What engine oil?

[PhilBolton]

OK, so the API rating is sorted - that just leaves the mineral/semi-synthetic/full-synthetic question!

Who's got thoughts on that?

Phil

 

[terayon]

Well as BMW recommend mineral I tend to use that, but sometimes use a semi, Silkolene super4 20w-50 if I cant get the mineral

 

[gavin@iow]

OK, so the API rating is sorted - that just leaves the mineral/semi-synthetic/full-synthetic question!

Who's got thoughts on that?

Phil

I've been using synthetic since around the 5-6000 mile mark.

 

[Greg Masters]

If I were to buy another new Beemer, I'd put synthetic in at the earliest opportunity.

The argument that synthetic lubricates too well doesn't really stack up!!

Greg

 

[gavin@iow]

If I were to buy another new Beemer, I'd put synthetic in at the earliest opportunity.

The argument that synthetic lubricates too well doesn't really stack up!!

Greg

Ah, there you are Greg, I thought you'd be along soon,....I would tend to agree with you on that, as soon as the 'running in' is done, use synthetic. I've never gone along with that old wives tale about 20,000 miles plus nonsense,....i'm going to hide now!

 

[PhilBolton]

Now that's something I don't understand - BM recommend mineral oil, apparently, so why did they put semi-synth in mine at its first service?

Phil

 

[PhilBolton]

Isn't it surprising how many posts slip in whilst you're one-finger typing!!!!

Gavin - reply - my Riders Manual says "SF or better"

Phil

 

[gavin@iow]

Now that's something I don't understand - BM recommend mineral oil, apparently, so why did they put semi-synth in mine at its first service?

Phil

Phil, where do they recommend mineral?, is this in the latest manual again?, i'm just going by the recommended spec in my manual, and use a synthetic that is within those specifications.

 

[cookie]

If I were to buy another new Beemer, I'd put synthetic in at the earliest opportunity.

The argument that synthetic lubricates too well doesn't really stack up!!

Greg

i can't see a problem with that at all either, but i use mineral myself. vw put synth in at manufacture & they work ok.

never had any problem with duckhams either & and i've used gallons of it. 3 last week alone

 

[gavin@iow]

never had any problem with duckhams either & and i've used gallons of it. 3 last week alone

I think you may need to get that bike looked at, it sounds like it's using a bit of oil

 

[PhilBolton]

Gavin - good one, three gallons ho! ho! ho!

" BM recommend mineral " - see Terayon above.

As I read the manual, it doesn't indicate a preference, other than the comment re. first 6000m. and synthetic.

Phil

 

[terayon]

Taken from the 2006 service DVD



BMW oil Part no 81 22 9 407 685 is a mineral oil

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Halfords own 20/50 for classic cars. Comes in a nice old fashioned tin and costs £14.00 for 5 litres. Does the job in my 1200 and just put it in my 1100 (well, it is a classic)

Got 3 boxers and had an 1150 which I put 24,000 miles in 18 months. I`ve probably used 2 litres extra other than normal service in all my bikes with approx 60,000 miles covered. It`s an absolute myth that ALL boxers use oil. My opinion is that some are overfilled which makes it sem like oil is used. I`ve noticed on all my bikes that the level can differ depending on when you look

4 GS`s to Valencia last year @ 2500 mile round trip per bike. NO OIL USED in any bike

Steptoe`s Mad Moroccan Dash 2007 10 GS`s @ 4500 mile round trip per bike. I do not recall anyone adding oil.

Both the above trips were a mixture of hard motorway, cities, twisties, mountains, hot, cold etc and a good all round test of the bike. So 55,000 miles with no oil used does not indicate that boxers use oil.

My opinion only and I`m waiting to be shot down!!

 

[terayon]

My opinion only and I`m waiting to be shot down!!

Your opinion and as good an opinion as the others.

When I brought mine 2nd hand It was using about 1/2 litre per 1000 miles of oil. It had 4700 miles on the clock. It now has 13800 miles on it and now uses 1/2 litre per 4000 miles.
So I think the first owner hadn't really used the engine revs too much to bed it down properly

 

[gavin@iow]

Your opinion and as good an opinion as the others.

When I brought mine 2nd hand It was using about 1/2 litre per 1000 miles of oil. It had 4700 miles on the clock. It now has 13800 miles on it and now uses 1/2 litre per 4000 miles.
So I think the first owner hadn't really used the engine revs too much to bed it down properly

Oil usage is variable on boxers, mine stopped using any within the first 1500 miles, so i treated it as run in, and at the next oil change used synthetic. 11800 miles on and all is well.

 

[JIm]

South London motorcycles still recomend GPS 10/40, I asked about this, they explained that, if customers complain about top end engine noise, BMW recomends 20/50 in the engine, it is simply a noise issue and not engine wear issue, GPS10/40 is good to 30c.
I still wonder though, an air coled Harley use 20/50 and they are quite a refind engine now!!, well probably.
My instinct is to put 10/50/or 15/50 in the bike but wonder what would happen if there was an engine problem under warrenty and BMW found a quallity, but not recomended oil, like silkolene or mobile 1 and not what the dealer put in?
Jim

 

[John Armstrong]

it is simply a noise issue and not engine wear issue, GPS10/40 is good to 30c.

Last year how many days went above 30c, and how many below -10c? in the UK?

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

South London motorcycles still recomend GPS 10/40, I asked about this, they explained that, if customers complain about top end engine noise, BMW recomends 20/50 in the engine, it is simply a noise issue and not engine wear issue, GPS10/40 is good to 30c.

I wonder if they have ever heard how noisey the cam chain can get as it slaps around inside the engine, when stuck in a Paris traffic jam, due to the tensioner loosing pressure beacuase of hot thin oil?

Since that episode I've run 20/50 and it's never happened again, despite having been in similar/worse conditions.

Andres

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Last year how many days went above 30c, and how many below -10c? in the UK?

Plenty of days where it was pushing towards 30 and therefore VERY close to the reccomended limit.

Andres

 

[boesman]

This is probably a realy dumb question but....

If my manual (2006 R1200GS) states "Engine oils of API classification SF or better" , does this mean SL and SJ will be ok?