Chevron Delo 400 15W-40, '01 BMW R1100S, 3000 miles

[molechaser]

This is the second sample on my BMW R1100S. This is an air/oil cooled opposed twin with dry clutch and separate gearbox. Driving conditions were overall the same as the previous interval, no short trips and driven on weekends only. I was curious to see if there would be much difference between Mobil 1 and Delo.

code:

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Oil Delo 400 Mobil 1

15W-40 15W-50

Miles on unit 21,000 18,000

Miles on oil 3,000 3,000

Make-up, qt 0.5 0.5

Time on oil 4 mo. 4 mo.

Oil Filter OEM OEM

Air Filter OEM OEM





Al 2 3

Cr 0 0

Fe 10 8

Cu 4 4

Pb 2 1

Sn 1 1

Mo 12 51

Ni 1 1

Mn 0 0

Ag 0 0

Ti 0 0

K 4 0

B 22 145

Si 8 6

Na 4 6

Ca 3567 2931

Mg 10 23

P 1226 984

Zn 1192 1412

Ba 0 0



SUS @ 210°F 71.9 87.3

Flash, °F 390 420

Fuel, %
Water, % 0.0 0.0

Insol, % 0.2 0.2

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Within lab accuracy the results appear to be identical. The cheaper Delo looks fine for a cooler weather interval at 3000 mile interval.

I re-filled with some old SJ Castrol Syntec 5W-50 and will do 3000 miles on that as well.

 

[Bobert]

Go with M1 since it gave you 50% less lead wear.

Joking of course. Wear looks good with either one! Do you notice any loss in mpg with the Delo compared with M1?

 

[SSDude]

It looks like a tie to me. But, what do I know?

 

[molechaser]

If anything, mileage was a bit better with the Delo, but then I don't track the mileage very carefully.

The bike generally gets 40-45 mpg the way I drive and I consistently get the reserve fuel light at 150-160 miles.

 

[Chris]

I'd be doing 5000 miles or 6 months unless you just want to hold the miles as a constant and keep experimenting?!

 

[molechaser]

Chris - couldn't agree more. I'm just experimenting for now at the shorter interval.

BMW's normal service change interval is 6000 miles, and I will use that after the next couple of changes.

 

[Schmoe]

Looks like the Delo is going with moly and higher ZDDP and less boron for AW while the M1 is going more moly, less ZDDP and more boron with theirs. I'd stick with the M1, it's thicker and summer is coming up. Also, look at it like this, the 1100 is like the big V8's in automobiles, and what are most members saying about the bigger V8's...thicker oil.

 

[Bror Jace]

I think Delo 400 in 15W40 would be fine for even hot weather ... especially with fairly short drain intervals of 3,000 miles.

I think the moly is trace amounts left over from the Mobil 1.

As for the 6,000 mile intervals, it's a bike! What does the sump hold? Why not change it more often than the manual recommends? The engine is usually more high-strung and it many share sumpd with the gearbox ... a formidable source of iron.

molechaser, did you notice a difference in shift feel with the two different oils?

I'm anxious to see how much the 5W50 shears.

--- Bror Jace

 

[Motorbike]

This engine w/o a wet clutch and gearbox running in the oil sheared the Chevron to 13.4 in
moderate weather .

I would use a good synlube if it were mine or change even more often when weather was ....hot !

 

[molechaser]

I'm not sure what the shearing mechanism would be in this engine. There are no gears, cams are chain drive, separate gearbox, etc. Maybe just too much high rpm operation?

Also, the separate gearbox (running Mobil 1 75W-90) means no change in shifter feel.

Sump capacity is 3.75 qt, so not so small.

 

[toyvwbenz]

Since you are experimenting, I would enjoy seeing the results from Delvac 1300 and Pennzoil Long Life for comparisons to the Delo. Also, Delvac 1 vs. Rotella 5W-40 would be interesting.