Oil Change Question...

nj335i · 08-09-2007, 12:54 PM

I'm going to do an oil change tonight... just hit 5,000 miles, so it's about time. This is my first time doing an oil change, so I was wondering if the oil needs to be at a certain temperature to drain better?

Josh49 · 08-09-2007, 01:08 PM

All I know is if you've just run the engine for a while, the oil is too damned hot. Everything is too hot to work with for that matter. Lately I've been changing oil on a weekend morning after the car has cooled off all night. Driving the car onto the ramps is enough to get the oil a little warm and make sure it all flows out. Everything is much easier to work on (oil filter, oil filter cap, etc) when its not scalding hot..

Just my $0.02, as for a specific temperature, I wouldn't imagine there really is. When you go to the dealership they change it after you drove it there, so I imagine its pretty hot at the dealership.

The oil capacity is 6.5. After letting it drain for a long time, I will take the 1/2 qt I had leftover from the previous oil change and dump it through, get rid of the crap in the oil filter basin (you'll know what I mean when you take off the oil filter), etc.. Let that drain.. Then I'll put the bolt back on and fill her up..

742 · 08-09-2007, 02:52 PM

I am in the same camp as Josh49. After years of burning my fingers I now do mine cold.

I doubt that there is any difference between changing 95% of the oil and 99% of the oil. These are made up numbers, but the point is that even cold you get almost all of the oil changed. Cold does not burn the fingers and, more importantly, leaves a thicker oil film on the parts (I run the car briefly to get it up on ramps). This should provide, I think/hope/rationalize better protection while the oil pressure builds on the first start after the change.

But in truth I doubt that it matters enough to make a measurable difference over the life of the car.

nj335i · 08-09-2007, 03:01 PM

Cool - that's what I was hoping for. I was really concerned about changing the oil when it's at its full operating temp.

Bimmer335i · 08-09-2007, 03:45 PM

Did my first oil change about 3 weeks ago, after 5120 miles. No specific temp is needed. I just ran my car for about 3 mins and waited for 15 mins after unplugging the drain bolt. Then started my engine again for about 30 sec, at which time more oil was drained. Waited for another 5 min, then I plugged back the bolt. After that it was a breeze! Very simple process.

Bottom line: it is best to warm up the oil a bit rather than do it cold. Just my dot oh two.

By the way, I opened the filter cap with my hand, using a rubber glove, and that provided me a good grip on the cap. I also replaced the cap back on, again using hand. Advice: make sure you line up the green dots/marks.
Cheers!

luckystrike · 08-09-2007, 03:53 PM

i already have 18000 kms onn mine and there still no oil change warning sign., will this be dangerous?

nj335i · 08-09-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckystrike

i already have 18000 kms onn mine and there still no oil change warning sign., will this be dangerous?

You should be coming up on the mandatory oil change if you're just going by the factory oil change intervals... I believe the indicator will light up at 12k-15k miles, from what I've seen. I just choose to do an oil change earlier on, for peace of mind.

Josh49 · 08-09-2007, 06:58 PM

How'd it go?

nj335i · 08-09-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh49

How'd it go?

Great! I poured all 7 quarts in, and it still didn't register at the MAX level - a little surprising, but I'm not worried. My oil pan's cap didn't really close right, so some of the oil spilled onto the ground. Next time, I'll have to monitor that a little more closely. Drove the car a little, and everything felt smoother. The oil that drained was pretty dark... I couldn't imagine waiting another 7k miles for an oil change!

A special thanks to all the forum members who posted their DIYs! Without you guys, I would never have had the courage to go through with this!

