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

Ie - regular "good quality" car oil. Is there a good reason why I shouldn't use it in my Rockster??

I can buy it in my local small supermarket (tescos), which makes it a DAMNED site easier to get hold of than Castrol GP* (which I normally prefer).


*currently masquerading as "Actevo 4T" I think...

No reason not to use it. Even less if you ignore the whole dino versus synthetic debate. With our dry plate clutches, there is no concern using automotive spec oils in these bikes.

I've been using Castrol GTX 20W50 since I bought my '04 R with 2K miles on it. It now has 10K. No problems (although, 10K miles is not many). I change my oil every 3K miles. Oil consumption is now down to almost nothing (i.e., ~ 1/2 quart per 2.5K miles), so I may soon go to synthetic, and increase the change interval.

Keith

A bud has an R1150GS with 120K. 100K has been with castrol 20W-50.

No reason not to use it.

Automotive oils in the SJ/SL/SM range use fewer additives. Those in the SG/SH range, which is BMW's recommended spec, have a more robust additive package. Independent guys who have credibility have experimented and reported that any good quality motor oil of the proper weight, when changed regularly for the conditions used, is sufficient.

I run GTX 20/50 and have since 03. Put 42K on an 03 (which I know is not many) and about 7K so far on an 04. Still using Castrol (with a non BMW filter) No problems and I don't expect any. (except for possibly clutch splines)!

Too bad good oil won't fix that.

I've been changing oil with it at least every 3k for 24k miles. Only known issue is when it gets real hot (which it does here this time of year) it thins out and may not provide the extreme protection of the higher zinc-phosphate concentrations found in the SG/SH oil. And since its dino oil, it is more susceptible to thermal degradation at high temperature than synthetic oil, so I often change it after 1800 miles during summers.

You might want to consider the Castrol Act-EVO GP 4T.

It's now the recommended oil according to my local BMW dealer.

Of course, you don't want to pay BMW prices but you can get it here for a reasonable (by UK standards) price:

http://www.racelubricants.co.uk/product ... 2&P_ID=408

MikeCam wrote:No reason not to use it.

Automotive oils in the SJ/SL/SM range use fewer additives. Those in the SG/SH range, which is BMW's recommended spec, have a more robust additive package. Independent guys who have credibility have experimented and reported that any good quality motor oil of the proper weight, when changed regularly for the conditions used, is sufficient.

that's what I was wondering - the BMW manual recommends SF-SG-SH, but the car oils all seem to be SL or above.

MartinW wrote:You might want to consider the Castrol Act-EVO GP 4T.

It's now the recommended oil according to my local BMW dealer.

Of course, you don't want to pay BMW prices but you can get it here for a reasonable (by UK standards) price:

http://www.racelubricants.co.uk/product ... 2&P_ID=408

That's the stuff I have already been useing - it's just hard to get hold of.

I've been running Castrol GTX in all My Beemers for the last 25 years. I have obtained 400,000+ mi on My 83' 320i, and over 300,000 on a 84 533i. My 73' Bavaria was born and raised on Castrol, and lived in My shop for 10 years and 100k miles with no issues, and I told the new owner all of that too.My r65 loved it for 60k , and I have just ove 34k on My 04' R1150R running GTX 20/50. I broke a rocker arm in My 320i at 350k and upon disassembly of the motor found the main journal bearings still within spec. I am sold on this oil and will use it for years to come. As far as the thermal breakdown issue, I think Castrol has excellent characteristics to maintain viscosity.


This is definatley a quality oil, IMO.