Oil & Lubriquants seminar question

[gened12]

Hi

Unfortunately I could not attend the lubricant seminar. I had a question regarding motor oil for my oilhead. Synthetic, Mineral or semi-Synthetic? Which is best?

Was that covered in the seminar? if yes I would apreciate an answer.

thanks

Cheers


Denis
R1200GS :)

[rinty]

The can is open.... Ed Miller

Rinty

[cjack]

Hi

Unfortunately I could not attend the lubricant seminar. I had a question regarding motor oil for my oilhead. Synthetic, Mineral or semi-Synthetic? Which is best?

Was that covered in the seminar? if yes I would apreciate an answer.

thanks

Cheers


Denis
R1200GS :)

Years ago my dealer Mr. Underwood answered this question with "If you need OIL...put some in!". That about answers it for the most part. I have heard a lot of different oil use in BMWs over the years and never heard of a single failure caused by wrong or not so good oil.
I use dino or synth (when the engine is not using oil after break-in) by BMW. I think it is a safe non thinking choice...plenty good or better than most considering all the API rating additives in or out issues.

[rinty]

Denis:

I did not attend the seminar, but a BMW Canada guy told me last year not to change my oiler over to synthetic until it had at least 20,000 km on it, to ensure a proper break-in.
Some oiler owners like synthetic for its greater resistance to breakdown in high heat conditions, but that should not be a problem in your Belle Province, unless you are commuting with it. I have never seen the oil temp on mine over 7 bars.
But what I am reading on the oil threads in different forums is that owners are using all three types of oil in them.

Rinty

[flash412]

Is it true that only folks who follow the Church of Christ get into heaven or is it only the Jews (God's Chosen People) that get in? What about the Muslims... how come they get a river of milk and honey and a passel of virgins when they get in? DO they get in? What if I don't like harp music? Don't those wings itch?

Or... you COULD try using some science rather than faith, hope and rumors. Run some oil assays.

[soffiler]

You could always check BMW's recommendation in your owner's manual, follow it, and document it. That way if you do have an oil-related failure you can throw it right back at them. Anybody EVER hear of an oil-related failure using the recommended oil?

[j-budimlya]

You could always check BMW's recommendation in your owner's manual, follow it, and document it. That way if you do have an oil-related failure you can throw it right back at them. Anybody EVER hear of an oil-related failure using the recommended oil?


Only lack thereof....... :dance

[BradfordBenn]

I use BMW dino oil and have been very happy with it. I think oil is like tires, everyone has their favorite for their own reason.

My mechanic has told me that running the dino BMW allows me to get 6K from each oil change. So far so good.

[BubbaZanetti]

after hearing a talk with paul glaves i'm defenetly switching to dino in my final drive (i have the "oddest" leak of all time), and probably castrol semi synth (the 3 dollar stuff) in my engine. i rarely get stuck in traffic on hot days and i noticed my engine defently was less thirsty oil wise when i ran dino.


(sorry that didn't actually answer your question at all, just personal speculation)

[John Brase]

after hearing a talk with paul glaves i'm defenetly switching to dino in my final drive

What was Paul's theory on this? I was just getting ready to change to synth in the final drive and tranny but now you've got me thinking - or wondering.

John

[gened12]

Oil posts are like religion and politics...I know. I tend towards synthetic since it degrades less quickly, is more slippery and hence less engine wear. After trying synthetic once, I swear I could hear the engine running a tad more quietly. My dealer swears by dino oil to the point of almost refusing to put synth in the crankcase... I agree that one must postpone using synth oil until the engine is fully run in, else one might expose themselves to leaks and cylinder glazing. But once fully run in, what is the harm. Unfortunately BMW is not taking any position on this. Any one knows how I can get an email to the engineering / tech division at BMW to get an answer?

thanks

Cheers

Denis G.
R1200GS :D

[cjack]

What was Paul's theory on this? I was just getting ready to change to synth in the final drive and tranny but now you've got me thinking - or wondering.

John

One thing I think I remember Oak saying once was that synth drains off the parts more completely when the device is at rest and he preferred to use dino which continued to coat the gears, etc. for a longer time and provide better lubrication at startup. Anybody have an opinion on that?

Also, I would say as to BMW endorsing synth, they fill the new drives on all the 1200 bikes with Castrol SAF-XO which is an extended drain synthetic 75W90 gear oil. They refer to it as a lifetime fill.

[BubbaZanetti]

One thing I think I remember Oak saying once was that synth drains off the parts more completely when the device is at rest and he preferred to use dino which continued to coat the gears, etc. for a longer time and provide better lubrication at startup. Anybody have an opinion on that?


this was one of the things paul metioned. the other was synthetic's other primary attribute, ability to handle high heat, was not a necessity in a final drive, which, under most circumstances, never gets very hot.

[flash412]

If you ever push a couple of bikes (with final drives) around the garage when it is zero degrees Fahrenheit, you will find out that there is a BIG difference between syntheric and dinosaur gear oils.

[rinty]

As a resident of the Great White North, I can confirm that synthetic is great stuff for low temperature use. At 20 below Celsius, our synthetic filled Golf diesel turns over like it's summertime.

Rinty