The engine gaskets & rubber parts. Liqui Moly or AT-205?

[FrankL]

We know the stories about gaskets in the engines and some rubber parts. There are videos on youtube with people using AT-205 and how it has helped with gasket issues by conditioning the rubber. Most recently SamCrac "fixing" a V8 turbo BMW smoking oil with AT-205.

My mechanic will only use BMW oil & BMW filters. Any other cars, he uses Mobil1.

I searched around and supposedly BMW oil is Castrol Edge & possibly some Shell oil maybe in Europe. I know how smart BMW is when they made Wintershal fuel with BASF to keep the Paul Rosche M-12/13 in the Brabham BT 52 with the I4 BMW turbo putting out up to 1450 bhp. They know oil and fuel.

I know people beat the "what oil" to use to death. My question is does anyone think Liqui Moly is better for the rubber engine gaskets in the engine. I know Liqui Moly owned by Wurth going way back to Group 5 racing in Germany. They sponsored the Ford Capri Group 5 race team with the 1.75 liter Ford I4 putting out as much as 650 bhp in the mid to late 1970s.

I have done research and supposedly Red Line made by Phillips (66) Petroleum is one of the best but it is expensive followed by Liqui Moly and German Motul. I know Liqui Moly and Motul were and are used in German race cars. The key is the heat from turbos. Oldsmobile had the first turbo though I doubt they sold any. Bob Lutz had them turbocharge the BMW 2002 in 1975 which was followed by Porsche with the 930 in 1975/76.

Anyone have any long term BMW turbo engine stories of doing hundreds of thousands of miles? What oil did you use? How often did you change it? Thanks.

[///Joost]

Plenty of examples here on this forum of turbocharged engines with multiple 100k miles.

The key takeaway is typically use any oil that is LL01, LL04, LL04+ certified and perform your oil changes at 5-7k miles. That's way more important than the oil brand. It all sounds very scientific with racing being the driver for street engine oil choice, but at the end of the day BMW will pick the manufacturer that gives them the lowest cost and the best contract. Choose any of the A-brands and you're good. There are way too many variables in driving behavior, so it'll be next to impossible to compare two high mileage vehicles from two different owners.

[John in VA]

BMW is currently using/endorsing Shell/Penn products over the past decade. I've been running Pennzoil Platinum Euro synthetic in the F22 & F30 from that timeframe.

I haven't had any issues using Valvoline (dino & synthetic versions), Mobil 1 or Castrol (dino & synthetic versions) in my BMWs for the past 46 years - 2002, 2002tii, E28, E30, E39, E46.

[FrankL]

Originally Posted by John in VA

BMW is currently using/endorsing Shell/Penn products over the past decade. I've been running Pennzoil Platinum Euro synthetic in the F22 & F30 from that timeframe.

I haven't had any issues using Valvoline (dino & synthetic versions), Mobil 1 or Castrol (dino & synthetic versions) in my BMWs for the past 46 years - 2002, 2002tii, E28, E30, E39, E46.

Have you had good luck avoiding oil leaks?

Some people say if you get them to go to slightly higher viscosity like 0-30w to 5 -40w and supposedly Liqui Moly might condition rubber seals better.

I just bought 2018 X5 with N55. The SUV is in like new shape with about 39.5K miles. I am paranoid of getting oil leaks. The other issue people talk about is the water pump can fail at any time. The car will supposedly warn you to shut down immediately.

My wife has a 2014 320i and has had very few problems. A B48 with about 74K miles.

I hope you held onto one of those 2002's. I wanted to get one in high school back in the day - about when Bob Lutz launched the 2002 turbo.

Thanks.

[Brandoch]

It's oil............................................... ...............................................

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by FrankL

We know the stories about gaskets in the engines and some rubber parts.

What stories are you talking about?

Originally Posted by FrankL

There are videos on youtube with people using AT-205 and how it has helped with gasket issues by conditioning the rubber. Most recently SamCrac "fixing" a V8 turbo BMW smoking oil with AT-205.

Sounds like a BS informercial for some snake oil product.

Originally Posted by FrankL

My mechanic will only use BMW oil & BMW filters. Any other cars, he uses Mobil1.

Sounds reasonable.
Why don't you change your own oil?

Originally Posted by FrankL

does anyone think Liqui Moly is better for the rubber engine gaskets in the engine.

No.
Oil is used to lubricate the internal moving parts of an internal combustion engine to reduce friction, wear, and head.
None of the oils are designed with rubber gaskets in mind, nor should they be.

Originally Posted by FrankL

I know XXX and YYY were and are used in German race cars.

Totally and completely irrelevant.
Race car engines are rebuilt after every race, and have oil selected to work best for that longevity cycle. That has no relevance for the engines in our cars.

Originally Posted by FrankL

Anyone have any long term BMW turbo engine stories of doing hundreds of thousands of miles? What oil did you use? How often did you change it?

Search this forum for plenty of ///M3 owner accounts with 100-200K miles.
Most use BMW recommended oils.

KISS.

HTH,
a

[///Joost]

Originally Posted by FrankL

Have you had good luck avoiding oil leaks?

Some people say if you get them to go to slightly higher viscosity like 0-30w to 5 -40w and supposedly Liqui Moly might condition rubber seals better.

There is no hard evidence to support any of those claims. Going to a higher viscosity might help, but it is masking the problem. Rubber seals degrade mainly due to heat cycling which makes them hard and brittle, not incompatibility with oil. There is nothing you can do about this except for replacing seals when they give out. Go with OEM BMW seals for the best result. That is one item where I will always choose BMW brand. Not all rubber seals are available aftermarket from the same OEM manufacturer.