Oil change question...

DENKAR55 said:

Regarding my 2015 R1200 GS Adventure. I want to do all my oil changes. I understand my changing of the engine oil and final drive oil (drive shaft oil)... my question is, I see no information on gear oil change? Is the final drive oil change connected as one to the gears. So changing the final drive oil is also changing the gear oil. I am confused. There is nothing in the yearly schedule maintenance that actually says gear oil change, only final drive. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

r0ckrat said:

If you are used to older BMW boxers, the confusion is understandable - it's a change they made in switching to liquid cooling. The liquid cooling keeps the oil temp low enough that they can also use it for the gearbox and wet clutch without adverse affects on the life of the oil and/or gearbox.

Click to expand...

RadioFlyer said:

Huh? Bikes have been sharing engine and transmission oil for decades in air cooled engines.

I don't think that the decision had anything at all to do with cooling. It was a decision to go with a wet clutch and share the oil like the vast majority of other bikes.

Click to expand...

r0ckrat said:

Not with 6000 mile oil change intervals.

Click to expand...

Blacque Jacque Shellacque said:

BMW choose a unified crankcase / transmission design for one reason. Its cheaper to build and assemble. I am certain they did not select which oils to use, then design the engine and transmission afterwards.
In the end it always comes down the $$$$ savings.

Click to expand...

alegerlotz said:

Its also much easier to replace the clutch. With the old design, this wear item required the bike to be split in half to replace it.

Click to expand...

Dann said:

Not necessarily an improvement. Looks to me that they just moved the splitting bike issue to the alternator...

Click to expand...

alegerlotz said:

They did, but the alternator is not nearly as much of a "wear item" as a clutch is. Also the voltage regulator is external now and can be replaced without taking the bike apart.

Personally, I prefer the wethead design.

Click to expand...

Dann said:

Except when it comes to removing the tupperware. A lot more pieces and different screws, grommets,tabs etc ��

FD oil change is so much easier than on my previous Hexhead though

Click to expand...

gsinnc said:

Yep ... it seems they make some things easier and some more difficult .... like the air filter!

Click to expand...