I just had a look in the manual for my sister's year 2000 BMW Z3 to see what the recommended oil is - API SH! It does not state ANY other API service classification whatsoever, only SH.

My question is:

How many current API gasoline oils actually have anti-wear additives at the SH levels? I know I have seen where it says on bottle of an SL oil that it meets SH & SG specs., and am wondering if this is true and not just marketing. (motorcycle users etc.) Does anyone know what the anti-wear levels were for the SH spec. way back when?

[ July 22, 2002, 01:09 AM: Message edited by: con carne ]

I think a lot of the difference is in when manuals are published for given models and certain considerations for what will be available where the cars will be sold. SL far surpasses the SH in protection. There is probably a lot of uncoordination for the printing also.

I ma not sure that I follow you - this is a car that was new in the year 2000.

msparks,

This is my understanding as well. I believe it to be the true reason that BMW has recommended this and I really cannot believe that the owner's manual is that far out of date. I am really not even sure if they built a Z3 in 1993 or whenever it was that SH was out.

Am I reading this thread wrong, or are the respondents referring to a motorcycle, while the poster is referring to a car?

FYI, SH was current until 96/97 when API adopted the new SJ and had lowered the antiwear limits at that time.

Groucho,
Welcome to the board!

To answer your question.../comment...
Yes, and no. They are responding to the fact that a m/c shop/dealer would more likely carry an older SH api oil than find one anywhere else as the oils are now up to the SL level. ie..SH,SJ now SL.

Each of these revisions made significant changes.
Sh to sj antiwear additives were lower'd as one aspect, sj to sl, better base stock requirements closing the gap between the mineral base stocks and the so called full synth base stocks. ie.. flashpoints and so forth.

[ July 25, 2002, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: BOBISTHEOILGUY ]

Thanks for the welcome Bob. When the question was posted about the year of the car, I thought the there was some continuing misunderstanding, further confusing me was the reference to the diesel oil for use in a M/C.

I think, I follow this thread now, I think?

Reason for the diesel oil refference is that the standard gas (api SL) oils have the lower levels of zddp antiwear additives where as a diesel oil (api ch-4/ci-4) tend to have higher levels of antiwear additives thus the alternative.

And motorcycles have a greater need for such additives I take it?

The phosphorus limits in the form of ZDDP imposed by SJ/SL only pertain to 0/5W-20 and 5/10W-30 oils. Manufacturers are not required to reduce ZDDP levels in their other viscosity oils.

[ July 26, 2002, 12:21 AM: Message edited by: geo ]

Yes I believe you are correct - this manual recommends "0W-X" and "5W-X" oils. It also states that a "10W-X" can be used where cold starting is not an issue. (they did give a temperature for this, I forget what it was) I phoned the dealer and they told me that the "X" stands for 30 and that they recommend 5W30 synthetic.