Engine oil top up

CYL · 12-30-2014, 11:49 PM

Hi, when the car requires an engine oil top up, does it matter if I mix with a different kind of engine oil?
It's Christmas period and the workshop is closed till mid of Jan, I am not sure what engine oil was put into my car and I am planning to buy 1L engine oil and top up by myself.
Does it matter if I top up with different brand? Or different spec engine oil?
(I will have a service done when they re-open in mid of Jan anyway.)
Thanks.

MacE90 · 12-31-2014, 12:04 AM

As in mixing Full Synthetic with Conventional? I would think it matters. Mixing Brand A with Brand B because you are in a pinch, meh, probably not as much as long as you stick with the same viscosity. I would stick with a Full Synthetic oil, 5W-30 or 5W-40, Castrol if it is available...

AUSf22 · 12-31-2014, 12:45 AM

Use Castrol 5w30, you can buy 1L bottles from Repco/Supercheap

CYL · 12-31-2014, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacE90

As in mixing Full Synthetic with Conventional? I would think it matters. Mixing Brand A with Brand B because you are in a pinch, meh, probably not as much as long as you stick with the same viscosity. I would stick with a Full Synthetic oil, 5W-30 or 5W-40, Castrol if it is available...

I believe the current oil in the engine is full synthetic one, I am just not sure which brand and which viscosity did the mechanic put in previously.
So, if I buy a bottle of 5W-30 and top it up, is it ok?
What if the previous mechanic put 5W-40? Is it ok?

Or should I leave the engine oil minimum warning until mid of jan when the workshop re-open??

Quite urgent as the warning sign has been for 2 weeks already.
Thanks.

Coupes33 · 12-31-2014, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CYL

I believe the current oil in the engine is full synthetic one, I am just not sure which brand and which viscosity did the mechanic put in previously.
So, if I buy a bottle of 5W-30 and top it up, is it ok?
What if the previous mechanic put 5W-40? Is it ok?

Or should I leave the engine oil minimum warning until mid of jan when the workshop re-open??

Quite urgent as the warning sign has been for 2 weeks already.
Thanks.

I have always run Castrol Edge Titanium 5W-40sn Fully Synthetic and never had any issues for 50,000kms. This is the oil BMW recommended and what they use at Brisbane BMW. I buy it from Autobarn but I believe Supercheap also sell it now.

CYL · 12-31-2014, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coupes33

I have always run Castrol Edge Titanium 5W-40sn Fully Synthetic and never had any issues for 50,000kms. This is the oil BMW recommended and what they use at Brisbane BMW. I buy it from Autobarn but I believe Supercheap also sell it now.

Thanks. But my concern is actually if I can mix the engine oil when I do the top up?
Cause I am not sure which brand and which viscosity did the previous mechanic used.
What I need to do now is a top up until I can perform the proper oil change when the workshop reopened in mid of Jan....

waterbottle1 · 12-31-2014, 05:57 AM

It shud be full synthetic
And not sure about you. But alot use 5w30 castrol. Its also bmw approved oil.

I was also in ur shoe once. Top up half a litre first and check your oil level in dash. Drive normally and then after the holidays go get your oil changed. No stress.

Scotty89 · 12-31-2014, 09:30 AM

Mixing different oils is bad joo joo.

Having a lack of oil in your engine because you want to avoid mixing oils is even badder joo joo.

The choice is yours; choose wisely... young padawan.

tshoww · 12-31-2014, 10:25 AM

Brands don't matter at all just the type which many have listed above.

Mayuri Krab · 12-31-2014, 11:14 AM

I topped up my oil once with Pernite HPR 5w40 while the engine had Fusch Titan 5w40 originally (used by the shop I got it serviced).

No bad side effects so far... both oil are BMW LL-01 approved.

CYL · 01-01-2015, 05:46 AM

Just went to super cheap auto today and bought the Castrol 5W-30
And found that its on sales now!!! 2 per customer.
Quick!
Offer ends mid of Jan

Socket · 01-01-2015, 06:00 AM

Oil warning light on for 2 weeks... I'd add oil

GTony · 01-01-2015, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coupes33

I have always run Castrol Edge Titanium 5W-40sn Fully Synthetic and never had any issues for 50,000kms. This is the oil BMW recommended and what they use at Brisbane BMW. I buy it from Autobarn but I believe Supercheap also sell it now.

I thought Bris. used Shell and the S/Coast use Castrol.
I think all of BMW are going to be Shell.

GTony · 01-01-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CYL

Hi, when the car requires an engine oil top up, does it matter if I mix with a different kind of engine oil?
It's Christmas period and the workshop is closed till mid of Jan, I am not sure what engine oil was put into my car and I am planning to buy 1L engine oil and top up by myself.
Does it matter if I top up with different brand? Or different spec engine oil?
(I will have a service done when they re-open in mid of Jan anyway.)
Thanks.

Excuse my ignorance. Does your E92 only come in petrol? I ask because people are advising you on oil types. They must know what your model is, year etc.

Don't understand why there closed until Mid January. Phone/Ask other Dealers, even if you have to phone Interstate to get a Concrete Answer.
Failing that I got my Cars Best Oil Requirements by phoning Castrol Tech. Dept. or if you prefer different Brand, phone them.

