04-03-2020, 05:03 PM
I've always used the BMW oil, mostly because I'm not sure how to determine whether other oils meet the requirements. The owner's manual states:
"... SAE 5W-40, API SL/JASO MA2, Additives (for instance, molybdenum-based substances) are prohibited, because they would attack the coatings on engine components".
So I get it that I need oil that is SAE 5W-40 which I understand, and API SL/JASO MA2 which I don't understand. What I'm not sure of is whether anything in "API SL/JASO MA2" explicitly tells me that there are none of the prohibited additives. I have yet to see an oil bottle that says "...will not attack the special coatings that BMW Motorrad uses in their liquid cooled R1200 engines". :-)
The Liqui Moli doesn't seem significantly less expensive than the BMW Advantec. The price of the Castrol would make it an attractive alternative, if only I knew the answer to the above question.
"... SAE 5W-40, API SL/JASO MA2, Additives (for instance, molybdenum-based substances) are prohibited, because they would attack the coatings on engine components".
So I get it that I need oil that is SAE 5W-40 which I understand, and API SL/JASO MA2 which I don't understand. What I'm not sure of is whether anything in "API SL/JASO MA2" explicitly tells me that there are none of the prohibited additives. I have yet to see an oil bottle that says "...will not attack the special coatings that BMW Motorrad uses in their liquid cooled R1200 engines". :-)
The Liqui Moli doesn't seem significantly less expensive than the BMW Advantec. The price of the Castrol would make it an attractive alternative, if only I knew the answer to the above question.