One of the questions we often get is do we have to use BMW Castrol Motorsports TWS 10w60 oil in the “M” cars and motors?  This is indeed the BMW defined option, and up till recently, the only choice that was on the market for a synthetic motor oil at that viscosity rating.   But now, there are other good options coming on the market, and we wanted our customers to know, as the new options are from major oil providers, and at a much better price point (here in CA, some dealers are charging upwards of over $20 a qt for the Castrol TWS 10w60 oil per quart….so, cost is indeed a legitimate concern).

Here are the new players for the 10w60 synthetic oils – (the key piece for the 10w60 has normally been the thickness of the viscosity at low temps, but the thinness at the higher temps)

Lubro or Liqui Moly synthetic motor oil  – and related data

Basis : Synthetic oil/additives
Viscosity class : 10W-60
ASTM colour : 3.5
Density at 15 °C : 0.86 g/cm³
Viscosity at 40 °C : 163 mm²/s
Viscosity at 100 °C : 24 mm²/s
Viscosity index : 179
Flash point : 238 °C
Pour point : -35 °C
Evaporation loss : 6.9 %

Redline synthetic motor oil – and related data

API Service Class_______________________ SM/SL/SG/CF
SAE Viscosity Class_____________________ 10w60
Vis @ 100C, cSt________________________ 25.5
Vis @ 40C, cSt_________________________ 173
Viscosity Index_________________________ 182
CCS Viscosity, Poise, @C_________________ 65@-25
Pour Point ^C__________________________ -45
Pour Point ^F__________________________ -49
NOACK Evaporation Loss, 1hr @ 482°F (250°C), %___ 6
HTHS Vis, cP @150°C, ASTM D4741______________ __6.7

And, for comparison, the BMW Castrol Motorsport TWS 10w60 baseline data –

Relative Density 15C________0.864__(test method ASTM D4052)
Viscosity @ 100C___________24.2___(test method ASTM D445) (mm^2/s)
Viscosity @ 40C____________161___(test method ASTM D445) (mm^2/s)
Vis Index__________________179___(test method ASTM D2270) 
CCS -25C_________________4,860__(test method ASTM D5293) (cP)
Flashpoint PMCC____________200___(test method ASTM D93) (in Celsius)
Ash Sulphated______________1.1___(test method ASTM D874) (% wt)
TBN______________________???____(test method ASTM D2896) (mg KOH/g)
Pour Point_________________-51____(test method ASTM D87) (in Celsius)

And…..at our current market prices (Jan 2011), here is what a quart of each would cost –

Lubro Moly 10w60   $11.00

Redline 10w60  $10.95

Castrol TWS  $13.75

All are available from BRracing….either as parts only for those of you “do it yourself” (DIY), or as part of any service.

BRracing …..service exceeding expectations