This is for the two old BMW's in our house, which actually spec a 15W40 down to about zero Fahrenheit... I've been using 10W40 for a while, because mine just sits in the winter ('91 318is) and it cranks better with the 10W.

My son has a '97 318is, later gen of the same motor.

Anyway, Murray's has a special on Pennzoil YB; they have 10w40, and it's $13.99 per case of 12(!) which is looking mighty good as the dino quarts seem to have inched up to $3.50 for some brands.

I think I'm over the "waxy buildup" reputation of Pennzoil, but especially since I'm storing the car, does that change anything? Oh yeah, I didn't buy any yet, but I think the bottles at Murray's said SL rated, not SM (but is that a good thing--more zinc or something?) In my BMW, I have changed the oil and filter in the fall, and either done a change in spring, or skipped the springtime change altogether (drive maybe 2-3k miles over the summer on the car--longer fun trips mostly).

My son was driving 15k per year, changing every 3-5k, but is now at college and his driving is way down.

I've been using Castrol or Havoline 10W40, although for most of its life, my BMW got 15W40 Rotella and the engine is spotless inside from what I can see.

Thanks for any input. I'm looking to buy 2-3 cases if there is no rebate involved....

George

 

I would buy it if you want to. Pennzoil Yellow Bottle is good oil, just as good as Castrol or Havoline I'm sure.

Can't beat that price that's for sure.

 

I think you'd be fine with the 10W-40, as it's viscosity at 40c is still way thicker than the 40wt viscosity is at operating temp, so the oil pump shouldn't have any problem pumping the needed volume at start up & the 10W's lower viscosity & flow would be much better than the 15W on a cold winter start.

Seeing as how the engine sits for extended periods & your in cold country, the 10W part should help flow on a cold winter start & the engine & battery would likely appreciate that!!!!!

In fact it would probably like a synthetic 5W-40 even better on a MI sub zero winter start, but you'd not likely find it at anywhere near that 10W-40 price!!!!

My 85 Renault 1.7L SHOC had been run on Pennzoil 10W-30 when I bought it in 89 with 47K on it & it was clean as a pin inside.

I continued to use Havoline 10w-30 in it & was still clean as a pin when I sold it this past spring with about 140K on it.

Ran Havoline 10w-30 winter & 10W-40 summer, in my 78 Merc Zypher 3.3L, until I sold it this year & it too was still clean as a pin inside & didn't use any oil between changes.

No varnish at all in either engine, like the Daughters 2.2L SHOC Celica had in it, from the previous owners wife using Pennzoil straight 30wt in it, for long highway runs.

So I'd think the yellow bottle multi-vis SL Pennzoil 10w-40 would likely do just fine in your vintage Bimmer engine.

More thoughts for pondering.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I had thought of syn Rotella 5W40, but the engine has a gasket leak at the oil filter stand/block junction (not a big deal), so I didn't want to encourage that with a 5W until I change the gasket (which is in the glovebox).

Looks like I'll buy some of the YB...the price is sure good....hell, it's barely more expensive than gasoline at a little over a buck a quart!

George

 

1. Why's there an ad for a Hummer in here?
2. Nothing wrong with Pennzoil. At that price, I'd buy as much as I could.
3. SL is better than SM, if you like higher zinc/phos #'s.

 

1. Not my ad; I'm assuming it's paying some bills.
2. I'm leaning toward buying a bunch.
3. The higher zinc/phos makes me think that this is not a bad thing for our flat-tappet BMW motors--this is one of my thoughts with the SL.

Thanks,
George

 

You'd think we'd at least get Ford-only ads in here.

Anything with an SM on it makes me nervous, too. I only have a few flat-tappet vehicles, and I'm using either diesel CI-4+ (RTS 5-40) rated or SL (M1 10-40 Hi-Mileage) rated stuff in them. The last "good" rating, ZDDP'wise, was SG; lotsa' luck finding an oil with that alone in the API donut.

 

Looking at the Pennzoil TDS, yellow bottle 10W-40 is unimpressive and I would not use it in a BMW engine. I understand not wanting to spend the money for a BMW LongLife approved oil, but at least get an ACEA A3/B4 or at the bare minimum an API CF rating.

The only spec that looks good is an HTHS viscosity of 3.7.
Flash point is low at 204C.
Noack is high at 14.3%.

Zinc and TBN are unknown.

Jim