Mineral, semi synthetic and synthetic oil

Thanks for that :thumb2 It was only serviced 700 miles ago so don't want to go to the expence of changing the oil again. I'll contact the dealer and find out what they used (can't believe I didn't think of that myself). I'll then get a litre of that. Thanks again.
 
Well if Tarka doesn't like "what oil" threads I suggest he doesn't post replies in them. I'm also glad he knows everything there is to know about oil. I don't which is why I use the forum! That is afterall, what they are for? Maybe people who do "know it all" about a certain subject (whatever it is) could make more use of their knowledge by helping people like me who don't! My question was a genuine one and I got a few helpful sugestions which was great. Thanks to the ones that helped.

Wind yer whingeing neck in...you`re sounding like a 1200 owner ,FFS. :augie

What the feck`s happening to you lot on here of late ? :confused:

Your first post/question was perfectly fine by all accounts.

Post/Questions two and three opened the gates for comment......:D

I neither know it all nor know everything about oil....but I do know enough about what`s recommended in what quantities and how and when to change it on all my bikes.
That`s because I bought and read the relevent manuals.

And yes...I bought them before the bikes.

As for domestic appliances....yes,I read their manuals prior to using them,too.

Shame more folk here don`t try that.
 
I suppose you did that BEFORE buying your last tv, washing machine, car, mobile phone did you! NOT.

Actually, i think you'll find tarka did just that. Apart from the TV, because he doesn't own one..

You could try doing a search before asking, would give you more quick answers than you can shake an oily stick at. :augie
 
Mastermind, chosen subject Mineral Oil

Don't mix your drinks, your oil or bizness with leather

20W/50? Well what could this strange combination of words & numbers mean?

it is actually perfectly simple (old engines like it, cars & bikes):-

20 - is the viscosity at low temperatures.
W - means it complies with the requirements for winter conditions. (Some people still change for summer conditions)
50 - is the viscosity at high temperatures.

So now you know. Don't go to sleep yet though, heres the really good (boring) stuff

"Mineral oil or liquid petrolatum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline. It is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes and cyclic paraffins, related to white petrolatum."

OK for those of you who are like me, it just means it is an oil made from crude.
The other type you will find is Synthetic oil, this is:-

"Oil consisting of chemical compounds which were not originally present in crude oil (petroleum) but were artificially made (synthesised) from other compounds. Synthetic oil could be made to be a substitute for petroleum or specially made to be a substitute for a lubricant oil such as conventional (or mineral) motor oil refined from petroleum. When a synthetic oil or synthetic fuel is made as a substitute for petroleum, it is generally produced because of a shortage of petroleum or because petroleum is too expensive. When synthetic oil is made as a substitute for lubricant refined from petroleum, it is generally to provide superior mechanical and chemical properties than those found in traditional mineral oils."

I really do hope you are keeping up, Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

WWW is your friend ;)
 
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My understanding after having read several oil companies blurb is:

Fully synthetic does not break down under severe temperatures or degrade with time in the same manner as mineral oil.


pays yer money, etc.
 
My understanding after having read several oil companies blurb is:

Fully synthetic does not break down under severe temperatures or degrade with time in the same manner as mineral oil.


pays yer money, etc.


That's true.

The long-chain molecules found in fully-synth oils are more robust in extreme conditions (ie hot) and over long distances.

But, when new, even :tesco mineral oil will lubricate just as well. If you're short on cash but change the oil and filter at or before the service intervals
specified, you'll have no oil-breakdown issues. As the oil gets older, the molecule chains break down and lubrication properties are slowly lost. Additionally the oil gets dirty from ring blow-by contaminants.

That said, I use fully synth.

Moral - change your oil regularly.

Greg
 
20/50

Problem with recommending 20/50 (and in warm climates BMW recommend nothing else) is its limited availability.
 
Problem with recommending 20/50 (and in warm climates BMW recommend nothing else) is its limited availability.
That is why we use 5W50 in our bikes. It is only the 50 that matters when the bike is up to temperature as mentioned in an earlier thread. The 5 bit gets the oil around the engine quicker on start up.
We use synthetic in both bikes because BMW say so in the manual it is listed as "BMW special oils".
5W50 is quite cheap in Carrefoure
 


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