The best source to locate the appropriate motor oil for use in your car's engine is the vehicle owner's manual. The vehicle manual will list a number of recommendations and oil viscosity ranges to select from for your specific car/engine.

The choice of oil viscosity (or "weight") is dependent upon a number of factors, including the ambient range of temperatures that your vehicle can operate within. Viscosity refers to the rate of the flow of oil through the engine. The oil viscosity must be high enough to form a thick lubricating cooling barrier with hot engine temperatures. In extreme cold operating conditions, the viscosity must be low enough in order to flow around the engine parts and properly coat them.

In general, European climatic conditions permit the use of 0W/40 or 5W/40 or similar high quality lower viscosity multi-grade oils that can reduce fuel consumption by 3 to 5% provided they are approved in the vehicle manual.

Starting in 1998, BMW launched an extended oil change interval with the LL98 specification and expanded the extended life oil change interval in 1999 with the introduction of its 3-series (E46) model cars.

This engine oil change mileage interval has been carried over to 2001 models and upward. The specs from BMW call for high performance synthetic oil such as SAE 5W-40 or a SAE 5W-30.

Synthetic oils have been durability tested on BMW engines and supply superior lubrication under all operating conditions over the extended oil change interval. These types of oils resist thickening at very low temperatures, providing improved oil flow, lubrication and less internal engine resistance during cold starts. Under very high operating temperatures, synthetic based oils also resist thermal breakdown and shearing which can cause a loss of lubrication quality. Check your vehicle operating manual to find the extended service interval oils recommended for use in your BMW model and year.

ABS (anti-lock braking systems) provides for fast braking response times, especially in stop and go traffic.

Pentosin DOT 4 LV brake fluid is ideal for use in today's modern and high tech ABS systems - as well as the increasingly popular electronic stabilization programs (ESP). As a fully synthetic brake fluid containing special low viscous components, the Pentosin DOT4 LV exceeds the standards for FMVSS 116 DOT 4, SAE J1704 and ISO 4925 Class 6 Regulations.

At extremely low temperatures -76° F (-60° C), the Pentosin low viscosity brake fluid is formulated to allow for easier cold flow circulation in the micro-valves and servo pumps of the ABS resulting in a noticeable reduction in the brake system response time, especially at short distances and quick stop and go intervals.

The Pentosin DOT 4 LV is recommended for use in AUDI/VOLKSWAGEN 2006 model year and forward, BMW 2002 model year as well as MINI, PORSCHE and other leading European high performance automobiles.

No. You should never mix brake fluids in order to avoid dilution and contamination of the braking fluid properties.

The seals in a car's braking system are designed to work with specific fluid types. The mixing of conventional glycol brake fluids and synthetic brake fluids must be totally avoided. The fluid types are not miscible (they will not mix together). This leads to system contamination and subsequently the brake seals and hoses begin to deteriorate - which can catastrophically impact braking performance. In addition to compromising passenger safety, mixing brake fluid types will necessitate that the seals and hoses are replaced at a sizeable expense to the vehicle owner.

Conventional antifreeze uses inorganic materials such as nitrates, silicates, phosphates and amine to prevent corrosion. However, these materials "plate" or stick to metal surfaces, which cause a layer of insulation material to develop - reducing the amount of heat that can be transferred from a metal component part. Since the heat remains in these "hot spots", preventing proper cooling, the components will eventually crack and cause damage to the water pump.

Extended coolants provide a clear advantage in preventing corrosion, plating, and buildup of lime deposits and scaling which can damage your engine system. The extended-life coolants are comprised of organic acid technology coolants (ex: alkyl monoacid and alkyl diacid) with either an ethylene or proplylene glycol bases.

These coolants do not contain nitrite, amine, or silicates, and are phosphate-free. The problems associated with conventional “inorganic” coolants (like material sticking to metal surfaces and components) are eliminated through the use of extended coolants. Heat transfer is improved by as much as 7% to 8% with extended-life engine coolants.

Extended-life antifreeze also contributes to sustained water pump performance and engine seal protection. The engine coolant system may not have to be drained and flushed for up to 44,000 miles and a maximum of three years time. Additionally, as these coolants are amine and phosphate-free, they prevent lime formation, as well as protect against corrosion and cavitation. A 50%/50% solution of extended-life antifreeze and water is recommended for all-season performance for both diesel engine and automotive applications.

While extended-life antifreeze coolants are chemically compatible with conventional formulated antifreezes, mixing the two forms of antifreeze is not recommended.

Mixing of the two types of antifreeze can cause the loss of extended-life coolant properties. Since the extended-life coolants are nitrite, borate, phosphate, and amine-free, they are biogradeable even in their original concentration. The mixing of the two types of antifreeze impacts recycling of the coolants. Also, extended-life coolants have superior corrosion properties for aluminum heads, radiators, and other components in the cooling system of many vehicles. The system will have less protection from corrosion when conventional and extended life coolants are mixed in the system.

The Audi/Volkswagen DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) is the first dual-clutch automated manual gearbox developed for consumer automotive vehicles. The DSG transmission is a highly developed, complex high-tech component, which creates extremely demanding requirements for the transmission fluid.

The dual clutch gear provides the driver with the ease of shifting with an automatic transmission but with the added efficiency and flexibility of a manual transmission. What's more, the gears are shifted very quickly - in approximately 8 milliseconds.

Pentosin FFL-2 is the only approved First Fill and Service Fill transmission fluid for this new generation of Audi and Volkswagen DSG transmissions. The FFL-2 is a high tech transmission fluid with constant stable friction characteristics even under the most severe operating conditions in either winter or summer. It has a high level of viscosity and maintains its flow under the most severe operating conditions in extreme cold and high temperatures. As a fully synthetic oil-based product, the FFL-2 is formulated for safe operation at maximum thermal loads.

Note: the OEM car manufacturer's specifications state that the transmission fluid should be changed every 29,000 miles to insure peak operating performance and avoid damages to the gears. Pentosin FFL-2 is the only gear oil that is engineered for the new generation of Audi/Volkswagen DSG double clutch transmissions.