oil?

[acook]

Need to change oil today. What brand other than BMW would anybody recommend.20-50 regular oil. Didn't make to local dealer to purchase oil this weekend. What brand compares with BMW?

[ckcarr]

How many miles on it?

[DanceswPavement]

I was wonderin' the same thing. Gotta give it the winter oil change and don't know if I kin make it to the dealer 45 miles away for the bmw stuff. Aren't ready for synthetic yet, still burning a lil @ 9,100 miles...

[roger albert]

An easy to find oil very suitable for motors still breaking in, and good in almost any climate short peak summer in the south, is Shell Rotella 15w40. I use it in plenty of older bikes post break-in as well. Good luck

[DanceswPavement]

Thanks Roger, would it be fair to assume that most Shell gas stations would carry this? Any other recommendations, i.e., Honda blend?

[roger albert]

A logical, but false assumption in my experience. I don't know why. I've found it locally at Pep Boys, Auto Zone, Advance, Napa, and a couple others. I haven't looked at a shell station recently, but when I did a few years back, none of the regular gasstations had it. About half of the shell truck stops on interstates did.

Normally I'd tell you any 20w50 is fine, but would go a tick lighter for winter in the north, thus the 15w40. Next choice would be any other 15w40

[acook]

Ended up buying Spectro 4 20-50, store says it is the same as the BMW Brand ( 2800 mi on clock still a virgin)Thanks!!!

[ckcarr]

OK. Just curious... Does anyone use Amsoil synthetic here?

[RoundelRider]

acook, do you have the proper oil filter cup?? They have a odd # of flats on the filter. Some ppl may not know this!? (I didnt until I read it on PPBB first!)

John

[roger albert]

944 filter wrenches fit them fine

[CarlosT]

That Rotella T is good shi t for a Winter oil in the northern climes. It's cheap and available all over Pep Boys and AutoZone, etc.

I'm not sure why Roger would like this in Tejas though...

If your engine's good and broken in (you know...about 50,000 miles ), then a synthetic 20W50 would be OK but regular dino 20W50 is too heavy to flow proper in really cold starts...Michigan? Shi t! 5W20 might even work (just kidding...don't put that chicken soup in your crankcase).

[bikerfish1100]

filter wrench is also the same for K bikes, VW & bimmer cars. acook, you might want to reconsider the use of Spectro4 at this early juncture. yes, it is one of the best brands of oil available, and the formula is remarkably close to BMW's (for a period of time, they were identical, both being manufactured by Spectro). however, the 4 is a semi-synth blend. i would suggest avoiding use of that until the motor has closer to 15K on it, & just using the regular dino oil until then. fwiw, my tech suggested not even bothering with full synthetic at all, just going to the semi-synth if i/you/we really feel the need for the peace of mind of consistency.
http://www.spectro-oils.com/

[roger albert]

Hey, are winters here are pretty mild compared to up in IL from when I hail, but it's not exactly balmy in Dec-Feb. 20w50 just cranks a bit slow in the coldest couple months, and 10-40 is a bit lighter than I like, thus the 15w40 Rotella. In most all performance categories, it met or exceeded Spectro, and for about 1/3 of the cost no less. It's not even a cost compromise. It's proven better and cheaper, and that's good enough for me.

[Dale Flowers]

Oil always seems to be a topic of interest. For what it is worth the following comparison/evaluation may be of interest.

http://www.xs11.com/stories/mcnoil94.htm

[roger albert]

Yeah, that's a good article. They've done two, both yet more extensive since then. That, and personal experience are what got me into Rotella

[CarlosT]

I stumbled across the Shell Rotella T while researching Mobil Delvac...another great diesel-rated 15W40 used in truck fleets. The Rotella T for some reason was more readily available in the Philly area. I agree...the weight is a perfect compromise.