What kind of oil to pour into a bmw engine. Slippery topic: what kind of oil to fill in? What oil to fill in a BMW

Despite experience and big variety lubricants, owners often get into a dead end when choosing engine oil for BMW, not understanding which one is most suitable for the engine. On the one hand, you need to fill in what the automaker recommends. On the other hand, the recommendation is not very clear, as there are recommended and approved ones. Moreover, the admission is issued to almost all compositions that correspond in terms of quality and viscosity characteristics.

If you haven't read it please do so, it's a story written from start to finish in several successive articles. This is an engine block architecture where the bottom walls extend under the crankshaft to the crankcase cover, which will be flat. This is a type of casting in which a sample of the piece to be made is used to create a sand mold of the specified part. After the metal has solidified, the mold is removed or broken to release the finished part. This is a type of sandblasting for intricate parts in which designs are made from wax. Once sand has been applied to these patterns to form them, these patterns are subjected to heat to eliminate them. Thus, the mold is ready to receive molten metal for the manufacture of the final part. It is more expensive and more difficult than sand molding.

  • Literally translated, deep skirt.
  • The crankshaft bearings are fixed by independent latches.
  • Cast in sand.
  • Later, the sample is removed and the molten metal is poured into a sand mold.
  • Dip molded.
Without further delay the second installment.

So, every driver of such a car should know that lubricants for a BMW car are divided into two groups:

  1. Certified, they are also recommended;
  2. Allowed or permitted.

According to the manufacturer's specifications, it is allowed to pour oils into BMW gasoline models that have passed laboratory tests and have received official BMW approval. This group includes almost all motor oils, ranging from semi-synthetics with API SJ, SH class, to SAE 10W-40 and higher.

Its development was driven by difficulties; the time available for this was very limited, the team was still in the process of cohesion, there were no set procedures, quality rules were incomplete, and improvisation was constant in the logistics of the parts. As the season progressed, significant advances in engineering and processes were made that enabled the engine to deliver 810 hp. with a maximum speed of 500 rpm.

A design feature of this engine was the integration of pumps and ancillary components into tubular racks in the lower half of the crankcase. On the right flank there are seven return pumps equipped with plastic rotors - one for the crankcase, one for each cylinder head and one for the gearbox. In addition, the air was separated from the oil by a centrifuge. Between the main oil pump and the speed generator, the drive shaft was multiplied by a small planetary group. In both flanks they were also integrated into the water pump paths ahead of the other components mentioned.

In vehicles equipped with a diesel installation, it is allowed to use a universal fluid if its characteristics comply with the requirements of the vehicle's technical documentation. Based on the ACEA standard. On the package engine oil approved by BMW, the corresponding approval must be printed. If it is absent, therefore, the oil has not passed BMW certification, it is forbidden to use it.

Auxiliary elements will be installed at the periphery, which will reduce the structural rigidity of the engine in the direction of reducing the rate of production failures. The height at which the crankshaft was placed was reduced from 76 mm to 65 mm thanks to new heavy metal bolt weights and a minimum distance between the connecting rods and the lower crankcase cover.

Now the connection between the engine and the vehicle chassis was made not through the cylinder head covers, but through the same cylinder heads, which made it much easier to replace the heavy cylinder head covers with another pair of them. Development of the cylinder head in which the ends were installed throttle valve and idle valves, a revision of the intake ports and rocker arms, and a modification of the cams allowed for an increase in speed to 000 rpm and engine power. 880 HP

Certified lubricants are called Longlife. The properties comply with the current ACEA-A3,B3 standard. They were tested in the BMW laboratory, are designed for long-term operation, and are all-weather.

What oil to fill in a BMW

Starting in 2001, the BMW concern began to produce completely new power plants. For them, it was necessary to develop new lubricating products with more stringent requirements. The result is several types of oils that have a long service life.

From said pump located on the left side of the engine, the coolant flowed through the carbon fiber pipeline and was in the space between the two cylinder beams, at which point the coolant is distributed between the two banks through the engine block. From there, the coolant passes to the cylinder heads through calibrated return ports. Left cylinder head coolant enters directly into the radiator, while right cylinder head coolant is redirected to the pump inlet through a channel built into the carbon fiber transmission cover.

