Recommended Fluids & Filters

[R65_Mark]

Got my first BMW today.  It’s a late ’84 dual-shock short wheel base R65 with 21,000 miles titled as an ’85.  While it has a good service history, I plan a precautionary change of fluids and filters over the next week or so.  I did a forum search expecting to find recommendations on types of oil and filters, but nothing seems to pop up.  Is there any consensus on what to use and what to avoid?

Thanks.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Congratulations!  Always happy to welcome a new R65 owner!

Thy this post:  http://suraklyn.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1208002764/6#6

The search engine here is good, but you usually need to change the default search from "1 week" to something bigger.


For oil, a name-brand 20W50 is good for the "average" climate.  
The gearbox, driveshaft and final drive all use 90wt gear lube - this is a good place to go full synthetic.  Some engines will leak synthetic oil if they have never tasted the stuff, before.

Also, on the gearbox, there is a magnet on the drain plug.  Fine metallic fuzz is O.K.  Bigger pieces of metal - not O.K.
And if your gearbox oil comes out looking like chocolate milk, it has gotten water in it.  The rubber boot around the speedometer cable is typically the culprit (right-rear of the box).


Do you have the owner's manual?  Tons of good info there.

Have fun!  Don't be shy.

[MrRiden]

Filters: The OEM have a good reputation for quality. No worries using the factory parts. there are some quality estraz parts as well
Oil: Lots of heated debate that boils down to use a motorcycle specific blend for preferred protection. A brand of diesel engine oil called Rotella has also been recommend as having the right additives. Synthetic is fine but seals use to dino oil may begin to weep some.
rich

[R65_Mark]

Thanks for the tips.  I'd responded sooner but business and family trips have kept me away from base.

The links are helpful.

Is there any significant wisdom on the desirability, or otherwise, of seeking out engine/transmission oils that have zinc-type additives of the type that have been blended-out of most common blends of "automotive" oils?  "Rotella" is said to be one of the zinc additive rich blends.

I got a whole bunch of paperwork and books "thrown in" with the purchase.  I'll have my first chance to go through these over the next few days.

I'll also have chance to spend some time on the cycle.  However, I'm traveling again next week and the week after.  Other that a few short trips to get more familiar with the controls etc. I'm not sure if I will get chance for a real trip before Christmas.

[not-so-fast-ed]

Hi Mark,

Quite a stable of British and Italian scooters.

You should probably be trying to standardize your oil purchases to your fleet's needs.  What oils are you presently using on the other bikes?  

Semper Gumby has a similar British addiction and several of our members indulge their need for Italian beauty as well.

What part of "Hotlanta" are you in?

Good luck, and enjoy the R65.

Ed

[Semper Gumby]

Change everything!  At 21,000 miles looks like your ready for your first spline lube.

Required reading - The Snowbum.  Lots of technical info on how to...  Beware of the Clymer it has some bad info in it!  Search Clymer here to see what it is.

Here is the Snowbum site:

http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/techindex.htm

You are going to learn a new language.  Do not be afraid to ask questions HERE!  There are lots of people here who have done it before.  There are no dumb questions.  Just expensive parts to replace when you don't ask.

Good luck and do not be afraid to ask.  You are in Atlanta???  (I'm by Nothlake Mall)

Nice BSAs!  I have a 69 A65F Firebird and a 71 A65T Thunderbolt (with rings that will not seat - arrggghh)

[MrRiden]

Is there any significant wisdom on the desirability, or otherwise, of seeking out engine/transmission oils that have zinc-type additives of the type that have been blended-out of most common blends of "automotive" oils?  "Rotella" is said to be one of the zinc additive rich blends.

Well, I assume you saw the lengthy postings by a fellow named "Oak" over on another list. I'm just going by his observations on oil chemistry. I'm not inclined to actually call the oil manufactures and ask questions as I think he has. He does have a trustworthy reputation so I'm comfortable with his advice on zink being a desirable ingredient.
rich

[Semper Gumby]

+1 on Zinc.  Does Rotella still have it???  Spectrol Golden 20W50 has lots of Zinc additives.

BTW - I use Rotella T 15W40 in my cars (66 Volvo 120 and 1985 Buick Century and 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee) and my Jap bikes.  Anything that needs 10W40 gets Rotella.


Oh NO ADOT!!!!!  Arrrrgh....

[R65_Mark]

Great feedback.

In general I use Shell/Rotella T 15W-40 in all my old cycles and cars.  Most original specs call for 25W-50, but I've not seen any oil pressure issues and like the traditionally reported "hardiness" of its blend, and its reputed sympathetic interaction with bronze type plain bearings, although I'm not sure it has the same formulation now as when I first started using it.  I've used the single grade oils and gear oils as well.  I tend toward synthetics for gearbox oils in the Triumph/BSAs.

It would be an unusual year for me to put more than a 1,000 miles on any one of my older cars/cycles.  Typically they get at least one oil and filter change a year it they're being used.  If they've sat for a few months, I'll do a precautionary change before using them.  Oil is cheap.

Some toys are kept at home in the Brookhaven area of Atlanta.   Others are kept at the (car) race shop that share space with my employer's business in Chamblee.

It look like I'm about to learn how to lube a spine!

Thanks y'all.

[msbuck]

Some toys are kept at home in the Brookhaven area of Atlanta.   Others are kept at the (car) race shop that share space with my employer's business in Chamblee.

Hey Mark!  I grew up in the Brookhaven area of Atlanta.  I head back there at least once a year for Christmas.  Semper Gumby & Not-So-Fast-Ed are pretty close by as well.  Sounds like a good chance for a Christmas R65 gathering, huh?

Oh yeah, congrats on the new R65!  

[R65_Mark]

I'm around either side of Christmas.  Charlotte, NC, all next week followed by Orlando, FL, all the the week after means  I'm away for the 7th year in succession for my wife's birthday.  The latter means Christmas is Richmond, VA, with her family.  I've got to work in some kind of ride sometime this year!

[tagordon]

I changed oil to the new 5-40 Rotella Synthetic.
So far so good.

[Justin B.]

Mark, there are several on-line suppliers that offer Mahle filters, they are the OEM for the BMW oil filters and cost substantially less even though it is the same exact filter.  http://www.flugelnus.com is one supplier that has the Mahle filters.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Mark,

I am just curious, all this travel, not being home for your wife's birthday in 7 years, your employer has a racing hobby....

What is your line of work?


(I am a mainframe computer operator that sits on his a$$ all night...)

[Semper Gumby]

Wix makes a filter for the R65 - #24945.  They don't list a micron rating for that filter.  But most of the other filters that I use for the BSA and the cars are in the 20 micron area.  Is this good or bad??   I will let someone else chime in.  

You can get the WIX filters at O-Rilley Autoparts.  http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/FindAStore.do

I live 4 miles from Brookhaven.  I'm up there all the time as General Hardware (On Peachtree Industrial Highway) is the only place left I can get Stainless nuts bolts and washers from.

Would love to see your BSA's.

770-414-5642