Oil R 25

[TomRunning]

I have a restored R25/3, 1954 and it is ready for a oil change. I read somewhere to use a diesel oil I think Rotella. Is that correct and does anyone know the amount of oil required. I do have the owners manual but my German isn't so good. Thanks

[20774]

Tom -

I'm working on a new-to-me '52 R25/2. I purchased an owner's handbook from Vech in English...that was a nice read! IIRC, it says that it takes 1.25 liters of engine oil. Summer 40W and winter 30W.

I purchased BMW's dino 10w40...that should be fine for year round in south Texas. I've heard about Rotella. Vech sells a Shell Rotella T 40 and 30W on his website.

IMO, I don't deviate far from what BMW sells. It's the right SG grade and has all the necessary additives for the older engines.

[20774]

I just ran across this post on the Yahoo /2 list by Vech.

----------------

"The main thing about engine oil is that it has ZDDP in it. Oil is so much
better formulated today than it was 40 - 50 years ago. Multi grade oil
today is magnitudes better than it was 50 years ago. If it was not for the
tree hugger EPA, who mandated the removal of the zinc compounds, (zddp)
which gave the oil shear strength for the cam and solid lifters, but fouled
catalytic converters in an engine that burned oil, we could use any oil with
the correct service ratings in the bikes. Trouble is, oil sold today has
no zddp in it. Some oils, those for diesel engines are exempt since
diesels don't have catalytic converters, so they still have zddp in them. Shell
Rotella T has 1200 ppm of zddp. That is what I run, and recommend.
However, there are many other brands that have zddp. Again, it is your bike, do
as you will.

I have a reprint of an article from Technology Magazine, on our web site."

--------------------------

Website is http://www.benchmarkworks.com