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

Assuming various brands all do basically the same thing, what's a good weight to use through the fall and into the winter? Lows around here will be in the mid to high 30's, highs in to the low 80's. Mostly commuting, probably no touring :-( Are multi-viscosity oils recommended for the boxer engine?

I DO NOT want recommendations an an oil brand, just an oil weight. Oil brand discussions are widely available. :-)

John

I use synthetic 15W-50 or 20W-50 all the time, and it gets colder here in NW NJ.

Xdot wrote:Are multi-viscosity oils recommended for the boxer engine?

More than recommended... required.

Your owner's manual includes a chart to oil thickness to your climate, for whichever bike you're wondering about.

What reidmct said, this is my 2004 R1150RT owners' manual oil recommendations -

I used to remember this kind of stuff. Either I'm getting old or having three teenage sons is messing with the circuitry in my brain.

Xdot wrote:I used to remember this kind of stuff. Either I'm getting old or having three teenage sons is messing with the circuitry in my brain.

It's both. I have the same problem. One of our teenagers just got her permit, too.

rdsmith3 wrote:

Xdot wrote:I used to remember this kind of stuff. Either I'm getting old or having three teenage sons is messing with the circuitry in my brain.

It's both. I have the same problem. One of our teenagers just got her permit, too.

Sorry to hear it rd. My third is on his license and is about to start driving...

Where did all my money go???

Xdot wrote:

rdsmith3 wrote:

Xdot wrote:I used to remember this kind of stuff. Either I'm getting old or having three teenage sons is messing with the circuitry in my brain.

It's both. I have the same problem. One of our teenagers just got her permit, too.

Sorry, man. My third is on his license and is about to start driving...

Where did all my money go???

This is our third, too, but I'll bet car insurance is a bit more expensive in NJ than AL.

I always ran 20/50 for summer and 10/40 for the other seasons. Used to run 20/50 all yr round till one morning it was +2F. Bike wouldn't crank. I couldn't understand it--started the previous morn when it was +7F. Guess 5 degrees makes a difference. I don't do that anymore.

10/40 made the difference though. Started after that.

rdsmith3 wrote:
This is our third, too, but I'll bet car insurance is a bit more expensive in NJ than AL.

It's bad here, especially with three, but I can only imagine what it is like in a place like that.

towerworker wrote:I always ran 20/50 for summer and 10/40 for the other seasons. Used to run 20/50 all yr round till one morning it was +2F. Bike wouldn't crank. I couldn't understand it--started the previous morn when it was +7F. Guess 5 degrees makes a difference. I don't do that anymore.

10/40 made the difference though. Started after that.

No mention of the viscosity of antifreeze in your system...what's up with that?

ebincia wrote:

towerworker wrote:I always ran 20/50 for summer and 10/40 for the other seasons. Used to run 20/50 all yr round till one morning it was +2F. Bike wouldn't crank. I couldn't understand it--started the previous morn when it was +7F. Guess 5 degrees makes a difference. I don't do that anymore.

10/40 made the difference though. Started after that.

No mention of the viscosity of antifreeze in your system...what's up with that?

Simple--John asked about oil.........not antifreeze/coolant. I am endeavoring to honor his request to stay on topic.


Now if anyone has any questions concerning the proper type of coolant our boxer engines require..........................

Thanks................ WAYNE!