Oil Change

[vcarlew]

My Clymer manual says the engine oil and filter should be replaced every 6,000 miles. I have never driven any vehicle that far between oil changes. I am running synthetic Redline 20-50W. Any advice on how often I should be changing oil and filter?

[boxermania]

Most people adhere to the old rule of 3,000 milechanges with organic base oil. However advances both in oil and machining tolerances have pushed that figure significantly upwards. Not knowing what is the use given to your bike and taking into consideration the brand of oil a well as it's sythetic formulation I'd say that you have excellent protection on a 6,000 mile schedule.

[The Meromorph]

My Clymer manual says the engine oil and filter should be replaced every 6,000 miles. I have never driven any vehicle that far between oil changes. I am running synthetic Redline 20-50W. Any advice on how often I should be changing oil and filter?

Then you've wasted a whole lot of expensive oil...
3,000 mile oil changes were appropriate in the 1960's. Oil and engines have changed a whole lot since then. If you're still under warranty, stick with the BMW specified 6,000 miles. You could safely run the Redline to 12,000 miles, and change the filter every 12,000 miles in either case.

[jcridge]

Moisture and acid build haven't changed over the years, sub-micron particles that pass through most after-market filter are there as well. It comes down to the type of riding you do and how many miles do you put on in a year?
Today's high detergent oils are great for keeping the oil passages and crankcase clean, while combating the inevitable build of contaminates. Standard oils do not provide the high pressure film barrier that can be found in synthetic oils such as Amsoil and Redline. Synthetics also have less acid build simply due to having less contaminates in their manufacturing process, but the hydrocarbons in the gasoline, water vapor and combustion temperatures all combine to produce suspended contaminates in the oil. If you riding enables you to reach full engine temperatures for at least 30 minutes or so, then you should have very little moisture build-up in the crankcase. It is those engines that never reach temperature, or have allot of start ups over a very short period that take the abuse.

In reality, if you ride long enough each time to remove the moisture in the oil, then 6K miles will be fine. Reality is never a perfect world...

Keep an eye on oil usage between changes.

Man...it just occurred to me that I just fell into another oil thread...damn Al Gore.


John

[b12bandit]

I had an interesting conversation with an employee of the Castrol oil company. 'Off the record' he told me that most modern oils are good for 30,000 MILES before needing changing but it's not in the oil companies interests to say so!

Discuss.

[vcarlew]

Thanks for the responses. I have heard that new synthetic oils can go far greater distances, however the filters still need to be changed more frequently. My bike is out of warranty and is rarely ridden less than 40 miles per Ride. Therefore, I will save some money, befriend Al Gore by using less oil, and go at least 6000 miles between changes.