Oil spec

[pitrat101]

Hi guys, just phoned my local dealer to find out what oil specs are for bike, g/box, final drive, engine) and what make grade they use. I was told the prices if said oils but wouldn't give me make or grades. I guess it's to try and make me buy from there! Had a quick search but as usual 5 different options of what people use! So does any one know what grade and make of oil BMW use? Its a2012 TC as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NicD]

People tend to use 10w-40 or 10w-50 engine oil after first few thousand miles. I use latter but know others who use former. Gearbox and FD are Castrol 75w-90 Syntrax longlife (former saf-xo). there are a few 75w-90s so check it's the right one. Opie Oils with UKGSER discount code tends to be cheapest. Worth getting the Haynes manual which has much of this info and torque settings. Also note that BMW reduced the FD oil volume from the 220ml initially listed. People tend to put 180-200ml depending on who you talk to. Happy to be corrected if any of this wrong. There is also an oil post in the stickies which suggests it is read before asking re oil. Hope that helps

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

There is a sticky up the top of the forum saying "please read before asking anything about oil" should have everything you could ever need in it.

 

[Tarka]

Oil thread alert.

Simple answer.....

 

[NicD]

Oil thread alert.

Simple answer.....

You're right that he should have read it. I sympathise a little with the question as there is no simple summary to give all the necessary info. But would be better to ask question referencing the info that is already available. And certainly best to get a manual

 

[Santa-2512]

I think the Janitor needs to create a sub forum called "Oil"

In it, we could put all the info gleaned over the years, the anecdotal evidence, The expert wisdom from these hallowed grounds.


It would beome the mecca of oil, the shining beacon against despair, light in the darkness of visocity.

Members would feel empowered, confident that upon entering the hallowed portal

asking questions in hushed tones would be scorn and derision free.

There burdens would be lifted, they woud have there fevered brows bathed from the well of crude,

they would know there syntrax's from there hypoids, and they could offer praise to the lord of multigrade.


Obviously, to do this would need a moderator who could step up to the chalange, able to lead through the sea of Ep140

and deliver a clean velvety smooth experiance.

I think Tarka would fit the bill admiradbly ,

His succincteness and charming witt, portray all that is required to hold the bastion of power in such hallowed grounds

 

[Nin]

I worked on a fisheries project in Sri Lanka. Part of the deal was to give fishermen little boats driven by small diesel inboards. They tended to flog the oil we gave them and put paint in instead. Surprisingly the ran for quite a while.


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[younger06]

I worked on a fisheries project in Sri Lanka. Part of the deal was to give fishermen little boats driven by small diesel inboards. They tended to flog the oil we gave them and put paint in instead. Surprisingly the ran for quite a while.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Satin Sheen or Gloss

Sent from a U11

 

[pitrat101]

I did have a look through the mentioned section but didnt find my answer, the oil that was supplied with bike to top up was advantec pro 15w50, yet others us different, was also aware that the guys opie question was for an earlier bike which i know nothing about., my question was specific, what make and grade do BMW use, I have been out and purchased a haynes manual which states Castrol power 1 4t. 15w50. the finaldrive and gearbox oil are Castrol SAF-XO. I appolgise for my lack of knowlege in this area I just wanted to know if the same oil was available as non BMW brand at a less extortionate cost, just one more querey! please dont shout!! what size is the tool for oil filter 74mm or 76mm seem to be a few on ebay 8 12 or 14 sided, I dont have bike here to check. I intend on keeping the bike for a number of years so just want the correct grades to look after engine.

Thanks guy's

 

[NicD]

Castrol Power 1 10w-50 although any fully synthetic should be fine. If I wasn't using the same brand across multiple bikes I would probably use something that comes in a 4L can - Castrol don't sell it in UK in 4L cans which is a bit of a pain. Gearbox / FD as per my post above. The OEM oil filter is a Mahle OC306 which I think takes 76mm x 12 sides, but check this. The Mahle website is pretty good for finding parts and should have the filter and tool on there. Opie sell all the Mahle filters

 

[Nin]

Satin Sheen or Gloss

Sent from a U11

Gloss enamel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[NicD]

...x 12 sides

12 flutes

 

[pitrat101]

Thanks guys. Gunna go satin sheen gold, (10w40 Castrol 1 power), bike doesn't get hammered and doesn't go abroad so be good for UK weather. Thanks for info guys. Much appreciated. Hilltop maybe? Let's not go there! Haha

 

[Bendy toy]

BMW say it will be ok with 20w50 mineral so don't stress about it. A turbo diesel grade 10w40 semi synth is more than good enough to handle the sometimes hotter running of an air cooled motor over liquid cooling. My last bike (Yamaha) was specced for JASO MA (which by today's standards is nothing special) but it was air cooled and made the same bhp per litre as the Beemer. At 70K miles there was no measurable wear on the cam profiles.

Avoid the fancy thin stuff and don't over-fill the engine as both will burn the oil.

 

[Greg Masters]

12 flutes

More than three is an orchestra!

 

[Greg Masters]

I ran my GS on oat porridge, made with water but no salt. It ran very quietly....

 

[Bendy toy]

I ran my GS on oat porridge, made with water but no salt. It ran very quietly....

Is that the same as putting sawdust in the gearbox?

 

[Greg Masters]

Is that the same as putting sawdust in the gearbox?

Dunno, but Scots Oats tastes about the same as sawdust....

 

[NicD]

Thanks guys. Gunna go satin sheen gold, (10w40 Castrol 1 power), bike doesn't get hammered and doesn't go abroad so be good for UK weather. Thanks for info guys. Much appreciated. Hilltop maybe? Let's not go there! Haha

I tried 10w40 as it is so much cheaper and I have it already for other bikes. The GS engine rattled and ticked more than with the 10w50. It was noticeable. So I went back to the 10w50. But that's just my view and I am sure either is fine.

 

[TLSgazza]

BMW say it will be ok with 20w50 mineral so don't stress about it. A turbo diesel grade 10w40 semi synth is more than good enough to handle the sometimes hotter running of an air cooled motor over liquid cooling. My last bike (Yamaha) was specced for JASO MA (which by today's standards is nothing special) but it was air cooled and made the same bhp per litre as the Beemer. At 70K miles there was no measurable wear on the cam profiles.

Avoid the fancy thin stuff and don't over-fill the engine as both will burn the oil.

BMW used to say it was fine with 20/50 mineral oil about 11 years ago, then they changed their minds after a lot of engine problems and changed to power 1 castrol expensive, ( I used this for a while but when hot the engine rattled really badly)
I then used 10/40 semi synthetic for a while as I've been using it in my tls's for 20 years without problems,
now they seem to recommend 15/50
This came from an ex BMW chief mechanic from wollastons who serviced my bike earlier this year,
Anyway I bought silkolene 15/50 semi synthetic which he was happy to put in it whilst he was sorting out an oil leak from my front engine cover.the engine sounds quieter and feels smoother with this in it,