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Hi Guys,
I'm off to France for the weekend, so giving the bike a service.
I always fail to make a note of what oil I used the last time.

I'm considering Halfords 5W/40 Fully Synthetic. Will it do the job?

We use 5W40 full synthetic in our bikes. Why don't you wait till after you have been to France as full synthetic oil is much cheaper here. I pay around 15 euros for 5W40 and 18 euros for 5W50 fully synthetic.

i was told by a bmw dealer not to use synthetic oil,as the engine doesnt bed in properly with it,just use normal oil.

Works fine in both of our bikes. In this climate it withstands heat better too.
I was suffering with oil temperature problems on my microlight (100bhp Rotax engine) and was advised to go to a fully synthetic oil on that too.

Hi Plivez, like Madman said, some engine oils are cheaper in France, we use this in our 1100s & 1150r:



can be found in E.Leclerc (Supermarket) for +/- 10-Euros

Enjoy your time in France,

Rob

Cheers guys, I'll go with it then.

The bike has done 24000 miles now, so should be run in.

Halfords do this oil for about £30, currently offering a free mini socket set with it too.

Always used Halfords 10W40 part synthetic in all my bikes ... cheap (for UK) and seems to be OK. I have heard the old tech engines prefer a mineral based oil - but I really don't want to start an oil discussion ... oops!

ianbcr wrote:i was told by a bmw dealer not to use synthetic oil,as the engine doesnt bed in properly with it,just use normal oil.

My understanding is that this is true if you use fully synthetic in a brand new engine. In effect teh oil is too good and does not allow the engine to actually "Run In". That's to say it does not allow the pistons and rings to knock off teh microscopice high spots whereas a thin mineral oil for teh first few 100 / 1000 miles will. I read an article once where a CBR600RR had been Run in using fuully synhetic oil and even after 20k miles was using around 0.5 litre every 100 miles. Synthetic is great after running in.

Wouldn't bother using fully synth in the Boxer motor, especially in this country. 20w50 is worth seeking out though, be it mineral or semi-synth.

Had mine serviced at CW in Dorchester yesterday and they used Castrol GPS Mineral. Bike has done 16k miles.

Yes I know, should get out more

Lidl motor oil, about £8.00. Change evry 3000 miles.

oyster wrote:Lidl motor oil, about £8.00. Change evry 3000 miles.

And buy the cheapest tyres that you can find and change them every 2000 miles.

madman wrote:
And buy the cheapest tyres that you can find and change them every 2000 miles.

Eh?

I am saying why buy expensive tyres but cheap oil? Your tyres are the only thing between you and the road, but your oil is the only thing holding the moving bits of metal apart in your expensive engine.
The thing that has been said many times is that the engine is an old design so does not need high quality oil. Does that mean that the piston rings don't rub up and down the cylinder bore in the same way as a modern engine?
IMHO one should use the best oil that you can buy.

madman wrote:I am saying why buy expensive tyres but cheap oil? Your tyres are the only thing between you and the road, but your oil is the only thing holding the moving bits of metal apart in your expensive engine.
The thing that has been said many times is that the engine is an old design so does not need high quality oil. Does that mean that the piston rings don't rub up and down the cylinder bore in the same way as a modern engine?
IMHO one should use the best oil that you can buy.

The engine isn't an 'old design'. Its configuration is perhaps - but so is an in-line four for that matter. Talking of which, Honda categorically state one should NOT use fully-synthetic oil in the Blackbird motor as it can get past seals and can also 'froth' when the motor's run hard, causing lubrication failure.

I'll stand by the comment I've made time and time again that you don't need to use fully synth in the Boxer engine. If you want to, then that's fine. Use what BMW recommend (ie a good quality semi or mineral) in the weight required (pretty much 20w50 across the board these days it seems) and get out and enjoy the bike.