Longlife-01

The technical characteristics of the grease meet all BMW requirements, it can be used in cars equipped with an N62 - N42 engine. Can also be poured into early BMW models produced before 2000. The exception is S62, CNG, M43.

Longlife-01FE

Very different from Longlife-01 low odds viscosity. Contributes to economical fuel consumption. May only be used in installations capable of operating with low viscosity lubricants.

It is at this point that said refrigerant mixes with the cooled coolant from the radiator. This cooling mechanism reduced the flow of coolant through the radiator and simplified the design of the cooling system. The overall length of the engine has been reduced by more than 11 mm due to a new reduction in the separation between the cylinders and the phase shift between the banks and the optimization of the distribution transmission and ancillary components. The rethinking of the cooling system allowed the use of more compact cylinder heads.

In addition, the height of the crankshaft has been reduced by more than 3mm and the connecting rods have been shortened; these measures reduced the vertical dimensions of the cylinder block, and the overall height of the engine was reduced by 15 mm. On the other hand, the diameter of the main bearings and connecting rods has been reduced to 42mm and 36mm respectively. This measure, together with the drilling of the crankshafts, provided a weight saving of 1 kg on the crankshaft.

Longlife-98

Technical parameters meet the OilService standard, which came into effect after 1998. Applicable in cars equipped with forced ignition. It is forbidden to pour into power units S54, N42, S62.

Longlife-04

This approval applies to engine oils that have been tested in the BMW laboratory. These products can be safely poured into latest cars. It is forbidden to use in cars manufactured before 2004.

The measures described above, improvements to various parts and extensive use of carbon fiber components contributed to even greater weight savings, reducing the weight of the engine by more than 19 kg to 86 kg of total weight. Engine performance has improved, among other things, due to improvements in distribution and in pistons, allowing the engine to achieve top speed 000 rpm In addition, mid-season high pressure manifolds were introduced which increased the maximum power to 895 hp.

The power curve has been improved, friction losses have been kept to a minimum thanks to numerous individual improvements and the weight has been reduced by more than 2kg. To achieve the desired weight distribution in the car throughout the season, the crankcase and bronze main bearing caps were included to act as ballast.

Compounds belonging to the Special Oil group, similarly to certified products, meet the requirements of ACEA-A3, B3. In principle, this is an early version of the BMW Longlife series oil.

Professionals advise such lubricants to be poured into the engine of obsolete BMW cars. The replacement period should not exceed 15,000 km. All special oils belong to the all-weather group. The exception is SAE 10W-X. It can only be used at temperatures above 20 degrees.

Again, this was a case of continuous development, focusing on critical components with the highest structural stress and potential for failure. To ensure the reliability of these components - typically pistons, bearings and valves - the maximum power of the engine had to be reduced by about 10 hp. although it quickly recovered.

A spot on the ground just below the car could be a sign that it is losing oil. Some drivers do not attach of great importance and continue to circulate with your vehicle. In fact, the main function of engine oil is to create a film between parts to facilitate its movement and reduce friction, which prevents premature wear. However, it is also responsible for sealing the space between the pistons to maintain compression and eliminate carbon residue that can build up inside the engine.

When choosing which oil to fill in a BMW engine, it is better to use only the oils listed above. No matter how wonderful any other lubricant is, if there is no BMW approval message on the package, it is strictly forbidden to use it.

A few words about the cars that have passed overhaul. There is no break-in oil for BMW engines. You can immediately fill in high-quality certified. Each driver selects the brand individually, adhering to the above recommendations.

Another important function of engine oil is to prevent heat build-up due to friction. Therefore, if a car has lost a lot of oil, in a short time the parts will reach a high temperature and practically "melt", which means that you will have to change the car's engine, which leads to the corresponding costs that this entails.

Of course, there is not always enough oil for the engine, but if you notice that the car is losing oil, it is better to immediately go to the mechanics, where they can find the source of the problem and fix it. Make sure it's really an oil leak. Some drivers get alarmed for no reason when they find a small puddle under the car. In many cases, it is simply condensation of water with the help of an air conditioner, something very common in the summer.

