Which engine oil?

[Imy]

A few things on this...

Which engine oil should I use for a 3.0?
Iv been reading up on this and everyone seems to have a different opionion.
Am I right in thinking 0w 40w fully syn?

Also more worrying the car had an oil service by the previous owner at the start of the year, isn't it a bit odd that the oil level is low already? Although in fairness I have drivb hard, and I just did a round trip to Amsterdam, but even still, sounds a little suspect to me.

Iv read that if I'm not refilling with the same oil then I would need to completely flush old oil before adding new oil? So essentially another oil service, is this true also?

Thanks in advance!

[rjkc600]

5W30 fully synthetic. Should meet BMW spec LL01.

You oil consumption sounds normal to me.

[Imy]

Really? It's only done about 5-6k since last oil service...
Before the X I had a v6 Alfa and that drank about a litre per 1k miles which was considered bad!

Thanks for the info, I will pop down to halfords later.

[rjkc600]

1L over 5-6k is excellent, especially given you drive it hard.

My old 325i had 46k on the clock and used more than that.

[Imy]

Whose to say it only had 1l put into it? I would have assumed that during an oil service they would have completely flushed the oil and filled it to the top with new oil.

I think coming from a v6 Alfa where you have to be paranoid about every nook and cranny I'm in a position where I'm doing the same with the x

[rjkc600]

Based on my assumption, If your level was low, then that's the bottom of the dipstick. 1L brings it back to maximum.

Yes an oil change would have filled it back to max. But covering 6k and needing a top up is completely normal. Some cars may need none and some may need 1L every 1500 miles or so.

[X5Sport]

That oil consumption (assuming we're all on the same page etc) is well within the BMW Spec of around 1litre every 1,500 miles.  For some reason these engines do use it.  Although some do seem to slow down or even stop after a while, others don't and there's no obvious reason as long as the correct grades are being used.

Richard

[Imy]

Thanks, feel alot better! 

[petert]

re Oil consumption - I had a 3.0i and it used to need a litre between oil services, which were about every 14000 miles.  I'v heard of some needing more than that, and some needing less so I don't hink you're way out of the box...
Peter T

[shadrack]

my old 3.0i used to use 1l every 1k miles!! but it never used a drop in 10 miles i then changed the oil to some motor factors ll04 spec and it started to drink oil?? i put up with it for 5k miles or so then sold it, now my 3.0d hasnt used a drip in 25k miles, i have also done an oil change 6k mlies ago but used the castrol edge oil and im well happy with it since the change