When to switch to synthetic oil?

[BawdyMonk]

I'm up to 25000km (15500 miles), from what I've read it's around the time a boxer can, or should, be changed to synthetic oil.

Is it worth doing now or on the 30000km service?

It's difficult to get branded oil here so what specification should I be looking for in synthetic?

 

[wessie]

I'd wait until the next service. My dealer uses semi-synthetic Castrol GPS.

For generic oils you are looking for JASO and API specifications.

The top specs. are JASO MA and API SL. My manual says that a minimum of API SG is required so for example an API SJ would be fine.

As the GS has a dry clutch there is no problem using an oil marketed as car oil.

In the UK we generally use a 10w/40 multigrade oil. A different viscosity may be more appropriate for Cyprus. Looking at the Shell website for Greece, they sell Advance VSX oil in 15w/50.
See here

 

[Bryn]

Mine's ran luvverly on castrol GTX magnatec 10/40 for the last 15 months, now on 23000 miles. Doesnt seem to use any...

 

[BawdyMonk]

I'd wait until the next service. My dealer uses semi-synthetic Castrol GPS.

For generic oils you are looking for JASO and API specifications.

The top specs. are JASO MA and API SL. My manual says that a minimum of API SG is required so for example an API SJ would be fine.

As the GS has a dry clutch there is no problem using an oil marketed as car oil.

In the UK we generally use a 10w/40 multigrade oil. A different viscosity may be more appropriate for Cyprus. Looking at the Shell website for Greece, they sell Advance VSX oil in 15w/50.
See here

Thanks , in the past couple of years the big oil companies such as Mobil, Esso & Shell have sold out to EKO, (Greek) and LUK (Russian) so I have to go by the specifications and not the brand.

It's used about 0.5litre in the 3500 miles since the service, hopefully I won't be using any with synthetic.

 

[Gecko]

hopefully I won't be using any with synthetic.

Don't bet on it.....I've been on fully synth since about 10,000km and it still uses some , I get thru about 0.5L per 2500km depending on how I drive. The change to synth was done by the B#W dealer and I have stuck with the same oil since. I use Castrol superbike oil - bloody expensive but I guess I am being kind to my engine

 

[BawdyMonk]

Don't bet on it.....I've been on fully synth since about 10,000km and it still uses some , I get thru about 0.5L per 2500km depending on how I drive. The change to synth was done by the B#W dealer and I have stuck with the same oil since. I use Castrol superbike oil - bloody expensive but I guess I am being kind to my engine

Gecko, I thought the idea was to run the bike in (25/30,000km) before switching to synthetic, my understanding being that if you waited until then everything was "bedded in" and you wouldn't then use any synthetic...

 

[FatAl]

The oil spec 'JASO MA' is usually quoted for motorcycle specific oils, this I believe relates to the engine oil being compatible for use with a wet clutch. As BMW twin cylinder boxer engines have seperate oils for gearbox and engine, and also a dry clutch it is not really essential to use motorcycle specific oil, a good high spec car type oil will do and is usually easier to obtain, and probably cheaper as well.

 

[MrIFan]

Bawdy, if it's still using oil it ain't run in!!

Mine ( 1150 ) used between 0.25 and 0.5L per 1000 miles up untill it hit 20000 miles and then stopped using any oil at all unless I was holding a high motorway speed for any distance (115mph+)

If you are going to stick to the recomended oil change intervals there really is no point in using synthetic oils. The engine just isn't stressed enough to break down standard (and much cheaper) mineral oil in between services. The only advantage to be gained from using synthetic oil is if you are going to use the bike extreeeeeeeeeeeemly hard or you are going on the kind of trip where the oil is not going to be changed for way in excess of the standard interval. Modern synthetics in cars are generaly speced to last 30000 miles and up between changes!!

A modestly tweaked boxer ( Reamus, chip, K&N) will comfortably
cover 100000+ on regularaly changed standard mineral oil ( and filter)with no trouble, well not trouble caused by the oil anyway

Dont know what the climate is like in Cyprus during winter but I would suggest using an oil with a top end rating of 50, ie. 15w50 in summer and maybe a 10w40 in winter. If the average winter temperature is below 0C then poss a 5w40.
HTH

Ian

 

[Dan Hoots]

Oil

You can find several people who will tell you when you should change to synth. oil, heres one more. Wait until your bike stops using oil then change to synth.
My $.02

 

[MrIFan]

BAWDY

Forget synth unless you race or thrash the bike everywhere

Total waste of time

it really will run for ever if you put in average mineral and change the filter now and again

This engine is built to conquer deserts, the regular thrash to the pub, even if it is on a different continent, ain't gonna worry it.




Can't vouch for the electrics though

 

[BawdyMonk]

Cheers

I'll be leaving it then, so I'll avoid the headache of looking for synthetic, although I do thrash my bike and often cane it at 115-120mph it's never for more than 15-20 miles at a go, due to where the plod put their speed traps