The Oil Truth

[nud1e]

I bought some oil, which was fora diesel, by mistake.
I wondered if I could use it in the airheads and decided to have a web search for the answer.

Instead, I found this http://www.realclassic.co.uk/oil030319.html
and had more answers than questions

 

[Keith Chapman]

I ran my old Guzzi on Diesel oil for years with no problems, I would think an air head on diesel would be ok.

 

[Possu]

I needed oil in a hurry once & was told by a Mechanic that quality diesel engine oil is at least as good, if not hogherquality, than oil of the same spec for a petrol engine.

 

[Guzzler]

I got to talk to an oil company chemist one time. This guy was one that would verify the oil contents, and would work with the application testing department (practical testing in engines) to see which additives, formulas worked the best. They would also compare, test competitors oils.

Use an oil from from one of the major suppliers (their quality control and formulation consistancy is generally better than the smaller companies).

His biggest recommendation... Get the best oil filter you can find.

Their internal testing (which they won't disclose to the public) showed that a good filter does the best at prolonging engine life and minimizing engine wear now days, as most oils and their formulas surpass most engine requirements. And that with a really, really good filter, you can get dino oil to do just as well as synthetic oil with an average everyday filter on most automobile and motorcycle engines.

His favorite filter of all times, get this, is a roll of toilet paper. It uses a modified container that you can open up and put in a full roll of toilet paper.

 

[Steptoe]

IHis favorite filter of all times, get this, is a roll of toilet paper. It uses a modified container that you can open up and put in a full roll of toilet paper.

what a load of crap.

 

[Guzzler]

what a load of crap.

I thought so too :nige Until I started reading more about TP filters, or rolled paper filters which are used in diesel engines.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Those toilet paper oil filter units have been used on trucks for around 30 years that I know of.

As most trucks clock up literally millions of miles/kilometres a year then there has to be something in that statement from above.

Mick.

 

[mikeoold]

Is it true there are only4 manufactures of Oil filters in the world
mikeo

 

[Spanish Bob]

Is it true there are only4 manufactures of Oil filters in the world
mikeo

no its a filthy lie

 

[R Savage]

So does all this mean that I should stop worrying about whether or not I should put the only 15W-40 semi synth engine oil I could find in Halfords, which happens to be their GTX High Mileage stuff and just use it with a filter change?

Also should I seek out GL5 EP 80W-90 gear oil in the gearbox and final drive rather than use the GL4 80W-90 that I have in substantial quantities?

Also, also! should I flush the final drive of it's mineral oil now that it has been run in before re-filling with EP whatever??

TIA

Richard

 

[Jimb]

R. Savage

GL4 is not good enough for BMW gearboxes or final drive it does not posses the anti shear qualities that is required in a hypoid final drive so don't use it.

ONLY GL5 spec in both gearbox and final drive preferably fully synthetic, mobil 1 do a suitable gear oil and Rock oils also do one, Castrol do a range of synthetic gear oils for trucks which are suitable for your bike./

The gears in a final drive are under extreme pressure when running and the oil MUST be capable of resisting the pressure and maintaining a film of oil between the teeth under load.

 

[R Savage]

ONLY GL5 spec in both gearbox and final drive preferably fully synthetic, mobil 1 do a suitable gear oil and Rock oils also do one, Castrol do a range of synthetic gear oils for trucks which are suitable for your bike./

Right; Mobil synth gear oil GL5 for the transmission.

What about the engine? Mileage is 20,000 Km + 15,000 Miles (changed speedos!).