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TallullahHk -> car talk (8/10/2013 8:36:10 PM)

Okay car peeps I need some advice.

Today I replaced a fog light bulb and license plate bulb - in a dress no less! Unfortunately the license plate light is a wiring issue which is way above my skill level. I couldn't find any fraying wires and I'm not about to do more harm trying to find the issue.

Anyway, I need oil advice. The ex left me with a BMW 540i and the fanatics say mixing oil brands is bad. Is it really bad to mix different brands if you are using the same weight/viscosity? FWIW, I have 6qts Pennzoil Euro Ultra 5w40 and 2 qts Castrol Edge 5w40. I really don't want to go buy more.

Click? Clack? Are you out there?



tommonymous -> RE: car talk (8/10/2013 9:14:19 PM)

If they're both synthetics or both naturals, I don't see much harm since they're the same weights. I will tell you that, if I was doing it on my car, I'd go buy enough of either to fill it with one brand. But I'm kind of anal like that...



pahunkboy -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 4:42:45 AM)

I do not go by brand- I go by weight.

Do NOT drive it with low oil- you will blow the engine.



MasterG2kTR -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 7:42:20 AM)

If you can afford a Beamer you can afford to have someone change the oil for you. If you can't afford that small cost you should sell the Beamer and get something domestic that you can abuse without worry.



TallullahHk -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 10:22:21 AM)

Why that's mighty presumptuous of you - bless your heart.

Doing my own oil changes for more than 1/2 of what it costs at an indy is not just a money saver it's something I've done on all my cars. It's satisfying to know that I can do it on my own. I beat the hell out of my 13 year old wrangler in the winter. Yes, I can afford to own 2 vehicles! Maybe changing my own oil has something to do with that....

quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterG2kTR

If you can afford a Beamer you can afford to have someone change the oil for you. If you can't afford that small cost you should sell the Beamer and get something domestic that you can abuse without worry.




DesFIP -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 10:29:52 AM)

The Man says if you already have synthetic then stick to that. But he disapproves adamantly to switching to synthetic. He tends to use 10-40 Valvoline in all the cars and he prefers a Fram filter to other brands.

I'm impressed you changed the light in a dress. We discovered that the only way to change a tail light in my daughter's Jetta was for her to curl up in the trunk. Which was a jeans process considering what else lived in her trunk.



BBBTBW -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 10:33:44 AM)

I did some research on your question. What I found more often than not is that if you mix brands, use the same weight however, it is advised that you not mix brands because some of the additives in different brands don't work well together.



TheHeretic -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 10:54:18 AM)

If it isn't the bulb or a fuse, then what you have is a BMW that is starting to develop electrical cancer. My advice is to get rid of it. They are very nice cars, until they start to go, but once that happens, only suckers keep them.

I've been having this discussion with a stubborn friend who really likes her X5, and she has already reached the place where the repair bills every few months are the equivalent of the payments on a new Acura.

Of course, if you are wealthy enough to have two cars, AND put a mechanic's kids through college, by all means, enjoy the i.



OsideGirl -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:04:06 AM)

We've had all sorts of BMWs. They are known to electrically quirky, but I'll also say we have a 92 325i with a gazillion miles on it that Himself is converting into a SCCA car and it's reliable on a daily basis.

According to Himself (who runs a shop specializing in European cars):

If the car already has a substantial number of miles, don't switch to synthetic. It will leak. If you've always run synthetic or the car has low miles, go ahead and switch. But, don't mix synthetic and regular.



TallullahHk -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:06:56 AM)

Thanks for the input. She's all synth all the time so it's really just a mix of brand...both BMW approved with Mann filters.

I was surprised at how easy the light change was. It's all up front so I just sat on a towel and went to town.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DesFIP

The Man says if you already have synthetic then stick to that. But he disapproves adamantly to switching to synthetic. He tends to use 10-40 Valvoline in all the cars and he prefers a Fram filter to other brands.

I'm impressed you changed the light in a dress. We discovered that the only way to change a tail light in my daughter's Jetta was for her to curl up in the trunk. Which was a jeans process considering what else lived in her trunk.




TallullahHk -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:11:59 AM)

I'm definately not getting rid of it for a blown license plate bulb. There are no other electrical issues at this point so that's kind of silly.

I'm not sure what it is about owning 2 cars that are 10+ years old that is making people think "wealth" factors in...maybe we have different ideas of wealth.

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

If it isn't the bulb or a fuse, then what you have is a BMW that is starting to develop electrical cancer. My advice is to get rid of it. They are very nice cars, until they start to go, but once that happens, only suckers keep them.

I've been having this discussion with a stubborn friend who really likes her X5, and she has already reached the place where the repair bills every few months are the equivalent of the payments on a new Acura.

Of course, if you are wealthy enough to have two cars, AND put a mechanic's kids through college, by all means, enjoy the i.




MrRodgers -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:15:04 AM)

I am going to conclude that your car takes 8 quarts same as other foreign cars and if only because you already have 6 of the Penzoil and still ask.

