Anyone burning oil at the track?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I just checked the manual in my wife’s F31 330 wagon and the viscosities are 0w20 and 0w30.

I have a suspicion that 0w30 making it into S55 is a cost savings move, and as the poster above mentioned, a fuel efficiency move.

Yes, I checked too. The 0W-30 is indeed not shown as an ///M specific oil like the 0W-40 was.

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Once BMW went turbo on M cars there were no more M specific oil grades. M cars now take the same oil as other non-M BMWs. Prior generation M cars did require the M specific 10w60 though.

They even went away from that Castrol TWS 10w60 oil for the S85 and S65 motors eventually. There are many people that theorized it was the thick oil that contributed to the rod bearing issues both those motors had.

As far as oil consumption at the track. It's weird, I think every individual motor is different. I never once added a drop of oil to the S55 in my M4. 17K miles in total, probably 20 track days. The Porsche 991.1 3.8L that I have now burns oil. I've added 2 quarts over about 3K miles and 5 track days. I'm on, I think, the 3rd or 4th S52 in my E36 race car. Some of them consume, some don't. All have been high mileage motors.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

It has to due with a change in BMW oil specs (move from LL-01 to LL01FE and newer) as well as a change in oem supplier from Castrol to Pennzoil/Shell. Also, once M cars went turbo they no longer required the M specific oil (Castrol TWS 10w60) and could instead use the same oil that non-M cars use.

LL-01 spec had a minimum hths requirement of 3.5 while LL01FE is only a 3.0 requirement. Its a move to less engine protection for a gain in fuel efficiency. Most oem's are recommending much thinner oil now (usually 0w30 or 0w20) in order to meet fuel efficiency standards.

The s55 though was originally spec'd for either LL-01 or LL-01FE oils. Over the last few years the dealers stopped stocking the LL-01 oils (5w30 and 0w40 grades) and began to only stock the newer oil specs (0w30 and 0w20 grades). So if you go to a dealership now for oil service you will certainly get an LL01FE oil. However, you certainly can still use an LL-01 oil if you prefer something a little heavier (I use Castrol 0w40 in my M3).

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Once BMW went turbo on M cars there were no more M specific oil grades. M cars now take the same oil as other non-M BMWs. Prior generation M cars did require the M specific 10w60 though.

Thanks for the additional insight. It does seem like BMW now specifies the same oil grade for both ///M and non-M engines.

However, this has not started with avenue of turbo charged ///M engines, the transition occurred later on, when BMW switched from Castrol to Penzoil. My 2015 owner's manual specified 0W-40 grade. The 0W-40 BMW oil was labelled as an ///M oil and was only available by the quart at the dealer. The "bulk" oil grade distributed thorugh the pipeline in the shop was 0W-30.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Thanks for the additional insight. It does seem like BMW now specifies the same oil grade for both ///M and non-M engines.

However, this has not started with avenue of turbo charged ///M engines, the transition occurred later on, when BMW switched from Castrol to Penzoil. My 2015 owner's manual specified 0W-40 grade. The 0W-40 BMW oil was labelled as an ///M oil and was only available by the quart at the dealer. The "bulk" oil grade distributed thorugh the pipeline in the shop was 0W-30.

Yup they did have that 0w40 available for a limited time with the M on the bottle. However, it was just an LL-01 0w40 (albeit branded by bmw as "M" oil). So that same 0w40 could have also been used in any non-M engine which called for the LL01 spec (which was virtually every bmw back in 2015). Unlike the 10w60 for the prior gen Ms which was not LL01 and could not be used on non-M bmws.

[NYG]

Burnt about 100mL at Limerock yesterday if the computer is accurate.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I have a suspicion that 0w30 making it into S55 is a cost savings move, and as the poster above mentioned, a fuel efficiency move.

for sure

[jpy1980]

Just chiming in. Did a full track day and autoX at Autoclub speedway this past Saturday and I didn’t burn any oil. Did an oil change the day before as well.

[petrolhead.]

I need to revive this thread.

Is there a way to know exactly how much oil is between the "min" and the "max" position shown in iDrive?

How do you guys know how much to refill without accidentally putting in too much if you want to keep the oil level at max for track days?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by petrolhead.

I need to revive this thread.

Is there a way to know exactly how much oil is between the "min" and the "max" position shown in iDrive?

How do you guys know how much to refill without accidentally putting in too much if you want to keep the oil level at max for track days?

The quantity between min and max is 1 liter/quart.

Be sure you have the car take an actual measurement by selecting the oil level measurement procedure in iDrive. Otherwise you are only getting an estimated level.

I personally dont bother adding oil until it hits the min level and then just add a liter/quart then.

[gatorfast]

I would recommend only adding 1/2 liter at a time and then remeasuring. Can always add a little more if needed but if you pour in a whole liter and then get an overfill message you will need to drain the whole thing. Also, I wouldn't bother adding oil unless the low oil warning came on. As long as the reading is between the min and max levels there is no need to add oil.

[petrolhead.]

Excellent, thanks!