BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Went to Walmart looking for oil for my 96 R1100R Haynes is showing 20W-40 or 20W50 for my temps and the only oil I could find is Rotella for deisel. Will that work or should I opt for a higher quality oil? Can't beat the price. $12 for a 5 qt. jug

Diesel engine oil is rated with an API symbol beginning with C as in CH-4. Gasoline engine oil is rated with a symbol beginning with S such as SJ.

Rotella is rated with both gasoline and diesel ratings and is fully suitable for your bike.
There are two Rotellaa the T5 (15W-40 Mineral oil), and the T6 (5W-40 full Synthetic).
Both are one of the highest quality oils in their respective class, and have been used in BMW oilheads, and hexheads with no problems.

Good to know they will work well in the oilhead. Think the local Walmart had the plain Rotella T straight mineral oil and the previous owner of my wife's higher mileage oilhead recommended against synthetics for that bike.

20W-50 and mineralic stuff - that what you cow wants

I used to use the 20w-50 Rotella in my (former) '03 R1150R, and it ran fine during high-temperature days. My current '01 R1100R is going to get some fresh 15w-40 Rotella when it needs an oil change. Good oil, IMO...

So is the mineral favored over the synthetic for a reason? Need to change my oil (just bought the bike 42K) and need some advice on this. Also is there a recommended aftermarket oil filter?

thanks

Motorex do a special oil for the BMW boxer. This oil is superb. My oil consuption wasn't a lot but improved with the Motorex. Mine is the 15W50. But the Castrol synthetic 10W50 is also very good. Synthetic beats the mineral oil in my view.

Ton