Engine oil: Auto or Cycle only?

[sjn]

I'm a new member and first time postee. I just purchased an '05 R1150r and am planning on doing an oil change this weekend. I'm asking for opinions on whether motorcycle oil or automotive oil should be used? Does it matter and why if it does?
I called the local BMW dealer Bob's BMW in Baltimore and was told that auto oil has different detergents in it that you don't want in a cycle motor. I don't want to say the people at Bob's don't know what they're talking about I'm just not convinced they have my wallets best interests in mind.

Any and all thoughts appreciated.

Anybody in this area looking to ride let me know.

[boxermania]

sjn

Welcome aboard....this is a topic that has been discussd to no end....nevertheless and not demean Bob's opinion, hear me out.

The BMW engine is an internal combustion engine as is the engine in an automobile, they might run a bit hotter and spin a little faster, but there is no difference. The difference comes in if you have the engine and the tranny using the same oil as most of the Japanese bikes do, as the transmission requires an EP (extra pressure) additive for the gears. That's where the main diference comes in.

So the answer to your question is no......can motorcycle oil have diferent compounds than the automovile oil, a resunding no!!!, it can have diferent concentrations of the same components.....potentially yes!!, we would have to analyze the compound concentration in both oils to compare.

I've used a good automotive oil all my life on many diferent vehicles, boats and never had any issues......

[Airman]

This seems to be a subject that comes up often, as well as the oil filter question, because BMW charges so much for these consumables. I use my bike for commuting and like to change the oil often. I pay $2.50/qt for oil and $5.50 for the filter. You can figure that as less then half the price of BMW oil and filter.
I did a bit of online research, listened to other people's experience to make my decision on the matter. I'm using Castrol GTX 20-50 year round now. It's interesting to look at the differences in the oils recommended for motorcycles and the varioous automotive oils. I'm just beginning to look into synthetics, probably Mobil 1 because it's widely availble, which I believe might be superior for air cooled engines. You could buy a synthetic for the price of the BMW or Spectro oils.

[CycleRob]

The BMW OilHead and MotoGuzi V-Twin motors are just like an air cooled car engine (that would be a VW beetle). No gritty wet clutch or brutalizing transmission gears to share the oil with. The oil therefore will have a much longer service interval than your last bike(s). Even at the 6,000 mile drain out, it doesn't look that bad.

Yes, the Castrol 20W-50 is a good one for a conventional oil. After your bike is broken in and nearly stops using oil, for the superior hi heat protection I'd definitely switch to a synthetic oil. Because of it's quality, great price and "5W" viscosity rating @32degF I use Castrol Syntec 5W-50 with the BMW filter year round changing it at the 6,000 service. Mobil-1 20W-50 when the 5W-50 Castrol is unavailable. Wal*Mart has the best price for the Syntec in the 5W-50 (NOT 20W-50) viscosity, but it being in stock is often a surprise.

.

[Airman]

The BMW OilHead and MotoGuzi V-Twin motors are just like an air cooled car engine (that would be a VW beetle). No gritty wet clutch or brutalizing transmission gears to share the oil with. The oil therefore will have a much longer service interval than your last bike(s). Even at the 6,000 mile drain out, it doesn't look that bad.

Yes, the Castrol 20W-50 is a good one for a conventional oil. After your bike is broken in and nearly stops using oil, for the superior hi heat protection I'd definitely switch to a synthetic oil. Because of it's quality, great price and "5W" viscosity rating @32degF I use Castrol Syntec 5W-50 with the BMW filter year round changing it at the 6,000 service. Mobil-1 20W-50 when the 5W-50 Castrol is unavailable. Wal*Mart has the best price for the Syntec in the 5W-50 (NOT 20W-50) viscosity, but it being in stock is often a surprise.

.

Wouldn't the 20-50 be better ? I had 5-20 in my van when I lived in MN, but I was looking at leaving it for days at the airport with temps below zero. Wouldn't a higher viscosity be better in the air cooled engine ? I've had my bike at work with temps below freezing and had no trouble starting with the 20-50 GTX. Just a little slow perhaps.

[towerworker]

sjn-

Welcome to the board!

If you live near Baltimore then there's a bunch of us fairly near to you. I live south of you in Staunton. Several others in northern Va. Check out the group rides section. There's a bunch of us gathering middle of May in Pa. Maybe you could join us?

