It's no wonder many of us get confused about oil!!!

[snerkler]

So I've run out of spare oil for my 2010 GSA, and after having bought Putoline from the dealers last time (on their recomendation), I thought I'd give castrol a try to see if it lasts longer as mine seems to use a lot of oil. The putoline the dealer recommended is 20w50 Semi Synthetic, but the 20w50 Castrol (act evo 4T) is mineral. Which do I go for I thought? So I checked to see what Opie Oils recommends for my bike; 15W50 Fully Synthetic (http://www.opieoils.co.uk/products-for-my-vehicle.aspx?product=oils-for-my-motorbike)
Ok, so what does Castrol recommend I thought? Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-50 Semi synthetic (http://www.castrolmoto.com/en/oil_selector.php) What makes my head spin even more is that when you search through the Castrol oils on their site they don't do a 10w50 Semi synthetic, it's either a 15w50, or 10w40

So the question is am I better to stick with the 20w50 and not be fussed it it's Semi Synthetic or mineral, or stick with semi synthetic and go for 15w50 or 10w40? The handbook says 20w50 though

 

[Demongroover]

Can of worms... open!

 

[piebaps]

 

[Hax]

Had the same issue about a month ago, bike is 2010 gsa with 3000ish miles on it & l needed to top up oil.

Looked at manual & the many threads!!, ended up calling dealer l bought it from who said "this is what we'd put in it - if you bring it in".

Castrol Power 1 Racing..4T 10W-50 ..fully synthetic.

They sold me it,maintain it & will be doing any warranty work if needed (touch wood - no issues yet), so bought it from them and in it went

no probs & job done as far as l'm concerned, if anyone uses anything different fair play - l aint changing, as far as l'm concerned my bikes covered.

Cheers

 

[snerkler]

Can of worms... open!

Yep I know, and I've read the many threads on here about oil. The point I'm raising though is god knows why it's so bloody complicated. With my car for example the ONLY oil you can use is Castrol Edge 10W-60, no if's no but's.
With the GS, not only is it not clear what grade to put in, it's also not even clear whether you should put mineral, semi or fully synthetic WTF. Not even dealers tell you the same info. I was told at my dealer to use 20W50 Semi by my dealer, yet Hax has been told to use 10W50 by his dealer (although I thought castrol power 1 racing was semi? )*
I know a lot on here will just say put in what you prefer, it's all good. But the point is I think it should be made clear across the board exactly what the preferred oil is, ie number one choice, and then what other oils could be used in an 'emergency'. I think it's a bloody joke tbh.

And rant over

* Looking on castrol's site Power 1 racing is available in Fully synthetic and Part Synthetic

 

[AberdeenAngus]

I think it's a bloody joke tbh.

I agree

 

[snerkler]

Looked at manual & the many threads!!, ended up calling dealer l bought it from who said "this is what we'd put in it - if you bring it in".

:

My dealer recommended 20w50 semi synthetic, but said they use putoline as is cheaper. I know BMW recommend castrol, but from all of my searching I cannot find a 20w50 semi synthetic castrol oil. Their 20w50 is mineral (ActEvo 4T).
I've now emailed BMW motorrad direct in my quest to clear up this confusion once and for all

 

[Sprocket]

I've now emailed BMW motorrad direct in my quest to clear up this confusion once and for all

What's the betting they reply "RTFM!"?

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

What's the betting they reply "RTFM!"?

Pretty straightforward really, tells all you need

The manual says the minimum required specification, as long as yours meets that then that is all you need.

 

[stolzy]

My dealer recommended 20w50 semi synthetic, but said they use putoline as is cheaper. I know BMW recommend castrol, but from all of my searching I cannot find a 20w50 semi synthetic castrol oil. Their 20w50 is mineral (ActEvo 4T).
I've now emailed BMW motorrad direct in my quest to clear up this confusion once and for all

I rarely post in 710 threads, but this looks like a fun one

I'd be surprised a dealer would recommend 20-50 since its not recommended at all for 2010 GS1200, according the owner manual I just looked at.

Manual seems to have all you need to choose an oil - what's the problem? am I missing something?

 

[DrFarkoff]

When I worked at the dealership and they were launching the NEW R1200GS I got a pack to read and the foreman gotta couple of days swanning over at the pre launch mech 3 day training

Word in the street and in the book was 20W50 as long as it met the spec, It did suggest Fully synth as suitable but after the break in period BUT didn't mention the details for how long the break in period was Most folks I know said their 1150 burned oil till 15 to16,000 miles

How much more does a service cost you folks now with the addition of 3.75litre of Fully synth?? against 3.75 of semi or even mineral

Same engine same oil pump basically....

Money spinner .........

