With the older engine building technology and tolerances one had to run mineral oil because it took quite a while for the rings to seat, but has not been the case for BMW engines for quite a while now

09-17-2005, 10:52 PM	#8
n21k Private Drives: E90 325i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 51 iTrader: (0) View n21k's Garage	What engine oil do you use? My friend recommended Torco racing oil(SAE 10w-30), anyone using? I'm planning to change my engine oil after the break in period, can someone recommend the right engine oil besides Castrol which BMW recommends.

09-19-2005, 03:10 AM	#9
romeo26 Lieutenant Drives: e30 325 (no lette) Join Date: May 2005 Location: anaheim, cali Posts: 347 iTrader: (0)	i thought it was 0w-40??? or some thing close to that!!

09-25-2005, 08:29 PM	#10
n21k Private Drives: E90 325i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 51 iTrader: (0) View n21k's Garage	That's was what my friend used on his E46 and claims very smooth. Not sure if Torco Racing oil comes in 0w-40. But most lightly, I will stick to Mobil 1 since is LL01 or/and recommended by most BMW mechanic, especially for me since I'm not using my E90 for track or race.