Here is the suggestion from an old motorhead from Detroit who has had an active interest in cars from back before I care to count.

Buy 2 more quarts of the Penzoil for changing the engine oil and keep the others for adding oil should you ever need it. You could even use it in a squirt can for household jobs.

OH yes, n e v e r mix organic and synthetic oil. One should never go from synthetic (since new) to organic and once done, one must stay...with organic.



TallullahHk -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:16:50 AM)

Thank you!
She's a 2003 with less than 90k in mileage and since I work and live in the city doesn't get to stretch her horsepower too often. I would just be mixing one brand synthetic 5w40 with another brand of synthetic 5w40. Both are BMW approved.

And, man, ya'll must be super wealthy [;)]

quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl

We've had all sorts of BMWs. They are known to electrically quirky, but I'll also say we have a 92 325i with a gazillion miles on it that Himself is converting into a SCCA car and it's reliable on a daily basis.

According to Himself (who runs a shop specializing in European cars):

If the car already has a substantial number of miles, don't switch to synthetic. It will leak. If you've always run synthetic or the car has low miles, go ahead and switch. But, don't mix synthetic and regular.




TallullahHk -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:22:23 AM)

I found that as well. I like to over do it in the research area :)
Informed decisions and all that stuff.



TallullahHk -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:24:06 AM)

Your conclusions are correct and match up with what a lot of bimmer fanatics say, too.
Thanks for your input..


quote:

ORIGINAL: MrRodgers

I am going to conclude that your car takes 8 quarts same as other foreign cars and if only because you already have 6 of the Penzoil and still ask.

Here is the suggestion from an old motorhead from Detroit who has had an active interest in cars from back before I care to count.

Buy 2 more quarts of the Penzoil for changing the engine oil and keep the others for adding oil should you ever need it. You could even use it in a squirt can for household jobs.

OH yes, n e v e r mix organic and synthetic oil. One should never go from synthetic (since new) to organic and once done, one must stay...with organic.




TheHeretic -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:25:34 AM)

Of course you don't get rid of it because of a blown bulb. But you said it wasn't a blown bulb (and I was giving you benefit of the doubt for checking the fuse). Electrical cancer starts small, with silly little things just like this. Then another silly little thing. And another. Then a stupid warning light the mechanic tells you could be one of several things. Then you find yourself telling people, "it's fine, except for..." And you keep writing checks.






ThatDaveGuy69 -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:33:13 AM)

If you have the onwers manual, that is the best place for info.
If you're already using synthetic, keep it that way.
Use the weight and amount specified by the manual.
Avoid mixing brands in the same oil change.
Synthetic oil will last far longer than dino-brand but it still gets dirty. If you use a clean drain pan to capture the oil you can change the filter and re-use the oil. A major claim for synth is a longer life but you still have to change the filter.
How many miles on the 540? Think you can make it to 1 million?



MrRodgers -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:34:36 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TallullahHk

Thank you!
She's a 2003 with less than 90k in mileage and since I work and live in the city doesn't get to stretch her horsepower too often. I would just be mixing one brand synthetic 5w40 with another brand of synthetic 5w40. Both are BMW approved.

quote:

ORIGINAL: OsideGirl

We've had all sorts of BMWs. They are known to electrically quirky, but I'll also say we have a 92 325i with a gazillion miles on it that Himself is converting into a SCCA car and it's reliable on a daily basis.

According to Himself (who runs a shop specializing in European cars):

If the car already has a substantial number of miles, don't switch to synthetic. It will leak. If you've always run synthetic or the car has low miles, go ahead and switch. But, don't mix synthetic and regular.



Here is what I am fairly certain is the current oil regime. All any oil need do to qualify as oil, is meet the terms of the API. (Amer. Petro. Inst.) Both organic oil and synthetic oil each have their own terms for qualification.

Organic oil had reached its limits of improvement through refining or additives. Synthetic has become so good, that new engines are broken in with organic oil to raise enough heat to 'seat' the rotating parts. With synthetic oil, the engines...weren't 'breaking' in.

So yes, what you have would appear to be two different brands of the same oil. But you may not. With the seasoned advent of synthetic oil, which is oil man-made from chemicals, the manufacturers (refiners) are and have been designing their own versions, subject to minimum requirements under the definition of synthetic oil from API.

That means not all synthetic oils are created equal. So you could very likely have two different synthetic oils while they 'read' the same.

Rather than subject your motor to 1000's of miles of this disparity...better safe than sorry. Buy the two quarts.



freedomdwarf1 -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:36:41 AM)

FR~

I would have thought the simplest way to answer this would be to phone your nearest BMW dealer and have a chat with the service department.
Explain the predicament with the oils and see what answers they give you.
They might even give you an idea on the number-plate light problem.
It could be something as simple as a fuse or a grounding wire not earthed properly (rusted).

That'll take all the guesswork out of the equation completely.

Simples!  [:)]




ThatDaveGuy69 -> RE: car talk (8/11/2013 11:40:21 AM)

But then we wouldn't have a Car Talk thread!



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