10W40 - But not a new oil thread

[timl]

I've been running Castrol GTX 20W50 every oil change in my 2004 Rockster for the last 15,000 miles. Currently there are about 31,000 miles on the bike. The oil has worked fine. Its a bit thick in the winter and when its below 30 degrees F the engine turns over very slowly.

So, a week ago, recognizing that cooler Fall weather was approaching, I decided to change over to Castrol GTX 10W40.

Now I notice that when driving home with the temperature at around 75 degrees, after riding for about 12 miles in traffic, I hear a loud clicking noise intermitently when at idle. Seems to come from the left side of the bike. Only occurs when the engine is well warmed up - but not hot. The noise sounds similar to the noise you get the first 1-2 seconds after a cold startup.

The noise does not occur when driving TO work in the mornings when the temperature is in the 60's.

Probably the cam chain tensioner.

I never had this problem until switching over to the lighter weight oil. I'm hoping that this will go away as the temperature drops further.

Anyone have similar experience with 10W40?

[riceburner]

I've been running Castrol GTX 20W50 every oil change in my 2004 Rockster for the last 15,000 miles. Currently there are about 31,000 miles on the bike. The oil has worked fine. Its a bit thick in the winter and when its below 30 degrees F the engine turns over very slowly.

So, a week ago, recognizing that cooler Fall weather was approaching, I decided to change over to Castrol GTX 10W40.

Now I notice that when driving home with the temperature at around 75 degrees, after riding for about 12 miles in traffic, I hear a loud clicking noise intermitently when at idle. Seems to come from the left side of the bike. Only occurs when the engine is well warmed up - but not hot. The noise sounds similar to the noise you get the first 1-2 seconds after a cold startup.

The noise does not occur when driving TO work in the mornings when the temperature is in the 60's.

Probably the cam chain tensioner.

I never had this problem until switching over to the lighter weight oil. I'm hoping that this will go away as the temperature drops further.

Anyone have similar experience with 10W40?

Have you upgraded to the later tensioner part??

[philbytx]

+1 for the LH Cam tensioner....update it!!

[WildBlue]

+1 for the LH Cam tensioner....update it!!

Update it... how?

[philbytx]

This is a well documented issue with Oilheads....
The replacement part numbers are :
11317688629 - Cylinder
11317656922 - Piston
07119963308 - Gasket

And, as this is an item that might got TU on you during the job :

Throttle body O-ring - 13541341797

About $73 total.

Easy Peasy job : Here's a handy link outlining the parts, job etc...

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/Ca ... _Parts.pdf

Did this R&R on my 1150RT....more of a PITA than doing it on a GS or R I can tell you

[WildBlue]

This is a well documented issue with Oilheads....
The replacement part numbers are :
11317688629 - Cylinder
11317656922 - Piston
07119963308 - Gasket

And, as this is an item that might got TU on you during the job :

Throttle body O-ring - 13541341797

About $73 total.

Easy Peasy job : Here's a handy link outlining the parts, job etc...

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/Ca ... _Parts.pdf

Did this R&R on my 1150RT....more of a PITA than doing it on a GS or R I can tell you

Great info, thank you so much!

[urmoo]

Any success?

[urmoo]

My experience.
Symptoms:

- for a second or two tapping noise from engine after starting
- running cold engine- no noise
- when hot, tapping appears again (just like an diesel engine )

After upgradeing Cam tensioner all symptomes are gone, just pure and sweet sound of boxer engine.

[timl]

I'm saving up to buy the upgraded cam tensioner. The noise is disconcerting but probably doesn't cause any true harm, and I never had the problem when running heavier oil.

I wish BMW had put in the same effort to upgrade the parts associated with the splines issue.

[b12bandit]

I run standard 20/50 in my bike. R1150R with 32k on the odometer

Quiet and smooth when cold. Rattles like a machine gun when warm.

Serviced regularly by a police motorcycle mechanic who tells me "they all do that".

[macx]

I run lighter oil in cooler weather, too. Last couple years mostly
only 5 to 8 miles trips ea way to work and back.

Even tho I have the tensioner upgrade, it still rattles some
after the engine warms up good if I went on a longer drive,
but more so with the lighter 10W40 oil than with 20W50
I use in warm weather.

A side note - synthetic oil doesn't thin out as much per the
same viscosity grade as regular oil when it gets hot.

[jcridge]

Wow...You guys are going to think I'm nuts. I run 20w50 year round here in NY state, temperature range from 0 to 100F. I have had zero issues on 4 BMW's, two K's and two R's. I ride out of a heated shop in the morning, but the shop is only kept at 45 degrees ( just enough to keep things from freezing) in the winter. Yeah there is a few seconds in cold weather when the oil is first getting up to pressure that you hear the tensioner, but other then that it's what I would conceder normal.

John