I'm looking for more technical details on just what technical requirements an oil has to meet in order to be approved under one of BMW's oil specs.
Here's what I've gathered so far:
LL-98 - Must be ACEA A3 and API SJ and meet some sort of requirements after a 370 hour run in a M44 engine with reduced oil volume.
From datasheets I've found, these oils seem to range from a Kvis100 of 11.6 to 15.2, averaging about 13.9. HTHS averages about 3.8, TBN about 9.5, and density about 0.853.
From various VOA's found at BITOG, ZDDP levels seem to run from at about moderate levels, mag at moderate to high levels, calcium at very low to low levels, and boron and moly at only trace amounts.
BMW LL-01 - Like the LL-98, also required to be ACEA A3 and run a 370 hour test, but the test engine is now an M54 with compatibility with the valvetronic system being a specific test requirement.
From datasheets I've found, these oils seem to run a little bit lighter and the LL-98, with a Kvis100 range of 11.3 to 14.1, averaging about 12.3. HTHS averages about 3.6, TBN about 10.4, and density about 0.849.
From various VOA's found at BITOG, ZDDP levels seem to run from low to moderate levels, mag at trace to moderate to high levels, and calcium, boron, and moly vary tremendously from trace to high amounts.
BMW LL-04 - Basically seems to be LL-01 spec with additional test requirements for compatibility with particulate filters on diesel engines.
From datasheets I've found, these oils seem to run about the same as the LL-01 oils, but with a lower average TBN of about 7.
I have not been able to find enough VOA's or other info to draw any conclusions about the additive package.
The question at the end of day revolves around the use of oils that are not specifically BMW approved. Understanding that the BMW approval process is likely expensive (not to mention a bienniel requirement) I can see whay some manufacturers, such as Amsoil, Redline, Royal Purple, etc, would choose not to bother with it. But while I wouldn't necessarily hold the absence of the official BMW blessing against them, the fact that many of the properties of these oils are outside or at the extremes of known approved oils does raise some questions. How big a concern do you think this should be?
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