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According to the BMW E39 maintenance instructions, an oil change must be carried out either once a year or after a run of 15 thousand kilometers for gasoline engines and every 10 thousand for a diesel engine. Such recommendations are valid there, abroad. There is a small note in the manual: if the car is operated in difficult conditions, then the engine oil must be changed twice as often. That is, for gasoline power units every 7-8 thousand, and for diesel - every 5000. When driving on our fuel and on our roads, we can say with confidence that a car in the post-Soviet expanses is operated in difficult road conditions. So, when it is necessary to change the oil in the BMW E39 engine, we figured it out, now we will try to understand what and where to fill in.

So the first step is to check if the loss is real. First of all, look at its color and consistency. Then check the oil level with the dipstick. If the drop persists and you notice that the oil level has dropped, you should go to a workshop. Keep in mind that if the leak is serious, it's best to call a tow truck.

The most common causes of oil leakage. The car loses oil for various reasons. The most common, and least serious, is that the crankcase bleed screw is not properly adjusted, or that it has stalled too much on the last oil change. In this case, this will be enough to adjust or change it. However, leakage can also be caused by a gap in the seals in either the rocker cover seals or the fill cover gasket. This problem is usually due to the expansion that engines experience with use and the passage of time, or simply because the joints have reached the end of their useful life.

What oil to fill in E39?

As you know, motor oils are mainly classified by base and viscosity. It can be divided by the type of base: mineral and synthetic. There are semi-synthetic oils. Viscosity is regulated by various additives and chemical additives. If you rummage through the Internet and read posts on various forums, then you will get a complete mess in your head. Some advise only synthetic, others semi-synthetics, others insist only on mineral oil, especially if the car has more than 100 thousand mileage. And the discussions and recommendations of various manufacturers in general can lead to a dead end the whole thought process.

In these cases, the oil stains everything, so if you look at the bottom of the engine, you will notice that it is black and dirty. If the car is losing more than a few drops of oil per day, it's likely that the hose has broken. However, if the drip load is steady, it could be due to a crack in the crankcase, which usually happens when the car suffers an impact underneath. In these cases, it is recommended to immediately go to the workshop, as the oil level drops very quickly.

Another reason a car is losing oil may be that the level is too high. In fact, the oil must be maintained between the minimum and maximum limit, when the cylinders overflow surge, it will burn and end filled with impurities deposited in the combustion chamber and shorten the life of the engine. In this case, you will notice that the smoke that comes out of exhaust pipe, usually acquires a bluish color and has a characteristic odor.

Let's figure it out. mineral oils for engines bmw is better do not use. After all, the task of oil is not only to lubricate parts power unit, but also in cooling, corrosion prevention, removal of wear products. "Mineral water" quickly loses its characteristics, therefore it is not able to protect the motor as much as possible and ensure its normal operation. Mineral-based oils are cheaper, and this is the main argument of many car owners. But if you want your car to serve for a long time and properly, fill in synthetic and semi-synthetic oils. The presence of special additives in them will extend the life of the motor.

Oil leakage through the vent is usually not such an immediate problem, but it does require attention. This is because the chimney is there to relieve pressure inside the crankcase and the car is not expected to lose a lot of oil this way.

It is clear that when this happens, the engine requires grinding. But there are other simpler causes, caused by mistakes made by the owner, station attendant, or mechanic, that can cause a leak and are easy to fix. It's a good idea to check for such issues before moving on to a more costly solution like head gasket replacement or sanding.

To make it easier to make a choice, below is a table of viscosity of motor oils from the pages of the BMW instruction manual. The main criterion for choosing will be the climate in which the car is operated.

The main criterion for choosing oil is the climate in which the car is operated.

How Engine Breathing Works

It works like this: the oil heats up and therefore expands. Some of it evaporates and enters the vent, the part that receives steam from the high pressure oil and cools it, condensing it and returning it to the lubrication system. That is: gases must not escape into the atmosphere or leak.

