gsbiker
Registered user
Just discovered that I've topped up my fully Synthetic engine oil with the previous recommended BMW oil (semi synthetic). Is this a problem?
Mixing Engine Oils?
- Thread starter gsbiker
- Start date
BrianGriffin
Registered user
Your safe. Just never mix any kind of synthetic oil with mineral based oil.
Well you can if you like, but don't put it in an engine.
Well you can if you like, but don't put it in an engine.
gsbiker
Registered user
Well in my defense I blame BMW for switching oils as this makes me feel better! Seriously though, both oils are from Castrol I think, one semi synth the other fully synth. For those who think its bad - why?
Fixed!
STUBBS
undead
better than no oil
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214299
It's not bad. Mix away. You (and your bike) will not die.
You can mix Castrol, with RocOil, with Elf, with any other proprietary brand you can buy off the shelf in any garage, supermarket, motor factors or vegetable vendor's (though do try to avoid cooking oils, that you would fry chips in).
You can mix mineral, with semi-synthetic, with fully synthetic in about any combination you care to imagine.
You can mix different multi-grades together. For instance, I quite happily mix 20/50 with 10/40. If they are mixed in equal measure, then will I end up with a hybrid 15/45. I quite happily mix Castrol, with Total, with Esso's oils, too.
As a failsafe guide that is easy to remember in times of stress, head towards the bottle of oil in the garage shop marked 4T (four stroke) and / or maybe an artist's impression of a reasonably modern motorcycle on it. Ignore the fact that it might be marked Castrol or Texaco in bright colours, that is just a brand name. Definitely ignore the fact that the drawing of the bike may not look anything like yours. It's just a picture, used to guide people who cannot read in roughly the right direction. They used the same technique in medieval churches, depicting the fires of hell for ignorant sinners who strayed too far from the angels.
====
Still not convinced? Creases of worry creeping across your forehead, beads of sweat breaking out and a cold river of fear running down your spine? OK, help is at hand.
Imagine you (or someone else) has filled your bike with Castrol oil in the UK and you have set off adventuring to the hot plains of Spain. On the tenth day away you notice that your oil level has dropped low. So, being vaguely sensible, you go into a garage and look at the oils displayed. Spain is a big fan of Repsol, it's an oil / petrol company the same as Castrol or BP here or Elf in France. Spain is generally much hotter than here, so their multi-grades may well have different parameters (20/50 instead of 10/40 or whatever). You now have two choices.....
1. Buy the Repsol oil, with probably its different multi-grade parameters, top-up your bike in accordance with the simple instructions in the owner's handbook and continue you adventure
2. Don't buy it as it has different multi-grade numbers and / or is not marked Castrol..... Then:
(i) Ride on until your engine runs out of oil, then call the rescue services
(ii) Stay where you are and call the rescue services
Now, how often do you think (2) (i) and (ii) occur? Are the garage forecourts and roads of Europe clogged with stationary motorcycles? Answer: No. So, not very often, then? Good, that is a very positive thought. Keep it at the front of your head.
Now, why don't they happen? After all there are lots of bikes in Europe and lots of oil, which must lead to lots confusion in bikermates' minds and inevitable disaster, surely? Oh, oh.... we are drifting into an area of worry again.
Well, the answer is very simple. The mainstream off-the-shelf motorbike and oil manufacturers have each spent millions of pounds making it simple and safe for anyone and everyone to walk into a garage to buy oil, top-up and ride off. That is all you need to know. It's positive thought number two. Store it away with positive thought number one, right at the front of your consciousness. Retrieve them both at leisure or at times of greatest stress. Marry them to recollection three of 4T and the picture of a motorcycle..... Phew, you are safe
gsbiker
Registered user
Bugbear
Registered user
I'm not sure.
I think the semi-synth will float on top of the fully-synth a bit like oil on water.
This will mean that the rotating bits in the bottom of the engine will only be semi-protected whereas the bits in the top will be fully-protected.
I suppose if you turn the engine upside down regularly you should be OK.
I think the semi-synth will float on top of the fully-synth a bit like oil on water.
This will mean that the rotating bits in the bottom of the engine will only be semi-protected whereas the bits in the top will be fully-protected.
I suppose if you turn the engine upside down regularly you should be OK.
gsbiker
Registered user
Wrapping; informative and funny, bargain! Now I can ride my bike to Wales with full knowledge my engine won't sieze and with a smile on my face 
Thanks again for your thesis on oils.
Thanks again for your thesis on oils.
Now I can ride my bike to Wales with full knowledge my engine won't sieze and with a smile on my face
Going to Wales is no good reason to smile
DavidHale
Registered user
FFS man, turn off the predictive text!
Going to Wales is no good reason to smile
Yes there is, you just think about comming back to ENGLAND!!!!!!!. (pause for a chorus of "Land of Hope and|Glory").
Lozza
Registered user
Going to Wales is no good reason to smile
Riding out of Wales is!
Erm...That's what semi-synth is.
Similar threads
