What engine oil do you prefer.

[Monman]

I know that there can be quite a debate about engine oil but I just wondered what other people prefer to use in their Airheads.
Thanks.

[Barry]

My choice is probably untypical on several counts:

I use a "fully synthetic" 5W40 for easy cold starts. Note the vast majority of "fully synthetic" oils are either Group 3 highly refined mineral oils or use GTL technology to derive the oil from gas. Neither have caused my seals to leak.

A spec of ACEA A3/B4 to guarantee a min HTHS of 3.5 (Note the oil film thickness in your bearings is determined by this number and not necessarily the fact that it's a 5W40)

Ideally a manufacturers approval e.g minimum MB 229.3 or BMW LL-01.  This guarantees High quality oil.

I don't worry overmuch about ZDDP because the subject is so complex that unless real oil professionals are involved, most of the public debate is uninformed. I'm not pretending to fully understand it but I've learnt enough to know that the bottom line is you can't compare oils purely on ZDDP content.

If I had to pick one oil manufacturer you won't go far wrong with Valvoline.

[Bob_Roller]

[movedhere] BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 [move by] Bob_Roller.

[Matt Chapter]

Oil choice is very usage and temperature dependent.  Barry's above advice, while suitable for his climate, is probably suboptimal for summer running conditions here in Texas.

Overall the state of oil technology has progressed nicely since these bikes were in production.  I've recently switched to fully synthetic as well, and it seems to offer longer life at a greater protective rate. On the other hand I seem to be entering the beginning of worn rings and so oil consumption dictates that the oil level be topped up before a change might be scheduled.

Brand wise, last change I used Valvoline 20w50 synthetic.

[Bob_Roller]

Use a quality oil .
Whether this really makes a difference or not, I've been using motorcycle specific oil since 1983 .
An oil suitable for your environment, I ride in a low desert, common to see temps in the 110-120 F, 43-50 C range , in the shade .

[Tony Smith]

I use Penrite (a local to Australia blender that has been around a very long time) - 20W60 is what I use - the main attraction is the additive "payload" which includes a lot ZDDP which i understand to be important for air-cooled engines.

For gearbox and final drive i use whatever is cheap that meets specification and if from a "known" brand.

To give a reason for my use of known brands only - over here "Gulf Oil" is a disposable label used by one of the nameless blenders who produce budget oils chain stores. I understand that "Gulf Oil" may have a better reputation elsewhere - but here it is the epitome of garbage. A friend of mine bought some recently on the basis of how cheap it was and waxed lyrical that it "met the specs" and put it in his inline-4 kawasaki. I went for a ride with him a couple of days (and 200km at most) later and by the time we reached our destination only 120km away I could hear noise in his engine that you don't want to hear, more to the point simply rocking the bike over to view the oil level in the sight glass showed the oil to have reverted to fluid as thing as water.

At significant cost he bought a better oil form the service station and we changed oil on the forecourt - the nasty noise went away.


One day I will give this a run

[Justin B.]

Tony - the ZDDP is necessary (I think) to keep flat-tappet valve lifters from galling.  When I did the top-end overhaul on my '81 R100 I had to replace 3 lifters.  Was the damage caused by modern oils with less ZDDP?  Who knows but I started using a ZDDP supplement afterwards.

[DonC]

For the past couple of years I've used this in my '86 R-65 and my '65 Porsche 356C:
http://www.amsoil.com/lit/databulletins/g2883.pdf
I'm currently rebuilding the engine in the 356 but the tappets were like new.

[Monman]

I'm going to use the Valvoline VR1. Seems that plenty has been said about this stuff in the Airhead and Porsche  world. 
I've recently taken delivery of a new to me R65, so an oil and filter change will be done before I take it out.

[Justin B.]

Monman - Take a look at Valvoline Racing Oil (that might be the VR1) as it brags about having lots of ZDDP...

[Monman]

Hi Justin

Yes thats the stuff i'm going to use. Phoned my local auto shop today nut they only do comma oils. I'm going to order it online soon.
Can't take my new to me R65 out for it's maiden trip without it's oil and filter changed.

[clonmore1]

VR1 is what Valvoline recommends for the R65 here in Europe...

[Monman]

Cheers Chris. I've read good reports on the stuff.

[clonmore1]

Enjoy that first ride Monman, you have some great roads around where you live and some of the best countryside in the country.

Enjoy and ride safe[ch127949][ch128077]

[Monman]

Thank you Chris. I'm really looking forward to taking the R65 out. Just got to pass on another bike first.
The roads around your neck of the woods aren't too bad either. The snake pass isn't too far away. I enjoyed that road. Keep her upright. Stay  safe.
I'll upload a picture of the old girl when I can find out how to compress the file.