Oil Service
It is mandatory not to use anything else other than the OE BMW oil filter (11427566327) which is the MANN Filter HU 816 X.
It is mandatory not to use anything else other than the OE BMW oil filter (11427566327) which is the MANN Filter HU 816 X.
It is a good idea to send a sample of a virgin and used oil for analysis. The analysis reveals good information about the oil and the engine wear and tear spectrum.
Sb): Antiwear and extreme pressure, antioxidantBa): Rust inhibitor, water separabilityB): Extreme pressure additive, detergencyCa): Detergency, alkalinity reserve (contributes to base number)Mg): Detergency, alkalinity reserve (contributes to base number)Mo): Extreme pressure additive, lubricity additiveP): Antiwear when present with zinc, extreme pressure additive, friction modifierNa): Corrosion inhibitorSi): Anti-foam additiveW): Friction modifier, antioxidantZn): Antiwear when present with phosphorus, antioxidant, anticorrosiveAl): Aftercooler brazing flux; dirt if in combination with siliconB): Engine coolantMg): Seawater if present with sodiumK): Engine coolant, aftercooler brazing fluxSi): Dirt, gasket/sealant material, engine coolantNa): Engine coolant, seawater, byproduct from natural gas (wet gas) transferringThe use of aftermarket oil additives is generally discouraged and most of them can negatively affect the engine especially those altering the viscosity of the oil. Only very few can be used safely in certain conditions when the formula is known and tests have been conducted. The N52 is very sensitive to oil quality. The oil has strict properties related to valvetronic, VVT, friction, wear. It also acts as a cooling medium and a hydraulic fluid for the VVT. However very few of these aftermarket additives should be safe if needed or used for a specific case.
Ceratec has over 10K ppm of Hexagonal Boron Nitride and 6400 ppm of Molybdenum (Not MoS2 not high-pressure nano MoDTC, nor MoDTP, but a type of organic Molybdenum). MoS2 as a solid is not soluble in oil which can corrupt the oil blend formula in many oils. It is used on Liqui Moly MoS2 additive and not on Ceratec. Ceratec can be unfavourable in some oil formulations which already have high amounts of Molybdenum and Boron. Thus the user is invited to look at the oil VOA before using Ceratec. Mutiple studies recommend generally aiming at a level of 350+ ppm of Molybdenum for optimal performance. This is the case of boutique oils like Redline HP PCMO. Ceratec proved to work effectively without issues in many GTL based oils which do not have Molybdenum and have a very tiny amount of Boron like those from Shell (Pennzoil). Expect at least 500 kms for the additive to start taking effect. Just for notice, Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and organic molybdenum (molybdenum) are both superior solid lubricants, but differ in key areas: hBN offers superior high-temperature stability (+ 1000°C), chemical inertness, and is a clean white powder (The ceramic part of the additive), while organic molybdenum excels at lower temperature friction reduction, forming a strong anti-wear film. it also is significantly superior to ZDDP in case of Alusil cylinder walls. It binds to aluminium and silicone way better and offer a superior protection. Pour on a hot engine during a fresh oil change with a new OE oil filter.
Liqui Moly Motor protect is formulated as a standalone oil with over 12000 ppm of organic Tungsten (W), intended to be 100% miscible with most market oils.. It is usually in the form of a high pressure liquid additive which has the best low-friction properties amongst all other additives. Tungsten being expensive may explain its absence in most motor oils, except for Ravenol Racing-oriented PCMO. Motor Protect tested safely on the N52 engine, it is the only additive that proved to silence the HVA lifters ticking noise completely for over 30K Kms (oil changed 6 times with the effect still on). It has also a tiny amount of the multifunctional Antimony (Sb) additive which acts synergistically with ZDDP to boost the anti-wear function. The use of the aforementioned expensive additives may explain why Liqui Moly MP is very expensive. It is advised to pour the bottle content onto the engine hot oil, right after the car is switched off to sit for overnight sleep. Expect at least 800 Kms for the additive to take full effect.
The spanish Igride TM Oil Booster has a synergitic blend of organic additives: MoDTC, Organic Tungsten and Organic Boron Mi-I-Ester dynamic complex with an ester base. At the same price of Liqui Moly Ceratec, this oil booster offers more performance. The great amount of organic Molybdenum (13713 ppm) makes it very suitable for the BMW N52 engine (Alusil Cylinder bores). It is recommended to use a GTL-based oil which has near zero or very low amount of Boron, Molybdenum and Tungsten. Shell Helix Ultra 5W30 ECT C3 is a good candidate.
| Additive Element | Original VOA Value (ppm) | Final Concentration (ppm) |
|---|---|---|
| Molybdenum (Mo) | 13,713 | 653.0 |
| Tungsten / Wolframio (W) | 6,221 | 296.2 |
| Boron / Boro (B) | 1,890 | 90.0 |