08-09-2007, 12:54 PM	#1
nj335i Modaholic 88 Rep 1,705 Posts Drives: with 3 pedals Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: East Coast iTrader: (7)	Oil Change Question... I'm going to do an oil change tonight... just hit 5,000 miles, so it's about time. This is my first time doing an oil change, so I was wondering if the oil needs to be at a certain temperature to drain better? __________________ Euro Delivery - April 2007
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08-09-2007, 01:08 PM	#2
Josh49 Major General 252 Rep 6,664 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (33)	All I know is if you've just run the engine for a while, the oil is too damned hot. Everything is too hot to work with for that matter. Lately I've been changing oil on a weekend morning after the car has cooled off all night. Driving the car onto the ramps is enough to get the oil a little warm and make sure it all flows out. Everything is much easier to work on (oil filter, oil filter cap, etc) when its not scalding hot.. Just my $0.02, as for a specific temperature, I wouldn't imagine there really is. When you go to the dealership they change it after you drove it there, so I imagine its pretty hot at the dealership. The oil capacity is 6.5. After letting it drain for a long time, I will take the 1/2 qt I had leftover from the previous oil change and dump it through, get rid of the crap in the oil filter basin (you'll know what I mean when you take off the oil filter), etc.. Let that drain.. Then I'll put the bolt back on and fill her up.. __________________ E90 325XI, MYSTIC BLUE ON BLACK/ALUM, STEP, NAV, PDC, CWP, XENON, SIRIUS, ALARM, MUD GUARDS, CLEARBRA, CHROME GRILLS AND TIPS, VALENTINE 1 (HARDWIRED), HO CERAMIC 40%, 161'S, REAR FOG MOD, LUX 4.0, BLACKLINES, OEM PEDALS, MTEC FOGS, GRUPPE-M REP INTAKE. 156'S AND RUBBER MATS FOR THE WINTER.
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08-09-2007, 02:52 PM	#3
742 Major 13 Rep 1,187 Posts Drives: E90 325i; F10 528i; 2002tii Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	I am in the same camp as Josh49. After years of burning my fingers I now do mine cold. I doubt that there is any difference between changing 95% of the oil and 99% of the oil. These are made up numbers, but the point is that even cold you get almost all of the oil changed. Cold does not burn the fingers and, more importantly, leaves a thicker oil film on the parts (I run the car briefly to get it up on ramps). This should provide, I think/hope/rationalize better protection while the oil pressure builds on the first start after the change. But in truth I doubt that it matters enough to make a measurable difference over the life of the car.
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08-09-2007, 03:01 PM	#4
nj335i Modaholic 88 Rep 1,705 Posts Drives: with 3 pedals Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: East Coast iTrader: (7)	Cool - that's what I was hoping for. I was really concerned about changing the oil when it's at its full operating temp. __________________ Euro Delivery - April 2007
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08-09-2007, 03:45 PM	#5
Bimmer335i Major 49 Rep 1,353 Posts Drives: 07 Sparkling Graphite 335i Sed Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: San Diego, CA US iTrader: (0)	Did my first oil change about 3 weeks ago, after 5120 miles. No specific temp is needed. I just ran my car for about 3 mins and waited for 15 mins after unplugging the drain bolt. Then started my engine again for about 30 sec, at which time more oil was drained. Waited for another 5 min, then I plugged back the bolt. After that it was a breeze! Very simple process. Bottom line: it is best to warm up the oil a bit rather than do it cold. Just my dot oh two. By the way, I opened the filter cap with my hand, using a rubber glove, and that provided me a good grip on the cap. I also replaced the cap back on, again using hand. Advice: make sure you line up the green dots/marks. Cheers! __________________ Enjoy the ride!
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08-09-2007, 03:53 PM	#6
luckystrike First Lieutenant 19 Rep 349 Posts Drives: X3 F25 MSport Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: austria iTrader: (0)	i already have 18000 kms onn mine and there still no oil change warning sign., will this be dangerous? __________________ black saph./black leather/xenon/heated seatscomfort pkg./advantage pkg
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08-09-2007, 06:58 PM	#8
Josh49 Major General 252 Rep 6,664 Posts Drives: E90 325xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (33)	How'd it go? __________________ E90 325XI, MYSTIC BLUE ON BLACK/ALUM, STEP, NAV, PDC, CWP, XENON, SIRIUS, ALARM, MUD GUARDS, CLEARBRA, CHROME GRILLS AND TIPS, VALENTINE 1 (HARDWIRED), HO CERAMIC 40%, 161'S, REAR FOG MOD, LUX 4.0, BLACKLINES, OEM PEDALS, MTEC FOGS, GRUPPE-M REP INTAKE. 156'S AND RUBBER MATS FOR THE WINTER.
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