2010 BMW X5 Owner's Manual - Page 245

Approved engine oils The quality of the engine oil selected has critical significance for the operation and service life of an engine. BMW continuously approves specific oils after confirming their suitability for use in its vehicles with extensive testing. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be happy to answer more detailed questions about approved oils.< You can also call BMW of North America at 1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information. Do not use oil additives, as these may result in engine damage.< Coolant Do not add coolant to the cooling system when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant can cause burns.< Coolant is composed of equal parts water and a coolant additive. Not all commercially available additives are suitable for your BMW. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center can recommend suitable additives. Only use suitable additives, otherwise engine damage may result. The additives present a health hazard; observe the instructions on the containers.< Comply with the appropriate environmental protection regulations when disposing of coolant additives.< Alternative oil grades If none of the approved oils is available at a given time, you can also use smaller quantities of other oils between oil changes. The packaging must include one of the following indications of oil specifications. Checking coolant level Navigation Reference Mobility 243 Communications Entertainment 1. Do not open the hood until the engine has cooled down. 2. Turn the cap of the expansion tank counterclockwise to allow any accumulated pressure to escape, then continue turning to open. 3. The coolant level is correct when the coolant level is between the MIN and MAX marks, refer to the diagram adjacent to the filler neck. 4. If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to the specified level; do not overfill. 5. Turn the cap until there is an audible click. 6. Have the reason for the coolant loss eliminated as soon as possible. Gasoline engines > Preferred: BMW Longlife-01, BMW Longlife-01 FE > Alternative: BMW Longlife-98, API SM or higher Diesel engines > BMW Longlife-04 Viscosity grades Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and is specified in SAE grades. The choice of the right SAE grade is based on the climatic conditions in the region in which you normally drive your BMW. Approved oils belong to the SAE classifications 0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-30.< These oils can be used for driving at all outside temperatures. Online Edition for Part no. 01 41 2 602 756 - © 06/09 BMW AG Driving tips Controls At a glance