What engine oil to use in servicing

[Duccrazydave]

I think I know his secret, lol


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[Chris216]

Hahaha!

Chris

[Lee]

OK, I guess I'll have to ask, Lee how do you get the bikes up onto your storage shelf?

Chris

I can pull in from the main part of the garage
When we bought the house the previous owner had the I beam in place and a few cross boards to hold lumber he used for wood working projects.
I placed plywood over the boards and installed a couple beams under that to hold the weight of the bikes.
Works great for us other than needing to move a car to get the bikes out.

   

This shows the garage extension the previous owner built onto the back of the garage.
   

   

[Chris216]

Thanks Lee, makes for a nice winter storage situation.

Chris

[mspratz]

I just buy the BMW recommended oil from the local dealer, and will continue to do so.

[70garyb]

This is what I have been using - Castrol Power 1 SAE 5W-40 4T - Link to it on Amazon.

$39.71 plus tax for a 6 pack now.
I have 28 quarts on hand but I still ordered a 6 pack.

I contemplated my first service for about 30 seconds and have since decided to do my own oil and filter change .. appreciate the link for the oil

[Grumpy Goat]

You're welcome.

[Pyrrho]

I just buy the BMW recommended oil from the local dealer, and will continue to do so.

BMW doesn't make oil, they just partner with a manufacturer to put their label on it and push it through their dealer network. Any SAE 5W-40 APO SL / JASO MA2 motorcycle oil will work just fine, won't void your warranty, etc.

Look at Motul, Castrol Power1, Shell Rotella, Havoline, etc. Google "SAE 5W-40, API SL / JASO MA2". Oil isn't rocket science so don't fall for retail science and buy whatever the manufacturer says, especially when the manufacturer is also selling you the overpriced thing their paid employee is telling you to buy.

[UKRay]

34 quarts of oil is 9 oil changes and 54,000 miles.

32 quarts with 2 left over is 4 oil changes for us.
It will be next year before I use it all but like Wayne said it won't spoil in that time.
It takes up very little room so I usually buy it when it's cheap.

Most of the time I have at least a years worth of oil on hand.
I can't run to the dealer or parts store when I need oil.

Nice pic of the garage Lee. How do you get your bikes on the "shelf"?

[UKRay]

Nice pic of the garage Lee. How do you get your bikes on the "shelf"?

Oops! Missed the previous explanation.

[maxredline]

What a nice setup for wrenching

   

[Boxerboy55]

Not only “which oil?”

But “How much?”

Litres not dollars.

This certainly isn’t my first rodeo so as the books say 4L with new filter I poured in less than 4 litres last week.

But after a run the sight glass was full to the top and I wanted it well inside the red circle.

So out with the plug and out with some oil. Now I can trickle it back in at my leisure.

I should know better.

   

[MrVvrroomm]

But “How much?

It's a gallon, it's always a gallon (with filter)

[Boxerboy55]

But “How much?

It's a gallon, it's always a gallon (with filter)

I’m sure you’re correct.

But I’d better not pour in 1 of my Big Gallons.

[Motorhead1977]

Changed mine last weekend using the BMW advantec oil and Mahle filter. Added 3.75 liters and oil was only to the middle of the red circle. Topped off to 4 liters of oil and level is right at the very top of the red circle.

[maxredline]

It's a gallon, it's always a gallon (with filter)

British or American gallon?
I remember here in Canada getting forced into the metric system after 1975. It seems the Americans put up so much resistance that we now have to deal with both on a regular basis.

[Lee]

The R1200 and R1250 Rider Manual shows 4 liters or 1.1 gallons.
Four liters is 4 quarts and 7 ounces.

The left valve cover holds 5 to 7 ounces of oil that does not drain out unless you tip the bike to the right.
I rarely bother trying to get that last bit of oil out so I can't add the full four liters.
4 quarts usually gets close for me.

[Grumpy Goat]

The left valve cover holds 5 to 7 ounces of oil that does not drain out unless you tip the bike to the right.
I rarely bother trying to get that last bit of oil out so I can't add the full four liters.
4 quarts usually gets close for me.

Eh? I change my oil on the centre stand so oil should drain equally from left and right.

My bike has never taken 4 US.quarts with a filter change ... always like 3.75 US.quarts which gets me up to 3/4 to the top of the red circle after a 2 minute drain after running the engine. All this on the centre stand.

[Lee]

Eh? I change my oil on the centre stand so oil should drain equally from left and right.

The next time you check the valves pull the left cover without tipping it and you'll see it holds oil. The right side does not.

[Lee]

always like 3.75 US.quarts which gets me up to 3/4 to the top of the red circle

That's the same with our bikes. 4 quarts puts the oil level at the top of the red circle.