There are many advantages to switching from regular motor oil to synthetic when having an oil change. But, is it ok to do this with an older model BMW or other old vehicle?
Oil Change
Synthetic motor oil has a lot of advantages. It is better for the environment, it holds up better in the engine for a much longer period of time, does a better job and it reduces ongoing maintenance costs. When you start hearing about synthetic oil, you might immediately decide you should switch. But if you are driving a BMW with a lot of miles on it, is that such a good idea?
Let’s say you’re driving a 1989 BMW and you want to switch to synthetic on your next oil change, is that ok? Likely not.
Cars from 1990 forward have no problem with the change, in theory. The best practice is to make the switch within the first 10,000 miles of a car, just to be extra safe. Although, Castrol EDGE High Mileage is a synthetic oil that is specifically designed for cars with high mileage that you want to switch to synthetic.
The risk in switching with a car prior to 1990 is that seals and gaskets might not be able to handle the switch, leaving you with extreme regret that you switched. Those older cars have gaskets, seals and other parts that are not made as tightly as they are in cars from 1990 onward.
The best thing to do if you want to take advantage of all the benefits of synthetic oil, is to talk to our mechanic at A1 Performance Auto Repair European Specialist. That old BMW you’re driving might really benefit from the switch and give it a boost of youthful performance, but perhaps not. Our mechanic will let you know at your next oil change if your old BMW is a good candidate for the change in motor oil type.
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