Oil for a '72 BMW R60/5

[trumpetgeek]

My bike's manual recommends the following:

Below 32oF Multi-grade oil SAE 10 W 30

From 32-86oF Single grade oil SAE 30

Over 86oF and for sustained high speed
driving Single grade oil SAE 40

The bike currently has 78,000 on the clock. I have been using Castrol 20w50 conventional for years.

Any recommendations for a better oil?

Regards,
Tim

 

[Robster]

I don't think you can go wrong with the 20-50 Castrol, but you may want to consider the BMW 20-50 for a motorcycle-specific additive package. I've been using the BMW stuff in my R1150RT. . .and it seems to perform well. But with 78000 miles, you must be doing something right!

Rob

 

[carock]

Redline 15-50W is the best for BMW airheads. It has the best base stock, and the best additive package. It can handle the high temps that airheads see at 300 F without breaking down. I was surprised to find out how hot the airheads can get. You definitely can't go wrong with a synthetic for this application. I have only used Redline because the high ester base stock conducts heat about 25% better than other base oils. Mobile V-Twin is also supposed to be great, but I have never used it. In order to prevent any potential leaks from developing after switching to Redline, we have found that just adding 2/3 quart of Redline for 1000 miles works. Then drain and go 100% Redline. Going straight to 100% Redline on an older machine used to conventional oil somehow "shocks" the seals. We have had great luck switching VW's, Porsche's, and BMW bikes with a partial fill of Redline for the first oil change.

 

[Norm Olt]

I would suggest trying a gallon of Amsoil's 100% synthetic AME 15w40 which sells around here for about $25.

Should provide the same basic advantages carock describes for the Redline.

Cheers!

 

[k1xv]

Any good "diesel" 15w40 such as Shell Rotella, Chevron Delo 400, Castrol Tection, or Mobil Delvac 1300.

 

[carock]

The diesel oils just can't handle the extreme heat as well as the ester based synthetics. An air cooled BMW can easily be running 300F oil temperatures on a hot day. Oak Okleshen has measured sump oil temperatures on many BMW's and I was shocked at how hot they can run. Much hotter than VW's and Porsches.

 

[ITSMR2U]

I've owned a '77 R100S, a '78 "Belgian Police" R100RS and a '94 R1100RS. The first two started on Castrol 20W50 and used 1 qt. every 1500 miles or so. Switched to Mobil 1 15W50 and they would use about 1 qt every 5000 mi. The '78 developed a leaky rear main seal, but I wanted to lighten the flywheel a bit, so I replaced the seal. The '94 was using BMW oil by its first owner, and I switched to the Mobil 1. No oil used between 5Kmi OCI. The '78 had a factory oil cooler, BTW, to cope with autobahn speeds and temps.
An occasional dollop of Chevron techron helped keep things clean.