The Random Question Thread

Read up on bob the oil guy for my BMW and Mobil 1 0-40 and Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30 are the most recommended.

Never really read up on what's best for our engines. I just change the oil frequently which I think is the most important.
 
I'd go with the European formula of the Castrol. It's should be an actual true synthetic. Most "synthetics" are group 3. I thought it said on the bottle, but apparently they don't show what group it is.

Look for the BMW LL-01 approval.

gclabel.jpg


Edit: the M1 at that weight is also LL-01 approved, but I don't know if it's also a true synthetic.

Edit 2: Actually I take that back, it's all Castrol's fault for the whole group 3 oils being classified as synthetic, so I'd get the M1.

Interesting that the M1 goes up to MB 229.5, but maybe the Castrol label is just old.

mobil1-0w-40-2005.jpg
 

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Ha you know your stuff. I know I read even the OEM BMW motor oil made by Castrol isn't a true synthetic and can't be labeled as such in Europe, only the US.
 
I've been using M1 for awhile, so when I first heard it was no longer a true synthetic I read up on all that stuff. And yep, you're absolutely right about how in Europe they wouldn't label our synthetics as synthetics.

From what I remember, Castrol started labeling their oils made from group 3 stock as synthetics. Group 3 actually comes from purified petroleum oil. Mobil 1 sued them since they used group 4/5 stock. I believe M1 lost, and so they said well let's just use group 3 also and still brand ours as a true synthetic.
 
Hey guys I just bought some Denso Iridium spark plugs for my FX35 and was wondering if anybody has used them and how they feel about them. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
 
Check Pennzoil UOA on any forum. They are coming back incredible. Some of the UOA are after switching from Mobil 1 to Penn Ultra, and tehy got much better results with Penn Ultra.

Now speaking of Euro oils, they can not really be compared with American oils. But here is the list for Penn vs Mobil 1 for approved uses (new life or extended performance is their top tier oil now)

Pennzoil Ultra Euro 5w-40

SPECIFICATIONS & APPROVALS
Ferrari – Exclusive to Pennzoil Ultra™ in the USA
Porsche A40
MB 229.5 and MB 229.3
VW 502 00 and VW 505 00
VW/Audi 503 01
Fiat 9.5535 Z2
BMW LL-01
Chrysler MS-10725
Exceeds the requirements of ACEA A3/B3/B4
Exceeds the requirements of API SM/CF and previous categories

Mobil 1 New Life 0W-40 has the following approvals:
MB-Approval 229.3
MB-Approval 229.5
OPEL Long Life Service Fill GM-LL-A-025
OPEL Diesel Service Fill GM-LL-B-025
BMW LONGLIFE OIL 01
VW 502 00
VW 505 00
PORSCHE A40
 
Is that pennzoil hard to get in local auto stores? Mobil 1 0-40 is everywhere, which is one benefit to me.

Hmm.. What to get. I've been on OEM BMW 5w-30 Castrol oil for 60k miles.
 
matrixx860 said:
Hey guys I just bought some Denso Iridium spark plugs for my FX35 and was wondering if anybody has used them and how they feel about them. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
Click to expand...

Running Denso I's one step colder. Didn't really need colder plugs when I installed them I was planning on doing more work later and that's where I am now. No issues or major changes on install and when the engine was opened up 7K later they were spotless.......
 
This Pennzoil Ultra EURO is a niche market and a little hard to find. They haven't completely released it here in the states. Some people are finding it at Napa, Costless Auto Centers, and in Canada seems to be in a lot more stores. You can go to a Ferrari dealership and pick some up.
Amazon has some in stock for $53 a six pack. Expensive, but if you want the best...you gotta pay.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003XU01AI/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1325609300&sr=8-1
 
Ok so the Denso Iridium's should be ok then. Was not sure if they had to be the NGK platinum's thanks.
 
^That was it! I knew there was something a little different with the plugs but I couldn't remember which ones had the shorter service life.
 
Thanks, I think I'll be sticking with the iridiums I dont mind the shorter service span and I always love getting whatever extra hp I can get.

---------- Post added at 10:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 AM ----------

Random question... would it be possible for a strut tower bar off a G35 coupe/sedan to fit on a FX35???
 
I ordered blackstone lab oil test kits last Saturday. I'm kind of ansy to get to the the dealer though cause I just passed my scheduled oil change dealer interval and will be putting probably another 150 miles over the weekend, so I'm considering just get oil out myself for the test in a temp container from the the top and taking it for an oil change. blackstone mentioned you can do this and I wonder if it's better anyway than the dealer and if so, what should I get - hoping for something good and cheap to siphon out the oil from the top?
 
an extra couple of hundred miles is really nothing at all to be concerned about. it wouldn't be too easy to get the oil out from the top, easiest way I could think of is stick a little pan under the oil filter & spin it off to collect some then spin it back on
 
turbocad6 said:
an extra couple of hundred miles is really nothing at all to be concerned about. it wouldn't be too easy to get the oil out from the top, easiest way I could think of is stick a little pan under the oil filter & spin it off to collect some then spin it back on
Click to expand...

Don't mb techs siphon the oil from the dip stick location?
 
jdTrader said:
I ordered blackstone lab oil test kits last Saturday. I'm kind of ansy to get to the the dealer though cause I just passed my scheduled oil change dealer interval and will be putting probably another 150 miles over the weekend, so I'm considering just get oil out myself for the test in a temp container from the the top and taking it for an oil change. blackstone mentioned you can do this and I wonder if it's better anyway than the dealer and if so, what should I get - hoping for something good and cheap to siphon out the oil from the top?
Click to expand...
Don't worry about the oil change Jonas, it's not set in stone that you have to be there then. You should be able to siphon oil throu the dipstick tube.
I know when I was running inboard-outboards in my boat I had a vacuum pump that you could siphon the oil from the crankcase through the dipstick.
 
I think the easiest would be TurboCad's method with loosen the oil filter and cat the leak with a small pan. But make sure you wipe the filter bottom area clean so there is a lesser chance of contamination. Another method I can think of is to get a 4 ft - 5 ft of aquarium air hose and stick it down the dip stick opening and just suck it up with your mouth. Pinch the hose as you see the oil coming up before it get too close or into your mouth, them lift the air hose and dump the oil into a bottle and do it a couple times for the quantity you needed. I think the longer the hose the better to lessen the chance to having engine oil in your mouth.
 
la_fx35 said:
I think the easiest would be TurboCad's method with loosen the oil filter and cat the leak with a small pan. But make sure you wipe the filter bottom area clean so there is a lesser chance of contamination. Another method I can think of is to get a 4 ft - 5 ft of aquarium air hose and stick it down the dip stick opening and just suck it up with your mouth. Pinch the hose as you see the oil coming up before it get too close or into your mouth, them lift the air hose and dump the oil into a bottle and do it a couple times for the quantity you needed. I think the longer the hose the better to lessen the chance to having engine oil in your mouth.
Click to expand...

That's good thinking and I'm not arguing with you (because you are right). But remember that the longer the hose, the more air is inside to compress. At some point, you'll have to be real good at sucking hose to get the gunk out. Having never tried it, I don't know how difficult it will really be. JD will have to tell us all about it.
Me . . . I'd have no problem waiting and racking up more miles.
 
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