1200S What oil?

1200boxer · Post by **1200boxer** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:17 am

I was quoted €16 for a liter of synthetic from Shell and frankly that's too much money for me.Is there a cheaper alternative?Mineral, perhaps?

tanneman · Post by **tanneman** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:27 am

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/

Daveg2812 · Post by **Daveg2812** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:33 am

Lots of stuff on here about oil, try a search, though searching for 'oil' will leave you lots to read through. Don't know spec on 1200, but HG have some good deals most of the time.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 12:37 pm

Aaaaaargggghhhh!!!!

<oops sorry...someone started a thread about the 'O' word stuff>

Seriously....

1. The Boxer engine isn't particularly sophisticated/high revving etc.
2. It doesn't need posh synthetic oil (see point 1).
3. Change it every 3000 miles - a good mate of mine (ex RAF engine tecchy on Jaguars, now works for BP as a petrochemicals guy) says it's not so much what you put in, but how often it's changed. Keep it clean.

BMW keep changing their mind about what grade to fill it up with - depending on which way the wind blows it can be 20w50, 10w40 or perhaps even 15w40 (or variations thereof). Sometimes I think even BMW don't quite know what they recommend.

If the bike's done less than 12k miles I'd put 20w50 mineral in it - Harley oil (which I used to use) works great, and I know a couple of guys who use 20w50 Mobil mineral car oil. All work perfectly well.

More miles on the motor and you could, if you fancy it, put some semi-synth in. Halfords is good stuff (I use it in the Blackbird) or just go for any reputable maker's wares. As Dave said, HG have some good deals on usually.

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:42 pm

Sometimes I think even BMW don't quite know what they recommend.

+1 - last service BMW used fully synthetic on mine which I thought was overkill with only 12 000 miles on - i guess it's what they had in at the time!!!

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 1:47 pm

dave the german wrote: last service BMW used fully synthetic on mine which I thought was overkill with only 12 000 miles on - i guess it's what they had in at the time!!!

Doesn't surprise me Dave - plus they'd have looked upon it as 'ooh we can fleece our good customer for more profit by using this stuff'.

Cynical? Moi?

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 3:21 pm

Or when they list 5 x 1 ltr @ £6.51/ltr.................

When we all know they draw it from a 45gal drum out the back .......

Al

dorsetboy · Post by **dorsetboy** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 5:54 pm

You don't need fully synthetic oil, save your money and buy plain good old tins of mineral oil. (in plastic drums).
Spend the difference on good quality non synthetic beer with a minimum 5% alcohol level in large non plastic cans.

After the oil change drink the beer. All of it. In one go.

Mike

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:29 pm

Gromit wrote:Aaaaaargggghhhh!!!!

<oops sorry...someone started a thread about the 'O' word stuff>

Seriously....

1. The Boxer engine isn't particularly sophisticated/high revving etc.
2. It doesn't need posh synthetic oil (see point 1).
3. Change it every 3000 miles - a good mate of mine (ex RAF engine tecchy on Jaguars, now works for BP as a petrochemicals guy) says it's not so much what you put in, but how often it's changed. Keep it clean.

BMW keep changing their mind about what grade to fill it up with - depending on which way the wind blows it can be 20w50, 10w40 or perhaps even 15w40 (or variations thereof). Sometimes I think even BMW don't quite know what they recommend.

If the bike's done less than 12k miles I'd put 20w50 mineral in it - Harley oil (which I used to use) works great, and I know a couple of guys who use 20w50 Mobil mineral car oil. All work perfectly well.

More miles on the motor and you could, if you fancy it, put some semi-synth in. Halfords is good stuff (I use it in the Blackbird) or just go for any reputable maker's wares. As Dave said, HG have some good deals on usually.

Is it worth starting an FAQ section?

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:38 pm

slparry wrote:
Is it worth starting an FAQ section?

It's been considered on many an occasion Steve, and in many ways it's quite a good idea. Only problem - and this came out of talking to friends who run other sorts of forums (hifi geeks mostly) that it doesn't always prevent certain questions rearing their heads - and one could say the O word question is one which never seems to go away.

People will always want to discuss a subject within the FAQ, and I certainly wouldn't want to lock threads within it, just leaving them as a PoR.

The search function, if used correctly (ie used at all!) should hopefully suffice.

slparry · Post by **slparry** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:42 pm

true enough

1200boxer · Post by **1200boxer** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 11:39 pm

Thanks guys,good information here.Sorry for starting an oil thread...

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:28 am

Over on UKGSer - the oil question is asked by every newcomer, as if they intend to keep the bike for 200,000 miles and/or pass it on to their sons in 20yrs time...................

When in fact................

They only intend keeping tbe bike until the 2yr warranty expires....

Al

dave the german · Post by **dave the german** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 3:43 am

dorsetboy wrote:You don't need fully synthetic oil, save your money and buy plain good old tins of mineral oil. (in plastic drums).
Spend the difference on good quality non synthetic beer with a minimum 5% alcohol level in large non plastic cans.

After the oil change drink the beer. All of it. In one go.

Mike

Mike, I seem to be noticing a common thread in your posts