 

[Martyn H]

So I've run out of spare oil for my 2010 GSA, and after having bought Putoline from the dealers last time (on their recomendation), I thought I'd give castrol a try to see if it lasts longer as mine seems to use a lot of oil. The putoline the dealer recommended is 20w50 Semi Synthetic, but the 20w50 Castrol (act evo 4T) is mineral. Which do I go for I thought? So I checked to see what Opie Oils recommends for my bike; 15W50 Fully Synthetic (http://www.opieoils.co.uk/products-for-my-vehicle.aspx?product=oils-for-my-motorbike)
Ok, so what does Castrol recommend I thought? Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-50 Semi synthetic (http://www.castrolmoto.com/en/oil_selector.php) What makes my head spin even more is that when you search through the Castrol oils on their site they don't do a 10w50 Semi synthetic, it's either a 15w50, or 10w40

So the question is am I better to stick with the 20w50 and not be fussed it it's Semi Synthetic or mineral, or stick with semi synthetic and go for 15w50 or 10w40? The handbook says 20w50 though

As a very last resort, use what BMW recommends,
http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/media/pdf/70583_A1_BMW_POSTER_MCO00066_low_res.pdf

 

[Pukmeister]

Here's why, from someone who's owned a 1200 since they were introduced (my good self):

The originally specified oil in 2004 was 10W40 multigrade, however after some owners (myself included) experienced problems in hot conditions with oil warning lights, knocking etc the manufacturer revised the spec to 20W50 for our temperate climate. The viscosity increase made the engines run more smoothly with less noise, and prevented the oil warning light problem when in summer city traffic.

Oil is a personal choice (and a can of worms) but it must meet or exceed the minimum specification if it is going to do its job effectively. I used Hein Gericke's own label 10W50 fully synth in my last bike, because it exceeded the spec required and cost a damn sight less than many rival big name brands of lesser spec. I will use the same once my bike is out of warranty/serviced by myself. I believe it is produced by Motorex of Switzerland, but can't confirm this as I can't remember where I read it.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

so long as its W50 the first part doesnt really matter. 20, 15, 10, 5, or even 0, if you can get it you can use it providing it is of the right specification . The lower the first part the easier the bike is to start when cold because the oil is thinner. You can even go up to W60 if your in a hot part of the world although no benefit using it in the UK

 

[Greg Masters]

With my car for example the ONLY oil you can use is Castrol Edge 10W-60, no if's no but's.

No wonder you're confused about oil. It's the only oil that BMW approve for an M-series. There's no chance, of course, that BMW have any commercial tie-in with Castrol do you think?

 

[snerkler]

I rarely post in 710 threads, but this looks like a fun one

I'd be surprised a dealer would recommend 20-50 since its not recommended at all for 2010 GS1200, according the owner manual I just looked at.

Manual seems to have all you need to choose an oil - what's the problem? am I missing something?

1200GSA manual says 20w-50 on page 148. Does not say whether mineral, semi or fully synthetic is best, only states "BMW motorrad recommends not using synthetic oils for the first 10,000km".

On that basis it suggests that anything goes after 10,000km, as long as it's 20w-50?
On that basis I can use fully synthetic after 10k which should in theory last longer. I'll just have to weigh up if it lasts that much longer to justify the extra cost.

 

[snerkler]

No wonder you're confused about oil. It's the only oil that BMW approve for an M-series. There's no chance, of course, that BMW have any commercial tie-in with Castrol do you think?

Oh, I'm sure there's some money passed under the table so to speak between BMW and Castrol, and I'd be surprised if Castrol is the best oil out there.
The can of worms I opened, but was trying to make a point of is that it would make life easier for us folk who aren't mechanically minded, but just enjoy the shear pleasure of riding to be given an 'ideal' oil to use eg 20w50 semi, and then if those who know more about it want to use a different oil based on their preference eg mineral, then they can.
Sometimes when it comes down to the mechanical side of things numpties such as myself need to be spoon fed I don't want to be spending time searching around, asking for opinions etc etc as to what may or may not be the best oil I want to go to my handbook and find it, as I have done on every other vehicle I've owned

 

[snerkler]

As a very last resort, use what BMW recommends,
http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/media/pdf/70583_A1_BMW_POSTER_MCO00066_low_res.pdf

Thanks for this I obviously can't use their website correctly

Just adds more confusion though as the handbook clearly states 20w-50, yet the website recommends 10w-50.
And to add more confusion the handbook says not to use fully synthetic for the first 10,000km, where as the website is recommending fully synthetic

It's no wonder there's so many oil threads, even BMW disagree with themselves

Oh, where's Wapping showing me the barrel of a gun, I thought he'd have shown it me by now lol

 

[cookie]

dunno about the latest 1200s, but the handbooks used to have what grade of oil to use, at what ambient temperatures. also gave a minimum API spec.

couldn't really be much simpler, could it?

what seems to complicate things the most is owners thinking that a better spec than recommended, even the minimum, will make any difference during the vehicles expected life, let alone the short period they will probably own it.

...and what's the point of making the oil "last longer"? bmw set service intervals where it has to be changed, or does nobody read that bit of the manual either?

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

Thanks for this I obviously can't use their website correctly

Just adds more confusion though as the handbook clearly states 20w-50, yet the website recommends 10w-50.
And to add more confusion the handbook says not to use fully synthetic for the first 10,000km, where as the website is recommending fully synthetic

It's no wonder there's so many oil threads, even BMW disagree with themselves

Oh, where's Wapping showing me the barrel of a gun, I thought he'd have shown it me by now lol

You can't go wrong using 20w50 mineral such as Castrol, many bikes on here i.e Verns Donkey 250+K runs on mineral and he has said that it did 20K without oil change, don't worry too much, it's more important to make sure it has oil in it!