Mixing Oils

[trinkvean]

I have had a 1150GS for a couple of months and I need to top up the oil.

I got it from a dealer and I have no idea what oil was used before or when it was last changed.

Should I put Castol GP 20/50 in as advised by the dealer or should I change the oil to ensure I am not mixing grades ?

Barry

 

[sani]

I have had a 1150GS for a couple of months and I need to top up the oil.

I got it from a dealer and I have no idea what oil was used before or when it was last changed.

Should I put Castol GP 20/50 in as advised by the dealer or should I change the oil to ensure I am not mixing grades ?

Barry

I mix the oil most of the time and It makes no deferents to me
My advise is to stick to one and 20/50 is probably the best

 

[Carl]

Should I put Castol GP 20/50 in as advised by the dealer or should I change the oil to ensure I am not mixing grades ?

Look here: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91251

I have no idea what oil was used before or when it was last changed

Oil changes are important to keep the engine healthy, check when its due and try and stick to the service schedule!

 

[Colban]

I have had a 1150GS for a couple of months and I need to top up the oil.

I got it from a dealer and I have no idea what oil was used before or when it was last changed.

Should I put Castol GP 20/50 in as advised by the dealer or should I change the oil to ensure I am not mixing grades ?

Barry

How many miles has it done?.
What does it say in the service history?.
Oil change is every 6K miles ish.
You could call the dealer and ask which oil they used,but the fact that he
recommended Castrol should be a clue.
Use decent quality 20/50 not 10/40.sae sf or later.
Dont bother with expensive fully synthetic for these old tractors.

 

[ahutcheon]

If it's short of oil, top it up with anything reasonable (Castrol 20W50 sounds good). Oils mix fine (if you mix 10W40 and 20W50 you'll just land up with something inbetween). Engines aren't usually tremendously picky about exactly what oil is in them, at least short-term. They are, however, very picky that there is oil in them even in the very short term.

At leisure, probably a good idea to work out when the next oil change is due (or overdue) and get it done as appropriate.

 

[motobiker]

Oil change is every 6K miles ish.

I change the oil on my bike every 3,000 miles... and the filter every 6. castrol gp 10/40 But then I use my bike every day - all year round - with a fair amount of short journeys. I'm quite happy to give my bike this treat.. It hardly breaks the bank - it also goes a long way to reassure me that I'm doing the best by my workhorse.

I cant see any problem with mixing oil.. lets face it the amount you'll put in is only a few % of the total volume.

 

[madman]

Dont bother with expensive fully synthetic for these old tractors.

And if you think like that don't bother with expensive tyres either, just buy cheap ones for your old tractor!
IMHO a piston ring grinding up and down a metal cylinder does not know whether it is in a Porsche or a Morris Minor, it still needs good lube at all temperatures.

 

[Losttheplot]

Theres an interesting thread on oil that wapping posted:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91251

With my 1150 i just top it up with castrol gtx, probably around 10w40. As mentioned before the oil in the boxer gs's just lubricates the engine, so it won't have to be compliant with the gearbox or clutch like the oil for a lot of other bikes has to.

As for oil changes, i doubt you can ever do them to frequently. After all, oil is the cheapest form of metal you can get!

 

[MOTOTECH]

I have been using Valvolene VR1 Racing 20w50 semi-synthetic in all the bikes I service for some time now. It is top quality stuff, and at £28 for 5 litres isn't expensive either.
Brian.
www.moto-tech.biz

 

[trinkvean]

I have just been looking at the service book and found that the previous owner has pencilled the oilchanges in. The last one was only 900 miles ago so I will just top it up with a non synthetic

Thanks for all the help

Barry

 

[JoeC]

£28 for 5 litres isn't expensive either.

Blimey - seems expensive to me. Currently using Duckhams 20/50 at £13 for 4.5 litres. Got a 7K miles bike that I am running in so will stay on this for a while - maybe forever at those prices.

 

[Navy Boy]

20W/50 or 10-15W/40?

Hi All

I've read an awful lot about which oils to use and which not to use. It seems to change with nearly every thread on the topic! Essentially I've gathered that mineral or semi are fine therefore my question is - 20W/50 or is 10-15W/40 just as good?

I know that these ratings refer to the oil's viscosity at different temperatures but I'm still not clear as to what temps they refer to.

The background is that I'm about to change the oil on my 1150RT T-spark in preparation for trips to Holland as well as Umbria (Expecting it to be 30 degrees plus at times) this coming summer. At what temp does the 20W/50 become a better proposition?

Budget isn't too much of a consideration (Within reason - That is I don't really want to stick 30+ Quid oil in unless I have to)

All thoughts greatfully received.

 

[Decster]

as been said on this forum for the last few years. B*W recommend 15W50 oil for boxer engines. this is nearly impossible to find in the high street. I think the thought behind this is so the less technically minded bring the bike to B*W fearing to put the wrong oil in

So castrol 20W50 is the oil most tend to use or other 20W50 oil by other manufacturers........

but do a search and spend the next 6months reading all the oil threads

 

[Bryn]

Hi All

I've read an awful lot about which oils to use and which not to use. It seems to change with nearly every thread on the topic! Essentially I've gathered that mineral or semi are fine therefore my question is - 20W/50 or is 10-15W/40 just as good?

I know that these ratings refer to the oil's viscosity at different temperatures but I'm still not clear as to what temps they refer to.

The background is that I'm about to change the oil on my 1150RT T-spark in preparation for trips to Holland as well as Umbria (Expecting it to be 30 degrees plus at times) this coming summer. At what temp does the 20W/50 become a better proposition?

Budget isn't too much of a consideration (Within reason - That is I don't really want to stick 30+ Quid oil in unless I have to)

All thoughts greatfully received.

I'll throw what I believe into the equation, through searching endless threads on which oil to use until I became even more brain dead than normal

1150.. 10/40 semi synthetic after around 10,000 miles. I run it on vauxhall semi synth 10/40 .. had no problems on a trip to Garmisch last year, didn't use a drop And it got quite sunny and warm at times.... price wise I get 4x 1gallon cans for £33 .. now thats value I do an Oil/Filter change every 3k or so

20/50 if you live in a warmer place than blighty would be ok.....the 20/50 grade is more suitable for warm climates, as it doesn't have to be so thin on start up (as its not so cold) and its a bit thicker when its really hot... if that makes sense

which is why BMW recommend 20/50 anyway in the

1200 as the engine runs hotter ..so i'm told.

I'm doing a 10 day tour to Italy this June, and will be happy to do it on 10/40 Semi Synthetic...

thats how I interpret it anyway