Quote:
Originally Posted by lancetb
Yesterday I received the following error message on display (2024 530i with ~6800 miles on it):
Engine oil at minimum level: Add 1 liter(s) of oil as soon as possible. Check engine oil level afterward. See Owner’s Manual for more information.
Since it was late Saturday, the dealership was closed, so I went to the nearest oil change place (Express Oil Change) and they didn’t have the kind of oil their system listed for my car, but told me they’d put the oil in if I would go down the street and get some from O’Reilly’s. Express said type of oil for car was “Valvoline European Vehicle Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20.” Closest O’Reilly’s had was “Valvoline SynPower Full Synthetic Motor Oil 0W-20,” but clerk said it would work. Took oil back to Express, they added a quart and then checked to make sure level was full.
Four questions. Apparently oil that comes in BMW is made by BMW and is 0W-12, so will putting quart of the Valvoline 0W-20 harm the engine, or effect the warranty? Also, will putting the Valvoline non-European full synthetic oil harm anything? I took about a 500 mile trip last week, before the warning came on, but oil would have been low, will that harm anything? Finally, why would a brand new BMW lose 1 quart of oil in just 6 mos?
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I did do some searching and found a Reddit thread where a user was complaining that the BMW dealership had put the wrong oil in his vehicle. The BMW Service manager responded and in part of the conversation he noted:
If we did indeed put 0W20 in your vehicle instead of 0W12, and it was not a parts invoicing mistake, I want to reassure you that this will not damage your vehicle.
Granted, 0W-20 is a higher viscosity than 0W-12, but I think (from what I've read recently) this is a newer switch? Others say 0W-20 was the recommendation.
This being said, it's unlikely that this isn't going to require a dealership visit very soon for evaluation. I would recommend you mention to the Service Department that you added 0W-20 as it was all that was available, and perhaps they'll do a complete change after the diagnostic.