Originally Posted By: B320i
Originally Posted By: edyvw
Originally Posted By: B320i
Originally Posted By: srbarnes4ever
Redline does not appear to be LL01 stamped...is there data suggesting it is unwise to use this with OCIs of 7500 miles? My E90 is an early build 07 MY without stock oil cooler so temp/shear stability is a concern and my Indy has Redline nicely priced.
If the oil you are using corresponds to an appropriate weight for your engine (Heavy-30 {like German/Beligum Castrol, BMW 5w30}, lightweight 40 {M1 0w040}), then I think you'll be okay. You might need to bring up the product data sheets to compare the M1 to this oil, so you can compare the real numbers, not just the writing on the bottle.
As a boutique synthetic, you'll pay for it. But at least you're supporting the little guy.
If you choose this oil, you might consider getting a small dipstick pump so you can take regular oil-samples for analysis (particularly TBN numbers) to see how long the oil can be expected to last. Or, start with a 5000 OCI, then gradually increase as your UOA suggests, to a point where you feel comfortable.
On a longer OCI, you might like to change the oil filter mid-way to ensure full protection.
The biggest thing to look for is a Redline oil that has a HTHS of 3.5 or above (a characterisitic of LL01, ACEA A3/B3 oils). Also checkout some UOAs of the oil of your choice in other vehicles on longer runs to see if it has oxidation or bad breakdown.
If you're considering M1, I'd be careful. The stuff, while carrying LL01 certification, is known to shear down to a 30-weight, perhaps thinner than German Castrol quite early during an OCI. Following this, it thickens up again as it starts to break down. In a twin-turbo application, this is something to be *VERY* wary of about M1. It could be too thin to provide good protection if you spiritedly. Checking out some longer OCI UOA's, and you'll see this happening with the M1.
Not true. SN version is very, very shear stable. I did several UOA, and after 5000 miles it sheared from 13.5 to 13.3.
My apologies, then.
Still, I was seeing a lot of reasonably recent threads here on BITOG during my research that indicated this (2011-2012 range)
I am not sure when SN version hit the market. I used always Castrol 0W30 until they switched to Belgium made.
I did several UOA and saw many UOA of that SN version, and they are all shear stable. That is impressive, considering I drive direct injection car in the US, where sulfur content in gas is very high, which again, dilutes oil.