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Engine Oil

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MilwDave

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So I will be doing my first oil change in a few weeks. From my understanding the R18 is a dry clutch. So is a motorcycle specific oil a requirement?

And is the BMW recommended ADVANTEC Pro oils a synthetic or a semi-synthetic?
 
SAE 15W-50 API Sj (or higher) JASO MA2
Which is a Japanese spec oil for wet clutch engines.GO FIGURE!
Also,just to confuse us. SAE 70w80 / hypoid axel G3(which is a GL5 rated gear oil)that sell for $80 1/2 pint.
Funny,Mopar is the only company that I can find that has a 70w80 GL5 gear oil.




($14.99 a quart)s-l1600-2.jpgOil.PNG.146805c7d02d432413717145f8ed1049.PNGNotice the BMW G3 is really GL5 rated
 
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SAE 15W-50 API Sj (or higher) JASO MA2
Which is a Japanese spec oil for wet clutch engines.GO FIGURE!
Also,just to confuse us. SAE 70w80 / hypoid axel G3(which is a GL5 rated gear oil)that sell for $80 1/2 pint.
Funny,Mopar is the only company that I can find that has a 70w80 GL5 gear oil.




($14.99 a quart)View attachment 3116View attachment 3117Notice the BMW G3 is really GL5 rated
Thanks for the mature response.
 
Read the instructions. Page 118, how simple can it get?

Speaking of mature responses.shopping.png

For you guys from KY.
 
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anyone want a trick? I use Swepco 75/90 gear oil... the same stuff NASCAR uses. Now, the oil doesnt matter... but my local Porsche dealer will actually GIVE me some, and have for some 20 plus years. Just tell them you have an old 911 and need some hypoid oil :-).
 
One last thing... and please no controversy... for 30 years I have used 20w50 castrol GTX regular oil in my BMW boxer motorcycles. With the caveat that I also change said oil every 3-6k miles. I have put over 100,000 on a couple of bike with no engine issues
 
No controversy here.Use whatever you like.
Although,If we are going by he book,it says:
ENGINE OIL: 15w50 API SJ/JASO,MA2
TRANSMISSION OIL: 70W-80 / HYPOID AXEL G3
REAR AXEL DIFFERENTIAL OIL: 70W-80 / HYPOID AXEL G3

Any spec 15W50 SJ or higher) JASO,MA2* oil can be used.Note *Japan spec to be used with wet clutch(R18 is a dry clutch)
BMW gear oil 70W-80 GL3 is really GL5 spec

Many choices for 15W50 but I could only find one other 70W-80 hypoid and it is from MoPar as I previously posted.

Again,Not Flaming just quoting the Book.

Thank you
 

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I use the 70W80 gear oil from Mopar and for the engine 15W50 Motul 300V 4T. The Motul oil exceeds all existing standards. Especially living in FL I prefere a engine oil that can handle high heat.
 
I use the 70W80 gear oil from Mopar and for the engine 15W50 Motul 300V 4T. The Motul oil exceeds all existing standards. Especially living in FL I prefere a engine oil that can handle high heat.
Motul 300V is a racing motor oil, and does not have the additives to last 6000 miles between oil changes. Not suitable for an R18 unless you are tracking the bike and changing oil frequently. Says for racing only, right on the bottle. https://www.motul.com/en-US/products/12900?id=12900&product=MOTUL+300V+ROAD+RACING+15W50
 
Motul 300V is a racing motor oil, and does not have the additives to last 6000 miles between oil changes. Not suitable for an R18 unless you are tracking the bike and changing oil frequently. Says for racing only, right on the bottle. https://www.motul.com/en-US/products/12900?id=12900&product=MOTUL+300V+ROAD+RACING+15W50
It appears Noelpolar posted then retracted his post on why Motul V might not be suitable. I would say, even 3000 miles is a stretch with Motul 300V.... it's a very slippery motor oil, great for very high revving motorcycle engines used in racing, but racers change their motor oil very frequently, less than every 1000 miles. Here's some more information of street bike motor oil vs racing motorcycle oil. https://mroilguy.com/motul-300v-vs-7100/

I don't find that 91 HP at 4750 rpm from a 1803 cc twin is a highly stressed motor that needs a racing motor oil. Mobil 1 V Twin 20w-50 would be more my personal choice.
 
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Can't resist stirring the pot - my Transcontinental Rider's Manual, on page 169, says: SAE 15W-50, API SJ / JASO MA2, BMW Motorrad recommends BMW Motorrad ADVANTEC Pro. Maximum of 0.5 L for a top up (between the lines in level glass) and 4.0 L for an oil change with a new filter. I use Penrite 4-Stroke motorcycle oil, 15W-50 - a fully mineral version (API SL, JASO MA2). Penrite MC-4ST 15W-50. Liquid gold, imho. I think BMW's ADVANTEC Pro is a semi-synthetic? So might need to get with the times and swap to a semi-synthetic?
 
BMW ne fabrique pas sa propre huile. Le simple fait d'y apposer le logo BMW permet de la vendre à un prix exorbitant.
L'huile BMW 15W-50 est produite par Shell et ses spécifications semblent correspondre à celles de l'huile Shell Advance Ultra 4T 15W-50.
De même, l'huile de transmission BMW semble être la RAVENOL VGL SAE 70W-80.
 
I find it funny that manufacturers don't give a range like they used to. I'm guessing oil is just better these days??

For instance, here's the range for my '04 R1200 Montauk:
1786626507189.png

I use the 20W-50 on that bike since it's RARELY below freezing in South Louisiana, often 100+ mid summer. Plus, I don't have good cold weather gear, so I'm in the cage when ice starts to appear.

Would there be any noticeable difference if I used the same 20W-50 in the R18 instead of the manual's 15W-50??
Is it REALLY that hard to keep a second oil can in the shop? ;) Speaking of... I need to do an oil change this weekend...

Anyways... I'm just curious why they don't do the temperature ranges on oils any more. Anyone have an idea?
 
You are absolutely right; motorcycle lubrication should be tailored to the environment in which the bike is ridden. Since modern oils are of such high quality, manufacturers have adopted the "if it can do the most , it can do the least" .
It’s simpler for them... and more expensive for us!
 
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