Oil Tip One: Save your money over Synth. Only thing it saves is time lapse between changes.
QUOTE]
It also get's better Gas Mileage. I've seen 10% better with just this change. If you ride ALOT, These two things together are significant...
Ron
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Oil Tip One: Save your money over Synth. Only thing it saves is time lapse between changes.
QUOTE]
It also get's better Gas Mileage. I've seen 10% better with just this change. If you ride ALOT, These two things together are significant...
Ron
Stephen,Is it okay to use API CJ-4, CI-4, CI-4 Plus/SM, SL rated oil? Isn't SM-SL higher and/or better than SG-SH?
http://www.aa1car.com/library/api_motor_oil_classifications.htm
http://www.aa1car.com/library/API_ratings.pdf
The SM/LS rated oils have less of the extreme pressure additive in them than BMW wants to see.
It also get's better Gas Mileage. I've seen 10% better with just this change. If you ride ALOT, These two things together are significant...
BMW hasn't published the number, but let me see if I can dig out my last oil analysis (done on 6k used BMW synthetic oil..)Does anyone know how much additive BMW wants to see? In other words, does anyone know how much ZDDP is in BMW's motorcycle oils (both dino and synthetic)?
Agree entirely.. that's why I have the 4 gallons of Mobil-1 15W-50 sitting waiting for my warranty to expire..Don, as you pointed out in another post (and I provided a spec chart for Mobil 1 oils), the higher viscosity engine oils have tend to have higher ZDDP contents because they are not subject to the lower ZDDP limits of the lower viscosity "eco oils", even though they carry the later SM rating.
No idea where 108 rt is.. or what that means.. You might try using synthetic for one oil change, and then sending it to Blackstone (or another lab) for an analysis. I think you're wasting $$ doing an oil change every 3k miles on a fairly unstressed engine like the "C" has in it.. The oil analysis would tell you if you could extend the change interval using a synthetic oil.I ride daily 108 rt to work. The only reason I mentioned #1 because two different BMW wrenches telling me that synth really has no benefit. This was after my mentioning the thought of switching over.
Thinking they would up-sell I was surprised. I always do my own oil. It's "required" every 3k on a "C". At 2160 a month in just commuting miles I'd like to lengthen that "change cycle". Both wrenches at different times said "save your money".
Hmmm...
No idea where 108 rt is.. or what that means.. You might try using synthetic for one oil change, and then sending it to Blackstone (or another lab) for an analysis. I think you're wasting $$ doing an oil change every 3k miles on a fairly unstressed engine like the "C" has in it.. The oil analysis would tell you if you could extend the change interval using a synthetic oil.
Ah... learn something every day..I would guess that:
108 rt = 108 miles Round Trip (RT).
Agree entirely.. that's why I have the 4 gallons of Mobil-1 15W-50 sitting waiting for my warranty to expire..
At 20K miles, my RT has finally stopped using oil. I'll switch to synthetic now.
Actually, it used a bit less than a pint over 3700 miles when we went to the rally and back.
You seriously wait for the warranty to expire before using NON-BMW oil?
BMW cannot deny warranty repairs for that! They would have to prove that the non-BMW oil was the problem with the bike and caused the failure, and that would be damn hard to do.
I don't want to get too lawyerly here, but if you have an engine failure and make a warrantly claim, you just want BMW to agree to fix it on their dime without any argument. You do NOT want BMW resisting a warranty repair because they assert "insufficient lubrication" because you did not use the specified SG engine oil, and then you both go to court to make you arguments about whether or not the non-SG engine oil you used provides equivalent lubrication and protection.
Yes, you might eventually win, but it will make those few extras bucks you spent on BMW's (or someone else's) SG engine oil during the warranty period seem like the cheapest . . . insurance policy . . . ever.
Federal law sets forth requirements for warranties and contains a number of provisions to prevent vehicle manufacturers, dealers and others from unjustly denying warranty coverage. With regard to aftermarket parts, the spirit of the law is that warranty coverage cannot be denied simply because such parts are present on the vehicle, or have been used (see Attachment A).The warranty coverage can be denied only if the aftermarket part caused the malfunction or damage for which warranty coverage is sought. Disputes in this area usually boil down to arguments over facts and technical opinions, rather than arguments over interpretations of the law.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act may also be helpful. Under this federal law, you can sue on breach of express and implied warranties. The main point of interest here is that the Act says warranty coverage may not be conditioned upon the use of only the vehicle manufacturer's parts unless the parts are provided free of charge. In other words, use of a non-carmaker product should not void your warranty unless it caused the problem.
I have absolutely NEVER heard of this happening, and the Magnuson/Moss act espressly forbids it. I highly doubt it would ever make it to court. This is exactly the kind of fear the manufacturers count on. Better not do any of your own maintenance for the same reasons!
BMW hasn't published the number, but let me see if I can dig out my last oil analysis (done on 6k used BMW synthetic oil..)
I did not say you had to use BMW brand oil (which is the primary M-M issue), but rather I was talking about using the specified API class, i.e., SG vs. SM, whatever the brand. However, this is a risk-reward-avoidance decision that everyone is free to make, since it only affects THEIR motorcycle and THEIR potential warranty claim, and no one else's.
Jim,You seriously wait for the warranty to expire before using NON-BMW oil?
BMW cannot deny warranty repairs for that! They would have to prove that the non-BMW oil was the problem with the bike and caused the failure, and that would be damn hard to do.
Jim
Would the owner win?...deilenberger
So how is BMW going to "prove" you did not use the proper classification of oil, and that that was the cause of the issue.? Remember, it is their responsibility to prove the oil you used caused the problem, irrespective of the "brand" you used.