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2011 R1200GS - only mineral oil allowed, ever?
- Thread starter 141987
- Start date
Polarbear
Polarbear
Nice;
You know, many of us are getting old and old school ideas die hard. Oil is one and the topic has been much to do sround here at the forum over the years. 3000m was the standard for such a LONG time and I guess I must bend a tad with the times. We have been oil analyzing for decades in the trucking world and thats not a new idea. A really good one that needs mentioning, because most do not know it well. I have never sent my bikes oil for testing. I THINK the syns are a positive "for me" item to get used to again and I will run it 6-8000m and get my dollars worth out of it. Recently been going 4-5000m on regular m/c Valvoline. Its gettin g late at 89000m on the GSA1200 now, but can't hurt and my biggest concern was always wasting my dollars on syns., which apparently have life, WELL beyond regular oil. JUST getting that old school 3000m, forever in our minds, oil change thing burried!. I spend a third more+ for oil, it better go further, lots further, imo. BMW Filters too, now at 20$+ where I live. Ugly
. Randy
You know, many of us are getting old and old school ideas die hard. Oil is one and the topic has been much to do sround here at the forum over the years. 3000m was the standard for such a LONG time and I guess I must bend a tad with the times. We have been oil analyzing for decades in the trucking world and thats not a new idea. A really good one that needs mentioning, because most do not know it well. I have never sent my bikes oil for testing. I THINK the syns are a positive "for me" item to get used to again and I will run it 6-8000m and get my dollars worth out of it. Recently been going 4-5000m on regular m/c Valvoline. Its gettin g late at 89000m on the GSA1200 now, but can't hurt and my biggest concern was always wasting my dollars on syns., which apparently have life, WELL beyond regular oil. JUST getting that old school 3000m, forever in our minds, oil change thing burried!. I spend a third more+ for oil, it better go further, lots further, imo. BMW Filters too, now at 20$+ where I live. Ugly
. Randy
Norms 427
Norm
Don't think I'd want the Master Mechanic in post #1 to work on my bike.
BTW, when I saw the thread title, "... mineral oil ...", I thought the OP was referring to this:
Does your BMW suffer from occasional constipation? Then give it a healthy dose of Walgreens Mineral Oil!
* Relieves occasional constipation
* Tasteless, odorless & colorless
* Produces bowel movement in 6-8 hours
You can find it at your friendly neighborhood Walgreens store in the Motorrad isle.
BTW, when I saw the thread title, "... mineral oil ...", I thought the OP was referring to this:
Does your BMW suffer from occasional constipation? Then give it a healthy dose of Walgreens Mineral Oil!
* Relieves occasional constipation
* Tasteless, odorless & colorless
* Produces bowel movement in 6-8 hours
You can find it at your friendly neighborhood Walgreens store in the Motorrad isle.
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OfficerImpersonator
Seattle-area Rounder
I've owned a 2002 RTP since 2007, and a 2012 GSA since May. I've put 56k miles on the RTP, and 4k miles on the GSA.
After purchasing the GSA, the dealer hosted a "shop night" for new owners. At the event, the dealer's service manager fielded questions from the approximately 20 owners present. Inevitably, the conversation turned to oil.
It started with the new K16 owners complaining about the cost of an oil change, as the K16 bikes come from the factory filled with synthetic oil, and BMW recommends replacing that oil with synthetic oil every time.
Then it moved to the R-bikes. The service manager said that the boxer engines are made with different alloys and with different processes and techniques than the other engines, and BMW recommends using dinosaur oil in boxer engines for the first 12k miles so they achieve proper break-in. After the first 12k miles, feel free to put in whatever type of oil you want (dinosaur, blend, full synthetic).
There's no mention of this in the rider's manual, and I haven't seen this mentioned or referenced elsewhere, but I thought I'd repeat these guidelines in the event they make sense to anyone reading this thread.
After purchasing the GSA, the dealer hosted a "shop night" for new owners. At the event, the dealer's service manager fielded questions from the approximately 20 owners present. Inevitably, the conversation turned to oil.
It started with the new K16 owners complaining about the cost of an oil change, as the K16 bikes come from the factory filled with synthetic oil, and BMW recommends replacing that oil with synthetic oil every time.
Then it moved to the R-bikes. The service manager said that the boxer engines are made with different alloys and with different processes and techniques than the other engines, and BMW recommends using dinosaur oil in boxer engines for the first 12k miles so they achieve proper break-in. After the first 12k miles, feel free to put in whatever type of oil you want (dinosaur, blend, full synthetic).
There's no mention of this in the rider's manual, and I haven't seen this mentioned or referenced elsewhere, but I thought I'd repeat these guidelines in the event they make sense to anyone reading this thread.
ponch1
Ponch
In my 2009 manual is states not to use synthetic for the first 6K miles.
Norms 427
Norm
Couple of months ago I went to the BMW website and downloaded owner's manuals to read the oil recommendations for various years. It appears that BMW deleted any reference to synthetic oils and deleted any recommendation against using synthetics in the first few thousand miles beginning with the 2011 model year R-bikes. This oft quoted prohibition existed for prior years, so someone in Motorrad actually had to go in and hit the "Delete" button on those sentences for the latest manuals.
Some dealers and mechanics may be late in hearing about or acknowledging the new thinking at BMW. BMW has been a little slow in adopting modern oil technology for our bikes, but they finally have come around to embracing the industry-wide standard re synthetics.
Some dealers and mechanics may be late in hearing about or acknowledging the new thinking at BMW. BMW has been a little slow in adopting modern oil technology for our bikes, but they finally have come around to embracing the industry-wide standard re synthetics.
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