Oil advice needed

[Lennyz525i]

I've searched through the old threads on this, the synthetic VS dino engine oil seems to be a yes/no debate. I'm currently running mobile1 syn 10W30, have done so for the past 15K miles. I'v got an old M20 motor with 166K on the clock, I drive it pretty hard. Most of my drives are pretty short and I live in a warmer climate. I also have a little bit of dripping going on, which kinda makes me want to switch back to dino oil. To M20 owners with similar conditions, what kind of oil do you prefer and what weight?
Thanks

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Lenny,

I have been using this stuff for a while on 100k + M20, and my garage floor is spotless.

I'd check out the source of the leak and plan to fix it soon, it would have leaked sooner or later with the Dino juice anyway.

[632 Regal]

I'll second M1 0w40

[liquidtiger720]

Not to hijack or anything, but M1 0w40 okay for the m50tu engine? or is the oil to light to engage the vanos?

[epj3]

I know this doesn't prove much, but my 128k mile 535i's oil is still almost clear...3,100 miles sine my last oil change... look how clean, and I think the synthetic oil is part to blame.

[Lennyz525i]

It's not dripping bad, just a little. I've replaced both oil pan and valve cover gasket. M1 0W40 seems to be very populair. What's the advantage of 0W though? My concern is that my car might start dripping a little more.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Is when the oil is cold, it is light and gets picked up by the pump right away during start up.

[epj3]

It's not dripping bad, just a little. I've replaced both oil pan and valve cover gasket. M1 0W40 seems to be very populair. What's the advantage of 0W though? My concern is that my car might start dripping a little more.

I'm assuming the '90 525i has the M20? I used 10w-30 in my 88 325is and it never ever had a problem - just burned a little oil, but it did have 182k miles on it when it was totaled... I think the bently manual has a table of what kind of climate you drive the car in, and it lists what oil weights to use - I know 10w30 worked for me here in PA over the summers.

[632 Regal]

- just burned a little oil - I know 10w30 worked for me here in PA over the summers.

in oil technology since the Bently and owners manuals were written. It's all a matter of choice and I choose M1 0w40, which surpasses ALL of the Bently and manufacturers recommendations. If you want to run lemonade in your car so be it, I choose something better. My car has a couple miles on it and I burn about 1 quart every 8000 miles, I dont think I'll be switching anytime soon.

[Kalevera]

Nobody's really said ANYTHING about German Castrol, which the people over at BITOG *swear* by -- they claim it's better than M1.

any thoughts....anybody?

best, whit