What can I do to ensure the longevity of my vehicle’s engine in my BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Porsche?
Maintenance is a key factor in ensuring longevity of a vehicle and its engine. Let’s start with oil changes and what could possibly go wrong with going to a quick lube place.
By simply looking at the quality of oil filters used at some places, we can see a lot can go wrong. Oil filters have serious effects on the health and performance of most modern-day engines.
Most newer engines, take BMW for instance, use a variable oil pressure feed system. This essentially means the volume of oil pump output has been reduced to increase in efficiency which is dependent on the specific engine speed at all times.
Having the wrong oil filter will change the engineered output of the oil pump therefore shortening the lifespan of the engine because its mechanical components are exposed to friction and will degrade overtime.
After market Mercedes oil filter next to an original Mercedes oil filter.
Furthermore, we have found the oil filter cap has been reinstalled incorrectly and this can have a detrimental effect on the internal engine components. In particular, we have noticed the cage retaining the filter has been disposed off likely because it is quite difficult to remove the filter from this cage and will easily detach if it is pulled hard enough. This will cause numerous lubrication issues and essentially destroys the internal mechanical components of the engine.
Needless to say the type and quality of the motor oil is just as important as the oil filter. The oil is an important component of modern engines and many manufacturers will involve specific oil from leading oil companies that they have tested and chosen to optimize the life, performance, and efficiency of the engine.
It is worth noting that most manufacturers have specific numbers and grades issued by their engineers for the motor oils that should be used in their vehicles. These numbers and grades were chosen by the engineers to optimize the intended efficiency targets.
Each manufacturer will have their own grades and numbers, BMW for example, these numbers and grades can look like LL01, LL04, LL14FE, in Mercedes-Benz they look like this 229.31, 229.5, 229.51 and 229.52, and in Porsche they can appear like A040. According to ACEA, each standard has its own designation and composition certified by their manufacturers.
Modern-day engines are fragile but a marvel of engineering, requiring specific lubricants and filters best suited to the ideal performance of each individual vehicle.
With proper care and maintenance vehicles and their engines can last for considerable distances.
We hope this helps in the long run.
Continuing to look at examples of improper oil changes and use of oil filters, we can see in the photo below the difference between a generic BMW oil filter (left) and an original German Mann & Hummel filter (right).
The generic filter has collapsed, and the paper media has separated from the casing showing the subpar quality of this filter in comparison the original filters we use. The paper media in the generic filter is so thin that the light shines right through it.
This particular engine, 2014 N55 twin turbo, needed a replacement engine which only further substantiates the importance of using the correct oil filter.
Take a look at to the next oil filters. Click on the thumbnail to see bigger photo.
Clogged filter in the middle 1st picture.
On the 2nd picture, the filter with cage detached and cap with missing cage beside it to the left.
The 3rd is cheap aftermarket filter collection and a proper BMW oil filter cap intact beside to the left.
On the 4th photo is a BMW oil filter cap without its cage detached to the left and proper to the right.
Wish you safe motoring and all the best from Techmax Auto Repair Inc.
Related:
Why synthetic motor oil better for your vehicle?
FUCHS German Synthetic Motor Oils For German Import Cars.
