Oil change frequency

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 1:15 pm

I usually change my oil/filter every 5k kms (3k miles). The user manual calls for a change every 10k (6k miles), unless riding is infrequent or at constant low air temps.

I'm using 20W50 dino oil.

How often do most riders change the oil/filter while on an extended trip? And...can this be done at 10k (6k miles)?

I'm planning a 10k km trip this summer.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:22 pm

Wow a 10,000 kilometer trip (6,000 miles)...that's going to be a big one.

Doing a change every 10,000 kilometers (6,000 miles) is fine...and what the manual recomends...I think.

I tend to do a change at about half that because oil is cheap and it can only help..but if I was on a trip I don't think I'd bother.

DJ

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 5:05 pm

Summertime (hot temps, more traffic) I'll change it at 3k miles. Otherwise Winter riding I'll go 6K miles. My last change was late last fall and I'm nearing the 6000 mile mark so I'll be changing again. Actually, I'm due for my 36k mile check so I need to get my tools ready.

peterbulgar · Post by **peterbulgar** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 8:41 pm

Actually, the miles of a long trip are probably the easiest miles your bike will ever see, unless you are severely overloaded or spend all your time at triple-digit speeds in Death Valley. Short trips in cold weather will shorten the effective life of oil, as will overheating in traffic - you are unlikely to see either situation on your trip.

There are many discussions about oil and oil changes on this and other forums. Here's one that appeared recently on bmwsporttouring.com under the hexheads section:
http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/s ... =0&fpart=1

In the thread there's a chart that shows the results of a professional oil analysis over a period of 12K miles - convincing stuff. I've always done oil changes religiously every 3k miles (2k miles until 5 years ago). The air-cooled BMW engine is probably harder on its oil than water-cooled motorcycle engines, which run at a more constant temperature and warm up quicker, but I'm convinced that unless there are extenuating circumstances, the BMW recommended 6K oil change interval is satisfactory - especially since the BMW engine oil is not shared with the clutch and transmission as in many other bikes.

Peter '73 R75/5, '04 R1150RA (also black, and also going on a 6k mile trip this summer)

Post by **Beemeridian** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:59 pm

gel9001 · Post by **gel9001** » Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:32 pm

Tor,
As you live in a cold weather area, you should consider running 10 40 oil in winter time. I agree with Peter, highway miles are easy on the engine, so don't worry about piling on the miles without an oil change. Have a safe and fun trip.
Gene

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 9:47 am

Thanks all.
Will try to stick to 3k or so. But if it ends up being 5-6k, I.m not gonna worry too much.

leno · Post by **leno** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:18 am

yellowjacket wrote:Good answer.

My dealer said:

BMW recommends oil changes at 3k, but requires them at 6k miles.
Since my machine is new and the rings have not yet fully seated, and won't for another 10k or so, I will hold to the 3k recommendation because, IMO, the ash-absorbtion characteristics of most oils are poor.

I've not heard this before. Perhaps it does depend on where you live. I don't worry over much because with the amount of oil you have to top up with by the time it gets to 6kmiles it's had a fair amount of fresh oil in any way.

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 12:42 pm

I change the oil per the manual, no more no less. I figure the mechanical engineers who design the motorcycles (or cars) may just know what they're talking about when it comes to maintenance.

Post by **Boxer** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:14 pm

I change the oil per the manual, no more no less. I figure the mechanical engineers who design the motorcycles (or cars) may just know what they're talking about when it comes to maintenance.

Engineers maybe...But when the marketing guys get their hands in it, I can imagine things get changed.

I find the above attitude naive at best. We all know about maunfacturers' built in obsolescence and I think it would be ignoring facts to believe that a manufacturer would make something and outline a plan whereby the consumer of that product would not have to buy another one.
Contrary to that, it is in our best interest as a smart consumer with limited funds to do everything possible to make said product last as long as possible. Or at least a lot longer than "they" intended for it to last for us.

GeoffJ · Post by **GeoffJ** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:35 pm

I change my oil every 3000 miles. Sure, the people who design the engines know what they're talking about. However, their input is jaded by marketers, as well as the lawyers who are following EPA recommendations to lengthen oil change intervals, so there's less waste oil dumped on the ground.