CYL · 01-01-2015, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socket

Oil warning light on for 2 weeks... I'd add oil

i thought it is not urgent since the message was saying "on next opportunity"...
What would be the most likely damages over the engine as a result of having the min engine oil light on for 2 weeks?

I have topped up with castrol 5W-30 already yesterday.

Scotty89 · 01-01-2015, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CYL

i thought it is not urgent since the message was saying "on next opportunity"...
What would be the most likely damages over the engine as a result of having the min engine oil light on for 2 weeks?

I have topped up with castrol 5W-30 already yesterday.

If the oil drops too low there won't be enough in the system to maintain oil pressure for proper lubrication of all the parts.

It's unlikely it'd get this low - and I believe the oil light will turn red (instead of orange) if your oil pressure is at critical level.

Just take it easy on the car until you can do the oil change, and shut the car off immediately if the oil light turns red.

CYL · 01-01-2015, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty89

If the oil drops too low there won't be enough in the system to maintain oil pressure for proper lubrication of all the parts.

It's unlikely it'd get this low - and I believe the oil light will turn red (instead of orange) if your oil pressure is at critical level.

Just take it easy on the car until you can do the oil change, and shut the car off immediately if the oil light turns red.

Thanks!
I can only see a message from the idrive saying that "engine oil minimum" and a "!" on the dashboard....cannot see any other light with orange or red color?

i think it is normal for us to top up 1L enigne oil to our car, but i am quite surprised since i have just topped it up with 1L about 3 months ago..

wonder why it requres top up again in such a short period....

12-30-2014, 11:49 PM	#1
CYL Major 129 Rep 1,382 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Engine oil top up Hi, when the car requires an engine oil top up, does it matter if I mix with a different kind of engine oil? It's Christmas period and the workshop is closed till mid of Jan, I am not sure what engine oil was put into my car and I am planning to buy 1L engine oil and top up by myself. Does it matter if I top up with different brand? Or different spec engine oil? (I will have a service done when they re-open in mid of Jan anyway.) Thanks.
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12-31-2014, 12:04 AM	#2
MacE90 Private First Class 36 Rep 179 Posts Drives: Chevrolegs Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: MT iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 335i xdrive [10.00]	As in mixing Full Synthetic with Conventional? I would think it matters. Mixing Brand A with Brand B because you are in a pinch, meh, probably not as much as long as you stick with the same viscosity. I would stick with a Full Synthetic oil, 5W-30 or 5W-40, Castrol if it is available... __________________ 1982 Chevro-legs
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12-31-2014, 12:45 AM	#3
AUSf22 Lieutenant Colonel 2690 Rep 1,977 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C HS & Ferrari Roma Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 M2 Competition [9.83]	Use Castrol 5w30, you can buy 1L bottles from Repco/Supercheap
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12-31-2014, 05:57 AM	#7
waterbottle1 Major 153 Rep 1,118 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Perth AUSTRALIA iTrader: (3)	It shud be full synthetic And not sure about you. But alot use 5w30 castrol. Its also bmw approved oil. I was also in ur shoe once. Top up half a litre first and check your oil level in dash. Drive normally and then after the holidays go get your oil changed. No stress.
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12-31-2014, 09:30 AM	#8
Scotty89 Buy a 335 they said... It'll be fun they said... 117 Rep 995 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [10.00]	Mixing different oils is bad joo joo. Having a lack of oil in your engine because you want to avoid mixing oils is even badder joo joo. The choice is yours; choose wisely... young padawan.
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12-31-2014, 10:25 AM	#9
tshoww oG 56 Rep 487 Posts Drives: 2009 Alpine White 335i e90 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (1)	Brands don't matter at all just the type which many have listed above. __________________ \| 2009 \| e90 335i \|Alpine White \| \| It's not about the miles per gallon, it's about the smiles per gallon \|
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12-31-2014, 11:14 AM	#10
Mayuri Krab The Cheap Arse Asian 47 Rep 585 Posts Drives: E90 335i & R33 Skyline GTS-T Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Perth, Australia iTrader: (0)	I topped up my oil once with Pernite HPR 5w40 while the engine had Fusch Titan 5w40 originally (used by the shop I got it serviced). No bad side effects so far... both oil are BMW LL-01 approved. __________________ 07 BMW E90 335i \|JB4 + MHD Backend Flash (Pump) \|AR Catless DPs\|ER CP + Forge DVs\|BMS DCIs + OCC\|RB PCV valve + cap\| 93 R33 Skyline GTS-T \|SAFC-II piggyback\|3" Turbo Back Exhaust + Highflow Cat\|FMIC\|Boost Tee\|Apexi POD\| Shitty Chinese spec tires = sideways action everywhere
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01-01-2015, 05:46 AM	#11
CYL Major 129 Rep 1,382 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Just went to super cheap auto today and bought the Castrol 5W-30 And found that its on sales now!!! 2 per customer. Quick! Offer ends mid of Jan
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01-01-2015, 06:00 AM	#12
Socket Lieutenant General 4542 Rep 11,903 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Australia iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 [0.00]	Oil warning light on for 2 weeks... I'd add oil
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