Confused on Liquimoly oil weights

K2` · 07-28-2021, 12:48 AM

I have an 2011 e90 N55. I'm planning to do my next oil change and after researching through these forums and other places, I am going to give Liquimoly a try... this dug me down gopher hole of which one to try.

I've narrowed it down to either Specialtec or the new Molygen. (hard lean towards Molygen to try their with the extra additive to it)

When I search on Liquimoly's website on their oil guide, it says 5w30 for Spcialtec but Molygen shows 5w40. My understanding is that I should stick to 5w30 (no mods, just a DD).

I also live in Canada where climates can get both hot and cold.

Can anybody help me clarify if this even matters at all?

CTinline-six · 07-28-2021, 08:28 AM

Either 5w40 or 5w30 will work perfectly fine in the N55.

e91Owner · 07-28-2021, 10:13 AM

I also use liqui moly although in my N52s. I use it because of a deal we get here in the US, not because of some magic elixir properties over other approved BMW oils. I have noticed no difference between it any any other approved oil over the years in 200,000 miles. So personally, I would go with whatever oil you can get that meets spec and is least expensive, although the difference in price over an OCI is rather small.

As for the weights/viscosity, you can look at liqui moly's site for exact viscosity ranges, but since both are 5W, the cold performance will be rather similar. Since the N5x engines love to leak oil from every gasket, I've always gone with a 5W-40, but that is probably more mentally comforting than actually affecting anything.

K2` · 07-29-2021, 11:36 AM

Thanks! - I went ahead and purchased the Molygen 5W40

CTinline-six · 07-30-2021, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2`

Thanks! - I went ahead and purchased the Molygen 5W40

I used that in my N51 and had good results in the oil analysis I did. Use it with confidence.

whyzee125 · 07-30-2021, 11:17 AM

If I were to run liqui moly I would get the Leichlauf through FCP. Free oil for life

e91Owner · 07-30-2021, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whyzee125

If I were to run liqui moly I would get the Leichlauf through FCP. Free oil for life

Not sure if that works in Canada, though.

E93Dude · 07-30-2021, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Quote:

Originally Posted by whyzee125

If I were to run liqui moly I would get the Leichlauf through FCP. Free oil for life

Not sure if that works in Canada, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Quote:

Originally Posted by whyzee125

If I were to run liqui moly I would get the Leichlauf through FCP. Free oil for life

Not sure if that works in Canada, though.

It won't because you aren't allowed to have nice things in Canada.

e91Owner · 07-30-2021, 08:07 PM

I stand corrected. Apparently PayPal returns does work in Canada too. I'm not sure, though, if the shipping costs TO Canada from FCP make it worthwhile.

edycol · 08-05-2021, 07:40 PM

Find local LL01 like Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. It is better oil than Liqui Moly. With LM you are getting mediocre stuff. If free oil changes are imperative than ok.

e91Owner · 08-07-2021, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edycol

Find local LL01 like Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. It is better oil than Liqui Moly. With LM you are getting mediocre stuff. If free oil changes are imperative than ok.

Based on?

edycol · 08-08-2021, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Quote:

Originally Posted by edycol

Find local LL01 like Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. It is better oil than Liqui Moly. With LM you are getting mediocre stuff. If free oil changes are imperative than ok.

Based on?

Based on composition of their oil and performance parameters.

e91Owner · 08-08-2021, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edycol

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Quote:

Originally Posted by edycol

Find local LL01 like Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. It is better oil than Liqui Moly. With LM you are getting mediocre stuff. If free oil changes are imperative than ok.

Based on?

Based on composition of their oil and performance parameters.

Their oil performs pretty well in after-use lab analysis. Better than some other brands of LL-01. However, "better" is a relative term. Even the worst LL-01 oil (and probably even the "worst" synthetic oil of similar weights) would honestly be fine. People get really focused on what base stock is used, etc, but forget that the properties of the oil against a standard generally are all that matters in a given application.

edycol · 08-08-2021, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Quote:

Originally Posted by edycol

Quote:

Originally Posted by e91Owner

Quote:

Originally Posted by edycol

Find local LL01 like Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. It is better oil than Liqui Moly. With LM you are getting mediocre stuff. If free oil changes are imperative than ok.

Based on?

Based on composition of their oil and performance parameters.

Their oil performs pretty well in after-use lab analysis. Better than some other brands of LL-01. However, "better" is a relative term. Even the worst LL-01 oil (and probably even the "worst" synthetic oil of similar weights) would honestly be fine. People get really focused on what base stock is used, etc, but forget that the properties of the oil against a standard generally are all that matters in a given application.

When I say mediocre performance, I mean among oils suitable for these engines.
I generally hate paying more for things that are not as good as cheaper stuff.
I worked on oil development and I am familiar what is and who is Liqui Moly. Would I use it? Yes, if no other option.
But, Made in Germany always carries 20hp at least

CTinline-six · 08-09-2021, 11:36 AM

I did a used oil analysis of both Liqui-Moly MolyGen 5w40 and Castrol 0w40 in my car, and the results were very similar. I'd consider it a good oil. I used Castrol 0w40 for quite a while but the Liqui-Moly just ends up being cheaper with the FCP lifetime oil change thing.

