What kind of oil to use in '04 Rockster?

[Alabama Rider]

Hey All,
I'm a relatively new rider. I have an '04 Rockster and it's had all the appropriate checkups and visits, but it appears to be a bit low on oil when I look in the little view-window. What's the best kind to use? I commute everyday (about 20-30 min mixed city and highway), and sometimes take longer trips on the weekend.

Is there one that you all like? Is there one that you would definitely stay away from?

Thanks

[MikeCam]

Please for all that's good and holy, ask somewhere else!












BUT, since you do ask here:

BMW 20W50
Rotella non-Synthetic 15W40
Castrol


And as a bonus:

Oil in sight glass represents less than a half pint of 4 quarts. Center circle is optimum. A little below when cold and a little above when hot is okay. When you stop after a day's ride is NOT the time to check. Wait, with bike on the sidestand for a while. Then use the centerstand and watch the level for a few minutes. BUT do not add or subtract until the next morning.

[Alabama Rider]

Why, thank you. Sorry to offend, but I appreciate the knowledge.

[boxermania]

Alabama Rider

You haven't offended anyone nor Mike was offended by you. He was using a bit of levity as the oil question surfaces every other week....around here that is part of the welcome to new members/visitors.

Welcome aboard and enjoy the site as you will find it quite informative. In regards to Mr. Cam I will personally administer 40 lashes with a wet noodle for his indiscretion.......

[Alabama Rider]

Many thanks! I'm very excited to be a member of the sight now. I'd heard about it and finally got around to checking it out today. The info is really incredible. I'll have to get a couple pick together.

[Airman]

Why, thank you. Sorry to offend, but I appreciate the knowledge.

We're not that easy to offend, Mike's just tired.

I use Castrol GTX 20W50. I'm planning to change to Mobil 1 15w50 next change. Castrol makes a good synthetic too I believe. I quit using BMW oil when they jacked the price up to twice that of Castrol GTX, which I consider to be just as good.
Rotella ? Isn't that the tractor oil they sell down at Wal-Mart ?
When we really want to see the dark circles under Mike's eyes we talk about oil filters.

[MikeCam]

No more noodle lashes!

AlRider, welcome. Forgive the humor on an unsuspecting new member.

CycleRob is the doctor of oil filters.

Boxermania is the doctor of automotive/mechanical drive systems.

Carlos is the doctor of space engineering.

I am the jester.

[Alabama Rider]

nice to meet you all

[towerworker]

Alabama Rider............

Welcome!


MikeCam is a jester all right......................been called a few other things as well.


But upon occasion he does know what he's talking about.

[sweatmark]

Alabama - welcome.

As mentioned above, the truck engine oils are a pretty good option, pretty darn cheap for a gallon jug at your local WalMart, especially when compared with either the BMW oil or synthetic like Mobil 1. I'm using up my BMW oil for our R1150Rs and will likely switch to Rotella or Delo 400 or Delvac 1300 Super; the latter is what I'm using in my Buell XB. Nice thing about the truck oil options is that you can afford to change oil more frequently, which is my best advice. Admittedly I'm partial to Mobil products, having worked as Lube Engineer for them in the past.

[Buckster]

+1 on the Mobil1 15-50W synthetic depending on your mileage.
I changed to synthetic at 24K but you can prolly change to synthetic at 18K and the motor should just be almost "broken in".
And Welcome!!

[Boxer]

I have this tray in the front of my electric skillet on the counter of my kitchen upstairs. Occasionally it will fill up after frying about 3 or 4 pounds of bacon, and I just drain it off... Then when I get 4 quarts I take it to the garage and refine it with my BMW portable oil refiner. I use that to change out the oil in mine. I have 72K miles on the old girl and every time I ride it it makes me want to go to the Waffle House and get some pancakes. I don't know why. This is the truth! Us Alabama boys gotta stick together on this issue. For a nominal fee, I can send you the plans for my portable refinery process if you're interested.

[TicTac50]

Welcome Alabama Rider.

This is the truth! Us Alabama boys gotta stick together on this issue. For a nominal fee, I can send you the plans for my portable refinery process if you're interested.

Come to the "Chicken Rally" near Huntsville AL and I will get you plenty of extra refined chicken oil without any "nominal fee" for the first 20 gallons if you need it After all, Us Alabama boys gotta stick together

As for your Rockster:
Castrol
Mobil1
Amsoil
K-Mart
WalMart
PetsMart
Rotella
Donatella
Portabella
Mozzarella
They ALL will do fine. Just stay away from Crisco oil, it gives me a heartburn.

P.S. I am using Amsoil for the lats 50k and the bike is OK with that.
Good luck

[towerworker]

I go to the local HD shop with a supply of sponges. I can get all the oil I need from their parking lot.

[Airman]

I go to the local HD shop with a supply of sponges. I can get all the oil I need from their parking lot.

Holy cow! I won't stoop that low. It's Harley oil, man !

[ride2red]

Welcome !! I have an 04 R1150RA and started using Honda semi-synthetic (20W50 for down here in Louisiana) with a K&N filter and improved my gas mileage from around 48 to 50 mpg on the highway averaging approximately 70 mph.

[def38]

All the advice here is good...the HDEOs (Rotella, et.al) are excellent and provide for very a very clean engine...high TBNs mean the additive packages stays active for the whole OCI.

Mobil 1 15w-50 auto oil is also an excellent choice but more costly...if you go the Mob1 route, I would plan to keep that oil in the engine for 6-8000 miles to offset the higher cost.......synthetics are worthwhile if you extend your oil change interval.

Stay away from Fram, K&N and other questionable oil filters. They are not up to the task for your air cooled engine. If you want to go aftermarket oil filter, Purolator is the best choice.

[FiltranZer]

This is advice that I got will be very useful even though that this is my first .,




_________________
Madonna

[Racegun]

all info is real good. No one has mentioned Royal Purple. www.royalpurple.com. I have been using it since 1995 with incredible results. Its the only ICE lube, that is made with solvents and not detergents. Therefore water does not reduce its effectiveness as the others. RP is proven to lower temps. On my Air & oil heads, ( since 1995).. a non contact infra-red thermometer comfirms some 20 to 30 degrees cooler! RID ( rider info display) also confirms.

[boxermania]

Racegun

+1 on Royal Purple as that is what all of my riding buddies used in our BMW oilheads. I have used it on my cars as well, certainly it helped when we had a distributor friend and we bought 5 gallon buckets at a time. Warning....do not use on wetted clutch apps.

Rotela is an excellent oil as well, because as explained above it is a "diesel" oil and has superior cleaning additives. I rotate it with Castrol GTX every 4th oil change on my wife's PT cruiser.