Wayne

[Samiam]

You know, with oil changes coming at 6,000 miles and the difference in price between BMW oil and Castrol being not terribly remarkable, I would just stick with the factory recommendation. Good golly, you ponied up the money to buy a Beemer why quibble over a few dimes?

[towerworker]

For what it's worth---

The back cover of the BMW R1150R Maintenance Booklet has the statement in the upper right: BMW recommends Castrol



Wayne

[sjn]

Thanks for all of your responses.... I have a case of GTX 20/50 leftover from an old 5 series bimmer that I'll use.... My R is still under warrenty till June so I'll use a BMW filter till then and switch to the Bosch 72161.

Wayne... I would be interested in that mid-May Pa. ride if you could keep me posted.

Thanks again.
Scott

[R4R&R]

Hey Scott - congrats on the bike. Most of the other already covered the details/differences on the oil, but remember to get oil that has the API "SF", "SG", or "SH" rating on it. The manual states that. Otherwise, get a good brand oil. Bob's (along with most dealers) are only going to recommend BMW oil - if they tell you something different and it's a warranty call, they're stuck in the middle.

I typically run 20w-50 year 'round, but if the bike is regularly parked outsiode in the winter, then I'll use thinner. Summertime (or the warmer months) I opt for synthetic.

Up for a ride soon? I'm probably going to go for a dayride out in West VA in the next few weeks. Let me know if you're interested.

[Biff's R]

My bike starts easier, and gets up to operating temp a lot quicker in the winter with the Syntec 5w-50 than it did with the 20w-50.

[Airman]

You know, with oil changes coming at 6,000 miles and the difference in price between BMW oil and Castrol being not terribly remarkable, I would just stick with the factory recommendation. Good golly, you ponied up the money to buy a Beemer why quibble over a few dimes?

Because it's my nature I guess. It bothers me to believe I'm paying double for what is essentialy the same product. There is an availability issue as well. I can buy oil at any shopping center whereas the either of my local dealers is a goodly drive. Amazon will drop those Puralator filters off on my doorstep. We could have the same discussion about maintenance. Do I really think I do better maintenance then the dealer, or am I quibbling over money ? Of course I am. It's part of a total ownership cost. I also try to shave insurance costs, loan interest and anywhere else I can. I imagine most everybody does the same. And, as i mentioed before, I can afford to buy the BMW stuff. These are just options we're talking about here.

[OU812]

I agree with most of what has been said here. My ONE concern is with the Bosch filters. I use them now but only have one left. The thread on filters is out here and CycleRob did a cutaway on the BMW filter, and I am going back to those. There is a bypass valve in there that IF you have a major plug up the filter the oil will still pass around the filter element and back to the motor. That is the only reason I am going back to BMW filters.

[digga]

Of all the stuff i've read on here about filters... what is the general opinion on
Mann-Hummel filters?? (MW712) and their air filters??
I picked up 1 of each for £10 (20$US?)
I thought that Mann were a reputable brand.. comments?

Digga

[OU812]

The website does not list any filters for bikes.
http://www.mann-hummel.com/mf_prodkata_ ... 01_mrksl=6

[boxermania]

digga

Mann is a reputable brand, overseas, we don't see much stateside, however, this should give you a better perspective.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... 435&page=2

Hope it helps.......

[CycleRob]

One important fact that's overlooked is the stock BMW filter is designed for 20W-50 weight oil in a motorcycle engine (higher RPM than a car). Fifty weight oil going thru an AC Delco car filter?? It's going to internally bypass the oil (unfiltered) more often than you will know, without any indication that it is. That's why the additional nylon fine mesh bypass oil filter is in the BMW filter - - - which NOBODY ELSE'S FILTER HAS.
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 2#12189899
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 2#12189902
http://r1150r.smugmug.com/gallery/44666 ... 2#12189868

When it comes to smart shopping, few people will be as "thrifty" as I am. Sometimes only the major brands will do, like Sony TV's, Lays potato chips or Helman's Mayo. Most other times the less expensive stuff will do. When it comes to my bike's oil filter, for what it is and how long it lasts, there's only one choice for me. The real thing. Spend the $1.25/1,000 miles extra on the BMW oil filter and save money somewhere else!!!

.

[OU812]

Thanks for making it clear for me again Rob.

[digga]

@ Cyclerob....BMW don't manufacture oil filters!! another company makes them and they are BMW branded.

I can't find 20w -50 oil in Halfords ( a 'one stop shop' for car/motorcycle parts.....mainly pimping parts nowadays though )

[digga]

As a follow on from this... what oil do peeps use in the U.K??