My local walmart doesn't even stock the Pennzoil. Last time I checked they had like 2 or 3 of the 1 quart bottles left. Valvoline Euro 5w40 is way easier to get for some reason. I think any LL-01 oil will be fine, or even anything with the Porsche A40 spec.

edycol · 08-11-2021, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

I did a used oil analysis of both Liqui-Moly MolyGen 5w40 and Castrol 0w40 in my car, and the results were very similar. I'd consider it a good oil. I used Castrol 0w40 for quite a while but the Liqui-Moly just ends up being cheaper with the FCP lifetime oil change thing.

My local walmart doesn't even stock the Pennzoil. Last time I checked they had like 2 or 3 of the 1 quart bottles left. Valvoline Euro 5w40 is way easier to get for some reason. I think any LL-01 oil will be fine, or even anything with the Porsche A40 spec.

UOA will not show a lot of stuff.
One of the important parameters is Noack (evaporation loss at 150c/1hr).
Higher Noack, more oil loss and that loss might not be noticeable on oil dipstick or computer. Mire worrisome is that Noack is associated with deposits and catalytic converter degradation. So, you want lowest Noack possible.
BMW LL01 and LL04 are limited to maximum of 13% Noack. MB229.5 and 229.51/52 are 10% (MB approvals are gold standard).
Better base stock and less viscosity index improvers, lower Noack. So, let's say you have two oils, 0W40 and 5W40 utilizing same base stocks. 5W40 will have lower Noack.
So more "spread" between XW and XX in theory means higher Noack.
Noack of Molygen is 10% and Castrol 0W40 9.1%. That indicates much better base stocks in Castrol.

07-28-2021, 12:48 AM	#1
K2` New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: e90 Join Date: May 2018 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	Confused on Liquimoly oil weights I have an 2011 e90 N55. I'm planning to do my next oil change and after researching through these forums and other places, I am going to give Liquimoly a try... this dug me down gopher hole of which one to try. I've narrowed it down to either Specialtec or the new Molygen. (hard lean towards Molygen to try their with the extra additive to it) When I search on Liquimoly's website on their oil guide, it says 5w30 for Spcialtec but Molygen shows 5w40. My understanding is that I should stick to 5w30 (no mods, just a DD). I also live in Canada where climates can get both hot and cold. Can anybody help me clarify if this even matters at all?
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07-28-2021, 08:28 AM	#2
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6825 Rep 3,000 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	Either 5w40 or 5w30 will work perfectly fine in the N55. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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07-28-2021, 10:13 AM	#3
e91Owner e91Owner 425 Rep 1,129 Posts Drives: 2011 e91 & 2010 e60 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Out of the Office iTrader: (0)	I also use liqui moly although in my N52s. I use it because of a deal we get here in the US, not because of some magic elixir properties over other approved BMW oils. I have noticed no difference between it any any other approved oil over the years in 200,000 miles. So personally, I would go with whatever oil you can get that meets spec and is least expensive, although the difference in price over an OCI is rather small. As for the weights/viscosity, you can look at liqui moly's site for exact viscosity ranges, but since both are 5W, the cold performance will be rather similar. Since the N5x engines love to leak oil from every gasket, I've always gone with a 5W-40, but that is probably more mentally comforting than actually affecting anything.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-29-2021, 11:36 AM	#4
K2` New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: e90 Join Date: May 2018 Location: canada iTrader: (0)	Thanks! - I went ahead and purchased the Molygen 5W40
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07-30-2021, 11:17 AM	#6
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1676 Rep 3,641 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	If I were to run liqui moly I would get the Leichlauf through FCP. Free oil for life
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07-30-2021, 08:07 PM	#9
e91Owner e91Owner 425 Rep 1,129 Posts Drives: 2011 e91 & 2010 e60 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Out of the Office iTrader: (0)	I stand corrected. Apparently PayPal returns does work in Canada too. I'm not sure, though, if the shipping costs TO Canada from FCP make it worthwhile.
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08-05-2021, 07:40 PM	#10
edycol Major 1502 Rep 1,483 Posts Drives: 2011 328i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Colorado Springs iTrader: (0)	Find local LL01 like Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40. It is better oil than Liqui Moly. With LM you are getting mediocre stuff. If free oil changes are imperative than ok.
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08-09-2021, 11:36 AM	#15
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6825 Rep 3,000 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	I did a used oil analysis of both Liqui-Moly MolyGen 5w40 and Castrol 0w40 in my car, and the results were very similar. I'd consider it a good oil. I used Castrol 0w40 for quite a while but the Liqui-Moly just ends up being cheaper with the FCP lifetime oil change thing. My local walmart doesn't even stock the Pennzoil. Last time I checked they had like 2 or 3 of the 1 quart bottles left. Valvoline Euro 5w40 is way easier to get for some reason. I think any LL-01 oil will be fine, or even anything with the Porsche A40 spec. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
	Appreciate 0 Quote