Oil change intervals

[rev_mook]

This isn't a oil vs. oil thread, and please don't think I'm trying to troll or something... I just have a dumb question that I'm sure will have subjective answers..  My BMW service manual says that engine oil and filter should be refreshed every 5,000 miles however it's general knowledge that engine oil in an automobile  should be refreshed every 3,000 miles.  Is this because the internal parts are smaller on smaller motors?  is the capacity for oil larger on our BMW's that the oils duty cycle is much less?

I'm really quite curious about this.  How often do you change your oil?

~M

[Bob_Roller]

If you research it, the recommended oil change interval for late model year 4 wheelers is around the 7,000 mile range now .

I use semi-synthetic BMW branded oil manufactured by Spectro Oils and usually go 5,000 miles between changes, which is around a year to 14 months for me .

[Barry]

The R65 original riders handbook states the oil should be changed every 6 months or 5000 miles. Many who do a lower annual mileage (I do 3000 miles per year)  change the oil only once per year.

Taking modern oils in account I think the 3000 mile interval for cars is very much outdated. Many European manufacturers use 10,000 mile service intervals and in some cases as much as 15,000. I don't wholly agree with quite that interval in all cases and change mine annually at 6000. I'm not using expensive fully synthetic though which would be wasted on low mileage service intervals. If I was doing 15,000 miles per year with the long journeys that high mileage implies then that's what synthetics are for.

[darrylri]

I have always just followed the book:  5k intervals for oil changes on the Airheads and 6k intervals for the Oil- and Hexheads.  Never had an oil related failure, and I'm at 600,000 BMW boxer twin miles.  

That said, when I ride my 1928 BMW in the Cannonball (see my sig) next month, I intend on changing oil every night, which is roughly half the 600 mile interval the maker recommended.  In this case, I hope that, if there is a problem, I can find out about it before I am stranded on the road...  

[rev_mook]

Thanks for the info!

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
Sorry to dig this topic up, but as a newbie I catch up with old thread on the forum.
Oil change depends on internal materials used and, of course, quality of oils.
European cars have been studied to have a very predictable failure rate and high mileage before breaking with very high mileage per gallon. Oils have evolved a lot these past 20 years. So all of this combined make 4 wheelers makers go for a very extended interval for oil change (this is also good for the environment and the owner's wallet so it's also used in ads....)
Our airheads are specified for mineral 20w50 oil. And you have to get a real 50 grade if you plan to ride with very hot climate. So you better stay away for the fully synthetic modern oils used in cars because the have difficulties holding the upper part of the viscosity range and may be too low at 0W or 5W.
This said, if you stick to mineral 20W50 oil (from a reputable manufacturer) you have to stick with the initial specification of an oil change every 6 month or 7500 km....because it was based on what this kind of oil can endure.
I, for one, use my R65 all year round. And I use it to commute from home to work. So a lot of traffic jam and short ride every time. This puts a lot of strain on the oil. As mineral 20w50 oil is cheap, I change it more often than specified. Every 5000 km. This makes the planning easy when you look at the odometer.
As I change my oil myself, I can see if I was conservative or if I have to switch brand because the oil is burnt....
My bike has got above 160 000 km using this treatment and cylinders and pistons are pristine... So I may not be so wrong  [smiley=happy.gif] But your mileage may vary....