Post by **socalrob** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:42 pm

I think the real question is how many boxer oil head engines fail due to bad oil / extened mileage between oil changes / broken down oil / excessive wear on parts oil would protect. I've only heard of a very few destroyed engines that sounded like they were anywhere near oil related. I suspect we could go 10,000 miles between changes with dino oil & 20,000 between changes with synthetic, just as guesses. I myself change it or have it changed at 3-5,000 miles depending on trip lengths & season. But I suspect I am wasting alot of $$. I also suspect oil is considerably better than during the 60's / 70's when most of us learned that 2-3,000 change interval.

My wife has a Mercedes E320 (thats a 3.2L six) that has an oil capacity of 8 friggin quarts. The owners manual sets the change interval at up to 20,000 miles (the computer lets you know based on a number of factors). I just can't bring myself to go past 8,000 miles on an oil change.

fnfalman · Post by **fnfalman** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 8:53 pm

Boxer wrote:
I change the oil per the manual, no more no less. I figure the mechanical engineers who design the motorcycles (or cars) may just know what they're talking about when it comes to maintenance.
Engineers maybe...But when the marketing guys get their hands in it, I can imagine things get changed.

I find the above attitude naive at best. We all know about maunfacturers' built in obsolescence and I think it would be ignoring facts to believe that a manufacturer would make something and outline a plan whereby the consumer of that product would not have to buy another one.
Contrary to that, it is in our best interest as a smart consumer with limited funds to do everything possible to make said product last as long as possible. Or at least a lot longer than "they" intended for it to last for us.

My Beemers have always lasted until around 60,000-miles before trading in for new ones, so I guess my naivete must have worked. But you guys go ahead and buy those fancy synthetic oil every 3K. I'll stick with dino bones and factory recommended maintenance schedule.

GeoffJ · Post by **GeoffJ** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 2:05 pm

I'll never use synthetic. Plain ol' dino has always worked just fine for me and half the price.

jbuzbee · Post by **jbuzbee** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:24 pm

Contrary to that, it is in our best interest as a smart consumer with limited funds to do everything possible to make said product last as long as possible. Or at least a lot longer than "they" intended for it to last for us.

That's how the depression started. How very un-American of you!

Paul Mihalka · Post by **Paul Mihalka** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:04 pm

I work at a BMW dealer. I never heard of any recomendation about a 3,000 mile oil change, except in the stated hardship conditions like extreme dust or short/cold rides. I would say change the oil once a year if you did not do enough miles. I sold my '99 R1100RT a year ago. It got oil changes at about 6,000 miles, sometimes more if I was on a long trip. I sold it in perfect running condition, used about one quart between oil changes, never had the heads off the engine. I used mostly BMW dyno 10/50 oil, because it was convenient. When sold, the bike had over 170K miles. It still runs perfectly. I know the new owner.

Jax · Post by **Jax** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:25 pm

I also have never heard of 3k oil change intervals except in extreme conditions. I have owned a lot of Beemers and always changed the oil at 6k-7k miles and have never had an oil related problem with any of my engines. With today's oils, you could probably run 12-15k between oil changes.

Post by **challey** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:53 pm

I'll never use synthetic. Plain ol' dino has always worked just fine for me and half the price.

Don't want to start yet another oil thread but . . .
. . there are a number of good reasons to consider synthetics - lower engine temps, better fuel economy, better protection at start-up and high temps and most importantly, from an environmental perspective, extended drain intervals. Dino does work fine, especially with frequent changes but that used oil has a pretty negative impact on the environment. With synthetics, your drain intervals can be double or even triple that of dino - if you use an extended life oil filter or change filters at the 5k mark or so. And finally, Shell Rotella full synthetic is about the same price as BMW oil. Unfortunately, it comes only as 5W-40 so you may chance voiding the precious BMW warranty if you ran it in the summer in most places in the US (and Oz for that matter).

Having said all this, I have to admit that I haven't started using Rotella in the Roadster, though I do use it in both of my cars with 8-9k drain intervals. And I will probably still keep to more frequent changes if and when I switch, perhaps a filter change at 3k and oil/filter at 6k.

turnercj · Post by **turnercj** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:37 am

I'm with Challey on the fully synthetic oil. Due to its viscosity at low temperatures it is able to circulate around the engine internals quicker than conventional mineral based lubricants, therefore reducing wear at start up.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:44 am

Me too...I've used the best 5-40w synthetic since 1,000 kilometers (600 miles)...almost 5 yrs now.

I've recently changed to Castrol Magnetec..it's semi synthetic.

The oil does three things.

1..Lubes.

2..Cleans.

3..Cools.

Synthetics do all three better...IMHO

DJ