Possible causes are easy to solve

The first cause to be analyzed is the subject present in the breather or sump. This dirt can clog the breathing apparatus, impairing oil return to the crankcase or preventing pressure relief. This may be due to the formation of sludge, which may be caused by using the wrong oil or some other problem in the engine. It is wise to remove the part for cleaning, check its condition and check if cleaning alone is enough to "harden" the engine.

It is logical to fill the engine with the oil recommended by the car manufacturer. But such recommendations are not always specific. The main thing is that the oil meets the ACEA class: A3 / B3 (CCMC-G5 / PD2) or API SJ / CD. There are a lot of manufacturers on this list. It is called Special oils and is updated every year. These are engine oils recommended by BMW AG. After examining the list, we can conclude that oil from well-known brands is suitable for the BMW E39. It is important that the oil was produced at the manufacturer, and not spilled in the basement of a neighboring house. Buy oil only from trusted dealers of official brands.


The main thing is that the oil meets the ACEA class: A3 / B3 (CCMC-G5 / PD2) or API SJ / CD

If you do not trust anyone, then you can order the original oil from BMW. Its original code is 83 21 9 407 782. This is the code for a liter canister. For a complete oil change in the engine, 6.5–7.5 liters are needed. (depending on the engine).

Do-it-yourself engine oil change in E39

To change the engine oil, you will need the following tools and materials:

  1. Rags to clean up spilled oil.
  2. Low capacity for used oil, volume about 8 liters.
  3. A set of ring or socket wrenches.
  4. Narrow slotted screwdriver.
  5. Phillips screwdriver.
  6. Sharpened knife.
  7. Oil filter kit: filter element, oil seal ring under the housing cover, copper washer for sealing the drain plug. original number: 11 42 7 512 300.


Oil filter kit

The kit does not include 2 oil filter housing cover rod seals. It is advisable to order them separately and replace them. Part number 11 42 1 744 001.

  1. Engine oil approved by BMW LL-98 or LL-01, such as Valvoline Syn Power SAE 5W-50 or Valvoline Top Gard SAE 10W-40.

You can use a filter from another manufacturer. For example, the cross-code of the filter for BMW E39 according to the MANN-FILTER catalog: HU 925/4X.

The procedure for performing work on changing the oil

It is better to change the oil in a pit or overpass. The oil filter is located in a special housing between the radiator and the engine. The motor must not be cold, however, when using synthetic oils this requirement is not essential. "Synthetics" retains good fluidity even at +10 degrees Celsius.


The oil filter is located in a special housing between the radiator and the engine.

  1. We unscrew the cover of the filter housing using the socket head. Remove it and disconnect the filter element from it.
  2. We remove the old seals from the cover rod by cutting them off with a knife.
  3. We install new o-rings, after lubricating the rod with new oil.
  4. Wipe the oil filter housing with a prepared rag.
  5. We install a new filter element in the housing.
  6. We fasten the cover, carefully tighten it with a wrench.
  7. Open the neck on the engine to fill the oil.
  8. If the engine compartment protection is installed from below, then open the dirt shield with a Phillips screwdriver. We discard it.
  9. Loosen the drain plug on the engine block.


Loosen the drain plug on the engine block

  1. We substitute the prepared container and unscrew the cork completely. Drain the used oil.
  2. We replace the sealing washer on the plug and screw it back into the engine block. Tighten with a key.
  3. Pour about six liters of new engine oil through the oil filler neck. We close the neck.
  4. We measure the oil level with a dipstick. It should be at the MAX mark or even slightly higher.
  5. We start the engine and observe the emergency oil pressure indicator. It should light up and go out after a few seconds. If the indicator does not go out, then turn off the engine and start it again after 10-15 seconds. The indicator should turn off. After letting the engine run for a few minutes, turn it off.
  6. After 15-20 minutes, check the oil level. If necessary, add it to the maximum mark.

Oil change video

  1. The manufacturer does not recommend flushing the engine when changing the oil. If you use high-quality motor oil, then flushing the motor is not necessary. It is recommended to use flushing only when switching from mineral water to semi-synthetic or synthetic oils.
  2. Do not change the brand of engine oil or add oil from another brand. Different manufacturers use different additives that can "quarrel". As a result, you can fly into a large sum when repairing the power unit.

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