Any reason for not using 75W-140 in the final drive?

jogo

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Hi,
I know, its an oil question:hide

anyway: I'm using 75W-150 GL5 oil in the tranny and it works nicely there but have so far used Castrol SAF XO 75W-90 as recommended by BMW for the FD, simply because I still had some of it on the shelf.

For the next cange of those liquids it would obviously convient to only buy one bottle and just use the same stuff in both reservoires. As they reduced the fill for the FD to 180ml that should fit nicely I assume!? :nenau

Thanks in advance
 
The FD is the weakest part of the whole bike. I'd not put in any other oil unless I was 100% sure it was as good or better than the Castrol stuff as it needs all the help it can get. It's not just the viscosity that matters but the additives that give it the correct spec'. Although your thick stuff is GL5 rated like the XO 75-80 it may still not give you the same level of protection.

For the few quid the difference makes I'd not take the risk unless you have specific info' to the contrary. I'd also change it more frequently than BMW suggest.
 
RickG said:
The FD is the weakest part of the whole bike. I'd not put in any other oil unless I was 100% sure it was as good or better than the Castrol stuff as it needs all the help it can get. It's not just the viscosity that matters but the additives that give it the correct spec'. Although your thick stuff is GL5 rated like the XO 75-80 it may still not give you the same level of protection.

For the few quid the difference makes I'd not take the risk unless you have specific info' to the contrary. I'd also change it more frequently than BMW suggest.
Click to expand...

wise words,im really anal about oil,fd changed every 3000 gbox too,engine every 2000,but then i dont have to pay for my oil:D
 
Words do fail me on occasion.

Why would you put in anything other that the manufacturer's recommendation? With the FD, the recommendation is specific.
 
wilbjr21 said:
Words do fail me on occasion.

Why would you put in anything other that the manufacturer's recommendation? With the FD, the recommendation is specific.
Click to expand...


only oil i actually agree with this statement on, use what is recommended.

oh and brake fluid,

but you can make brake fluid (piss poor but will work if stranded) from veg oil and sugar, shaken up so the sugar dissolves. :nenau but why would you
 
Good points above. They specificy for a reason. Also, following the manufacturer's specification for the lubricant gives them no room to "wiggle" on a warranty issue if you have a FD problem.
 
There is so much more to oil than just its viscosity index.:blast
 
Thanks for your answers:beerjug:, I got the point. Will try to get the recommended stuff then which is sort of difficult. Seems no dealer here arround has Catrol. The only one I found last time does not sell Castrol anymore:blast.
 
FD Oil

A man local to me who mends final drives for BMW when they run out of new ones on occasions says use a good quality GL5 and change it every time you change the engine oil and gear box oil............and has a bearing/oil seal mod which seems to prevent them failing a second time. DAMHIK

cheers,
 
Arkwright2007 said:
A man local to me who mends final drives for BMW when they run out of new ones on occasions says use a good quality GL5 and change it every time you change the engine oil and gear box oil............and has a bearing/oil seal mod which seems to prevent them failing a second time. DAMHIK

cheers,
Click to expand...

I would seem to be your duty on behalf of us all to take him to the pub and ply him with beer until he reveals the secret...:beer:
 
RickG said:
I would seem to be your duty on behalf of us all to take him to the pub and ply him with beer until he reveals the secret...:beer:
Click to expand...

The final drive is rebuilt with a different bearing on the hub with a lip and an oil seal on the out side but otherwise open so that it can run in the bevel drive lubricant instead of being a sealed bearing.

The reason that BMW use Castrol lubricant is that it is intended for the life of the drive instead of being changed every 6,000 miles. I know which makes more sense to me!
 
Putoline SP Quad oil is the stuff to use -higher spec than Castrol & its cheaper.
 
Owts gotta be cheaper than the Castol bottle with a bmw part number sticker any how!
Personally I use Tate & Lyles golden syrup in mine cos its about the same viscosity
 
Arkwright2007 said:
The final drive is rebuilt with a different bearing on the hub with a lip and an oil seal on the out side but otherwise open so that it can run in the bevel drive lubricant instead of being a sealed bearing.

The reason that BMW use Castrol lubricant is that it is intended for the life of the drive instead of being changed every 6,000 miles. I know which makes more sense to me!
Click to expand...

That's interesting. However, it's always the pinion bearings that I've had problems with, the others seem fine.

While the early bikes were 'sealed for life' the later ones are of course not. Even using the specified oil and changing it as specified does not unfortunately make the FD 100% reliable.
 
RickG said:
That's interesting. However, it's always the pinion bearings that I've had problems with, the others seem fine.

While the early bikes were 'sealed for life' the later ones are of course not. Even using the specified oil and changing it as specified does not unfortunately make the FD 100% reliable.
Click to expand...

Wise words , use top quality they fail ..use chip pan fat they fail , mechcanical issues mainly fail due to bad design or poor quality bearings /parts.
For instance i have put umteen diffs and fd in range rovers ,discoverys , defenders ect. and never put fitted a diff or fd in a toyota landcruzer or 4wd pick ups ect. and cars rarely get there diff oils changed .

So is it maintanance or just "better by design "

And i am not saying dont maintain your bike , just some things never fail and other fail whatever maintanance you do to them .
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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