hein gericke 10/40 oil

[John Armstrong]

morris oil for the last 6 or 7 years in all bikes and they run alot cooler

Does it keep visors demisted as well

 

[captainpugwash]

try rubbing some on your visor and go and try it

 

[Grizzly]

Rock Oil!!!

I've used Rock Oils Guardian 20w-50 semi-synthetic for the past 50K or so - seems to suit the GS (1150) perfectly and because it's NOT part of their motorcycle range it doesn't have any of the additives mentioned by Steptoe which are not required in a GS. Be aware that Rock do Guardian in several grades but 20w-50 is the one for the GS
You can maybe locate a supplier through their web-site? - note Guardian is under automotive, not motorcycle. www.rockoil.co.uk

Cheers..........................Grizzly

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I've stucj numerous different oils in mine, currently using HG fully sytth. 10/50 good combo of summer and winter use, and conmparatively not too dear. There again, my opinion is currently shit faced!

Hmm, shit faced, numerous typing errors! LOL

 

[Pekkavee]

mmm these are all 'motorcycle oils' completely pointless in a GS. But I guess if you want to spend over the odds on additives that these bikes just don't need - thats fine.


(OMG an oil thread - and i gets involved)

I fully agree with Motorbiker.
No need to use expensive motor cycle oils in a Boxer BMW.
It's really like a VW Beetle engine.
Simple car oil is the best. I use 20W-50.

Pekka

 

[FatAl]

I've used Rock Oils Guardian 20w-50 semi-synthetic for the past 50K or so - seems to suit the GS (1150) perfectly and because it's NOT part of their motorcycle range it doesn't have any of the additives mentioned by Steptoe which are not required in a GS. Be aware that Rock do Guardian in several grades but 20w-50 is the one for the GS
You can maybe locate a supplier through their web-site? - note Guardian is under automotive, not motorcycle. www.rockoil.co.uk

Cheers..........................Grizzly

I have a trade account with them. the Guardian range of oils (10/40, 15/50, and 20/50 ) are JASO MA rated so can be used with wet clutches. I too have used their oil for several years, the 20/50 is particularly suitable for Harleys and BMW boxers, many friends, relatives etc have used it in their various bikes over the years without any associated problems. I can supply to members of this forum in the Northwest on a collection basis ( I don't want to get tied up with posting boxes of oil)

 

[vilguy]

asda oil just shot up 33%...!!!

its now £6 a gallon.

credit crunch for ya

 

[rudiemoto]

dont put in £6 oil
come on its your bike not a car

 

[motobiker]

dont put in £6 oil
come on its your bike not a car

wouldn't catch me putting £6 oil in my bike.. being posh-like I splash out and pay £8.49 for 5L.

 

[roddy]

I use the stuff out of lidl's 4quid for 5L, since my engines done less tha 25K it's just goiing to get burnt off so why bother with anything better

 

[rudiemoto]

i bet u lot use 's petrol aswell

 

[ogni]

10-40 semi skimmed,
same stuff that goes
in all my vans
None of my GS,s ever complained

 

[vilguy]

I use the stuff out of lidl's 4quid for 5L, since my engines done less tha 25K it's just goiing to get burnt off so why bother with anything better

A*** ive been paying over the odds.

Thats me shopping at lidl from now on!

I put expensive oil in an expensive bike... mines cheap so i put cheap in it

And i changed it yesterday and am going to change it again tomorrow as i couldnt find my oil filter wrench, had i done that with £40 of oil i might ave been mildly p*****


i think we need to do a competition to see who can find the cheapest £ per litre of oil!

though no recyled chip shop frying oil.. thats just plain cheatin.

 

[littleredrooster]

And I thought I was cheap.

(note to self - shop at Asda)

(further note to self - remember, Wilko is an expensive rip-off)

(Another note to self. Last time I looked, it didn't meet the minimum spec., so is no good for a GS)

(And another note to self. Neither was the cheap crap from Tesco)

 

[vilguy]

Whats specs are they then?

 

[motobiker]

Whats specs are they then?

Dunno about the Asda stuff. but the Wilko oil exceeds the spec as described in the owners manual and elsewhere.. Haynes for instance.

I think you would be hard put to find a motor oil (for modern cars) that wasn't at least the minimum spec. In fact near impossible - given the minimum spec for the GS (api rating) is now obsolete and as such almost impossible to find. It being the industry standard in 1988.

 

[littleredrooster]

Whats specs are they then?

SE spec when I checked. BMs need SG minimum, I believe.

 

[prwatts]

The difference between a GS and a car is that it runs hotter. My mate in Sarf Efrica just had his engine explode from the dreaded "Right Cylinder Failure" - valves broke. This is a mysterious disease that statistically is quite common but no-one knows why. BMTrouble-you are tight lipped. They are aware of the problem but their hand is out for £2500 for a re-build. BTW its a 2005 R1200GS.
My personal conspiracy theory is it's contributed to by low cost sourcing of friction welded valves from the orient.

I would use an oil that can take the higher temps, that's all, but then I ride a Super Tenere wot's water cooled and has a nice separate oil tank.

 

[ianboydsnr]

In my old tractor I use wilkos own brand 15w/40 car oil... and change it every 3,000 miles. £8.49 for a 5 litre bottle.


(I can just picture the look of horror on your face)


Motorcycle oils aren't 'useless' but they are complete overkill and money down the drain... these bikes are from an engine and oil point of view 2 wheeled cars with understressed engines - the old joke about them being '2 wheeled tractors' isn't far wrong.

when you buy 'bike' oil - you pay a huge premium based on a. its bike oil so has a small market share b. the fancy additives that look after the clutch and c. the fancy additives that keep the oil going while it looks after the gear box. - the GS needs none of these. And I believe because its so understressed it doesn't need 'synth' either full or part.

Any Car oil that meets the spec will be perfect.. the cheapo stuff I use is API SJ - which means it exceeds the spec... and being so cheap means I can double up on oil changes and perform 3 for less than you will pay for just 1.

and the bike runs like a dream btw.

thats what I use

 

[motobiker]

The difference between a GS and a car is that it runs hotter. My mate in Sarf Efrica just had his engine explode from the dreaded "Right Cylinder Failure" - valves broke. This is a mysterious disease that statistically is quite common but no-one knows why. BMTrouble-you are tight lipped. They are aware of the problem but their hand is out for £2500 for a re-build. BTW its a 2005 R1200GS.
My personal conspiracy theory is it's contributed to by low cost sourcing of friction welded valves from the orient.

I would use an oil that can take the higher temps, that's all, but then I ride a Super Tenere wot's water cooled and has a nice separate oil tank.

I think maybe you posted this in the wrong section chap. We own the 850/1100/1150 variants which are completely different animals to the 1200. This mysterious disease you mention is not relevant. If owners take their bikes to hotter climates and many do. Then of course its in their best interests to change the oil for one best suited to the environment. However the oil that I use is fine and dandy for ambient temperatures up to 30c - which is more than adequate for the British climate and indeed most of Europe.

We have many owners in far hotter parts of the world including south africa and they will be using oil thats right for their local conditions. Many places in fact that are far hotter than southern africa. Places like central australia. Atacama desert. the tropics. central/southern USA. Middle East AND of course the local favourite... the Sahara.

These bikes are now up to 15yrs old and I can't say there has been much talk over that time of this "Right Cylinder Failure" but of course shit does happen.. only it seems that the 1200 is a little more prone, as your mate discovered.

BTW - the temperature of my bikes oil seldom rises above 105C which is perfect for a big lump like my 10yr old GS