Engine Oil

[bono1151]

Thinking of switching motor oils.. I'm thinking of going with Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15W-50. Do you guys have any thought on this?

[DJ Downunder]

It's good stuff..go for it....I'm using Castrol Magnatec 10-40w semi synthetic...



DJ

[Boxer]

I'm thinking of going with Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15W-50

That's what I've been using for many miles now and I have heard no complaints from the 'Black Dominatrix'.

[Kazushi]

Hey,

I use ARAL motor oil 10W50 here, it seems to hold up to the very hot summers and not so cold winters well...

Thinking of switching motor oils.. I'm thinking of going with Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15W-50. Do you guys have any thought on this?

[HiOSilver]

Hmmm,

Everyone has their favorite oil and each one seems to be better than the next. It seems like the boxer is very tolerant of a wide variety of oil types and additive blends. What a great engine!

I think the question to ask is: Has anyone got an oil that they would recommend you don't use? If so, why?

[scottybooj]

DJ, we don't have magnatec here. perhaps it's like our Syntec?

[DJ Downunder]

Has anyone got an oil that they would recommend you don't use? If so, why?

I say don't use this one.. http://www.motul.com.au/ ...and why not...It costs too much.

...

DJ, we don't have magnatec here. perhaps it's like our Syntec?

Scott..I'm not sure..It could be...I'll try and find out...we had the Castrol oil guy talk about oils at one of our BMW club meetings not long ago..he'll know.

DJ

[Apostle]

Thinking of switching motor oils.. I'm thinking of going with Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15W-50. Do you guys have any thought on this?

I'm also researching this topic, as need to change oil in about 1k. I've checked on Mobiloil.com and looks like "Mobil 1 Extended Performance" is a top Mobile 1 version for car engine. But on the same site I found that Mobile 1 produces 3 types of oil specially designed for motorcycle engine:
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/Mot ... _Oils.aspx

So, what should we do: go with Extended Performance _OR_ choose one of special motorcycle oil? (If second, then which one is better for our R engine?). It is not a price factor for me. What I really want to know what is the best choice for my R-baby' engine.

Thanks,
Apostle

[ProductUser]

I've been using Mobil 15-50w (gold cap) for the last 30k miles on my '04 R with no problems at all. Any synthetic or dino oil is fine. The ONLY reason I switched to synthetic is that I ride (read: sit in traffic) in ambient temps above 100F all of the time.

ProductUser

[DJ Downunder]

So, what should we do: go with Extended Performance _OR_ choose one of special motorcycle oil? (If second, then which one is better for our R engine?). It is not a price factor for me. What I really want to know what is the best choice for my R-baby' engine.

You do not need to use the special motorcycle oil in your BMW.

The special motorcycle oils have friction modifiers (to help with wet clutch bikes..ours is dry)...and anti foaming agents (to help with very high reving engines..ours don't rev that high)

btw...when we had the Castrol oil expert talk at our club meeting he recommended the motorcycle specific oil for our bikes...he said it had extra goodies in it...I asked a question about using Magnatec in our bikes and he said he would check with the lab guys and get back to me.

He rang me back a few days after and said that the Magnatec had the same extra goodies in it that the motorcycle specific oil had in it..so go for it...and it's cheaper than the motorcycle specific oil and just as good if not better.

DJ

[marecycling]

I read a pretty interesting tech article on motorcycle oils a while back, and the bottom line was that diesal motor oils contained all the additives that provide clean running long lasting performance and are the best way to go for motorcycles. Opinions?

[jm1515]

I read a pretty interesting tech article on motorcycle oils a while back, and the bottom line was that diesal motor oils contained all the additives that provide clean running long lasting performance and are the best way to go for motorcycles. Opinions?

I used these...specifically Shell Rotella-T and Chevron Delo in my last ride...a water-cooled Kaw cruiser. I liked them, and they have excellent reputations for holding up under tough conditions. I never did a UOA on either, tho, so no 'scientific' data here, and I've never seen anything heavier than a 15w-40.
On my air/oil cooled R I went to M1 Synth 15w-50 at 8700mi and plan to use it for a while.
I've got my Blackstone Labs sample kit ready for when I change out and see what I can see....
Meanwhile...go here for anything oil.....
http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi
BOBISTHEOILGUY

[frozennorth]

Wow, I'm sure everyone's go their own favorite oil. I'm using Amsoil 20-50 full synthetic. Seems to run smoother than the synth/dino Spectro I was running previous. I am also spending the extra cash on the Amsoil filter that uses microfibres along with the usual paper. I figure the filter is as important as the oil.

Cheers

[ebiker]

I used these...specifically Shell Rotella-T and Chevron Delo in my last ride...a water-cooled Kaw cruiser

FWIW, the high mileage Gold Wing crowd seems to prefer Shell Rotella-T synthetic in the blue gallon jug.

Ed.. (dino in the Roadster and Wing for now)

[bono1151]

So you guys that are using 100% synthetic only change the oil every 6000? What about the filter every 6k as well?

[DJ Downunder]

Yes..

DJ

[frozennorth]

Actually, I change oil and filter every 3k miles, when I have time. Call me a fanatic, but I figure oil is cheap considering all the other things that can go wrong on a bike. I set up a wholesale account with my Amsoil distributor. As long as I buy case lots I'm getting my oil for under $10Cdn per quart.

Plus, the R is so easy to do a change on . . . takes exactly one beer.

[jm1515]

So you guys that are using 100% synthetic only change the oil every 6000? What about the filter every 6k as well?

That's the plan....
BMW specifies 6k intervals for the oil...not sure about the filter.
There is so much evidence out there that any good oil can do 6000mi with relative ease (UOAs), esp in non-wet clutch bikes. M1 Synth says it's good for 15000mi in cars.
I think that, given 'normal' street riding in non-extreme conditions (dust, heat, track daze etc), a more frequent OCI (after, say, the first 3~4000mi of 'wear-in') on our boxers is a waste of money and natural resources...

[frozennorth]

So you guys that are using 100% synthetic only change the oil every 6000? What about the filter every 6k as well?

I think that, given 'normal' street riding in non-extreme conditions (dust, heat, track daze etc), a more frequent OCI (after, say, the first 3~4000mi of 'wear-in') on our boxers is a waste of money and natural resources...

Hmmm, and just riding around for the fun of it burning our precious hydrocarbon resources isn't a waste , not to mention the toll the manufacture of tires and the actual bike takes on the environment

Face it, our love affair with two wheels isn't the best thing for the planet

[jm1515]

So you guys that are using 100% synthetic only change the oil every 6000? What about the filter every 6k as well?

I think that, given 'normal' street riding in non-extreme conditions (dust, heat, track daze etc), a more frequent OCI (after, say, the first 3~4000mi of 'wear-in') on our boxers is a waste of money and natural resources...

Hmmm, and just riding around for the fun of it burning our precious hydrocarbon resources isn't a waste , not to mention the toll the manufacture of tires and the actual bike takes on the environment

Face it, our love affair with two wheels isn't the best thing for the planet

Yes...but we were talking oil here...not saving the planet.

I average over 1000mi a month just, as you say, wasting gas, so I'm as guilty as anyone.

But you missed the ...'waste of money' part. Not exactly an easily 're-newable' resource....