Can i add any type of Oil!

[dess]

Hi All

Stupid question this, BUT
Only had the new (2nd hand!) bike a few months..it dosent need a service as previous owner had looked after bike and no need for a few thousand miles yet.

But the oil is getting a bit low ---- STUPID QUESTION TIME

can i add any type of oil, not knowing whats being used in the engine at present, I.E can oils mix without causing any grief..
thanks for any input.....great forum
dess

 

[The Mechanic]

You should'nt but oh alright go on then.

Most good quality (well known) branded oil will be mixable to some degree, but its not recommended.

If your bikes been well looked after then the previous owner (gazes into cristal ball) will probably have used either Castrol GP or similar other manufacturer grade.

There is a Castrol oil that is designated for Vee twins and this oil would suite the Boxer engine well as it is designed to work best in large pistoned air cooled motors. Sorry I do not have the price but it will probably be expensive....as usual.

Other than that B*W recommend Castrol GP which is an excellent oil.

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU TOP UP THE EHGINE OIL! Only add a small amount at a time (half a coffee cup...small size..at a time), ensure that the bike standing on level ground and that the bike is upright. Its better to have the bike on its wheels rather than the centre stand as this can cause a 'slight' difference in the oil sight glass reading/interpretation. Leave at least 3-4 minutes for the oil to settle before you add more oil.

B*W say to warm the engine up first and then leave it to stand for 10 minutes approx. as oil can expand with heat and the level will increase slightly. But I prefer to leave an approximate 1mm gap from the top of the red ring in the sight glass when i top up my bikes oil.

Hey this isn't rocket science and the engines about as technically advanced as a Russian tractor so don't get paranoid about the oil rantings that you will see on this and other similar sites.

 

[Den]

shorter answer

yes

 

[Blue Sweeper]

After fifteen hours of use on my KTM, I have to change the oil and filters. It's no big deal as it only has one and a bit litre's in the sump.

I then save this and tip it into my BM

Saves loads on the cost of expensive oil for the BM which gets burnt off anyway