Aaaaaaaaggghhhh the dreaded question Oil specs.......

[StreetFlatTwin]

Right guys I have Searched and read and read and read and......I apologise in advance, but I am looking for a quick easy answer to THE BIG question re oil specs.

It's for a R12s with 10k miles on the clock. I want to drop the oil as I have now done 3k since I bought it and I shall be swapping the oil twice a year.

The handbook says 20W 50 but also a list as long as your arm of the other permissible grades including 10W 40 (for -10 to 30C) and 15W40 (>0C) etc

So it seems (to my low inteligence) that these boxer engines will run on pretty much anything.

So would something like this be ok??

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65581#tab3
or this?
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65581#tab3
Or this be better??

http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/motorrad- ... liter.html

Yes or no??

If NO recommendations as to a specific oil and a link to where I could preferable pick up over the weekend rather than order and wait to arrive.

I am cross eyed reading specs and it's obvious that not all 20W 50 (for example) are identical (I read on here that the halfords classic 20W50 oil isnt right for the boxer!!) so rather than saying I use 15W 40 I want someone to say I use this LINK!!

Thanks!!! And I'm sorry!!!

[notoriusb.e.n]

yep I got told off for using halfords classic - I now use this

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-917-motul-5 ... ester.aspx

[Gromit]

20w50 will work perfectly well - the motor's still fairly low mileage so a good quality mineral oil will work fine and I'd reckon that HG stuff will be just the job.

I know the 12's motor is different to the older R259 (1100) but it ain't that much different, just an evolution of it. I ran 3 different 1100 Boxers (my BCR and 2xR1100R's) on Harley 20w50 oil and they ran sweet as a nut, in fact they seemed to like it better than the previously recommended 10w40 semi-synth.

[Daveg2812]

http://www.hein-gericke.co.uk/hein-geri ... 14282.html

10w40 for a tenner at HG at the moment.

[tanneman]

I am a Castrol fan so I get the 20W50 as recommended by my dealer before they switched to 10W50 and I don't think I need such an expensive oil for the R-twins

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-726-castrol ... e-oil.aspx



Just check out the difference in price

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-69349-castr ... e-oil.aspx

[StreetFlatTwin]

Thanks guys!!

Just a question about the Castrol Magnatec oils-do they "protect from the start" or is it all bumf to make us buy it?? With the deal on it might be worth a shot unless someone can say it isn't suitable???

If not I'll go for Hein Gerrick kit and pop in tomorrow and pick some up, just now to decide between the 10 and 20W, I'll see what they have in stock and let fate decide!!!

I'm guessing that the slight difference in the cold temperature viscosity will make feck all difference in the real world!!

In case anybody wants the Motul oil there is an oil and filter deal on eBay for £30 including delivery

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-R-1200-S- ... _990wt_922


Thanks again for all the quick replies!!!

[Bikerhoss]

http://www.morrislubricantsonline.co.uk ... Engine+Oil

Used this for the last few years on the Buell, now the R11S and the old Mini, nice and simple for everything we have, and cheap in bulk, Quality stuff

[dave the german]

Last time I had the BCR in for service they put fully synthetic in (bike only had 12 000 miles on) I think this may have been a bit overkill because of the mileage and it also pi$$ed me off cos I had BM mineral oil to top it up!! It is going in for another service shortly and after that I think I'll be doing it myself - too much to do at the mo but hopefully improvements on the garage front leading up to winter

[Merecat]

yep I got told off for using halfords classic - I now use this

Who told you off...............cos its what I use. Looks like oil, smells like oil and leaves oil like patches on the garage floor when some cluts drops it!!
Whats the problem?

Maybe I need telling off too


Mick

[notoriusb.e.n]

it was on here - got told off becuase the API rating is too low at SE - the handbook recommends SF or SG I think.

Funnily enough though, I was recommended it by a old timer beemer owner in the first place. although he's more of the 11GS fraternity.

[simon]

Comma Sonic.. it's got all the right APIs etc and is about £17 for 5 litres.

[Herb]

If your selected oil has all the right numbers and the selected grade corresponds to your duty cycle then all is well. People fret too much.

Personally, I stick with Castrol (for engine, gearbox and final drive) as recomended by BMW. If its good enough for BMW to do all of their testing with, then its good enough for me. The bike cost me a lot of money and I am not going to worry too much about an extra tenner once a year on slightly more expensive oil.

Normally I buy from Opie and get a good deal with the Boxertrix discount.

[SyRexx]

i asked the same question about 4 months ago, the consensus from the boxertix collective was 20w50, so thats what i use and the bike runs smooth as a nut, just needs topping up every so often

[StreetFlatTwin]

Yeah but my point was WHAT oil not necessarily what spec as I get completely confused with specs etc.

I went to Hein Gerrick and there was no 10w 40 or 20W 50 in stock

So I'm still looking and may just bite the bullet and order it at Hein Gerrick!!

Or pop to halfords and pick up some Magnatec.........

[Herb]

Yeah but my point was WHAT oil not necessarily what spec as I get completely confused with specs etc.

In that case go with this. Its what BMW recomend so you wont have sleepless night wondering if you have made the wrong decision.

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-726-castrol ... e-oil.aspx

Dont forget Boxertrix forum members get a discount.