How to choose the right oil viscosity for your bmw

Whenever it comes to an oil change, we tend to take an extra minute or two starring at the different oils that we can potentially use.

First, there is a reason why there is such a large motor oil selection at the store or online. Different brands use different additives in their oil. Additives range from detergents to seal conditioners and so on. Deterents clean the engine from all of the nasty deposits that build up over time. Seal conditioners help seals expand so they can seal the engine again and so it will not leak as much. 

So now we know the importance of additives in oil. I want to touch up on how to choose the right viscosity. There is number on the oil container that we are all used to looking at. One might ask what does it mean? Most of use just follow the manufactures recommended oil viscosity, but over time we might move to a new climate or a better oil comes out and so there comes a need to change the oil's viscosity so our engines operate more efficiently.

First we look at the number which is followed by the "W" and then the number after the "-". For example lets use the oil most common oil that is put in BMW the Mobile1 full synthetic motor oil with the viscosity  if 0w-40. The 0w means the viscosity of oil when it is cold. The lower the number the thinner the oil is in colder temersture, and the higher the number the more thick the oil is at high temperature. So, using an oil that is thin when just starting the engine helps the oil lubricate all of the engines vital parts and protect them from wear. It is just as important to use an oil that is thicker at higher temperatures so it can lubricate the engine well, that is because thicker oil tends to lubricate engine parts better and it seals the engine better.

So now we, know why its important to choose the right oil viscosity. We need to look at the the climate we live in. If we live in a colder climate we need an oil that is thiner on start, an oil that has a lower number next to the "w". This thinner oil will  get to thevital engine parts faster and lubricate them.

In colusion, I explained why there are many different types of oils and why it is importsant to choose the right motor oil for the environment one drives the car in. Lets use this information to extend the lives of our cars and keep them on the road for the longest time possible.