BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 12:40 pm**

David. wrote: For my 2012 TC, the BMW Advantec 15W-50 is £18.43 per litre x 4 = £73.72.

Got some Putoline Sport 4 15W-50 for £7.49 per litre x 4 = £29.96.

BMW oil pricing is taking the p### especially as they must get it cheap by buying in bulk. My Castrol oil bought in 16 litre pack worked out at about £8 something a litre half BMW price.

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 12:42 pm**

beemerboy9 wrote: Bearing in mind the fussy oil-lubricated clutches on the LC machines and the tiny apertures that oil has to flow through to move around the engine&gearbox to enable the clutch release, I will be sticking to 5W/40 oils.

Not quite sure I see this. As both oils will have the same viscosity once the engine is at operating temperature why would 10W40 act any different to 5W40 ?

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 1:37 pm**

Levisp wrote:BMW oil pricing is taking the piss.

Oil filters too, BMW = £18.07, HiFlo = £4.50.

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 4:12 pm**

David. wrote: Oil filters too, BMW = £18.07, HiFlo = £4.50.

Thats a very good price. Just bought a HiFlo filter for my bike from Wemoto and the price was £6.26 and I thought that was cheap.

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 5:02 pm**

Levisp wrote:Thats a very good price.

It's a trade price, the TC & LC prices are the same at £4.50.

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 6:07 pm**

TimGun wrote:
Hors,
We don’t have a 5/40 weight synthetic oil in the US.

Tim - I use Castrol Power1 4T motorcycle oil, and it's definitely available in the US.  You can get a 6-pk on Amazon, it meets or exceeds all the same specs as Advantec oil.  Also, if you are a BMW MOA member, they often have promo codes you can use to get a big discount on it, I think I paid like $27 for the last 6-pk I bought.

[size=78%]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008MISDII?aaxitk=gZ3hrswgtz4Iy1Rj377Gog&pd_rd_i=B008MISDII&pf_rd_p=9420597b-7dad-4cbd-a28d-7d676ac67378&hsa_cr_id=6646355650201&sb-ci-n=productDescription&sb-ci-v=Castrol%2006113%20Power1%204T%205W-40%20Synthetic%20Motorcycle%20Oil%2C%201%20Quart%20Bottle%2C%206%20Pack[/size]

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:44 pm**

Levisp wrote:
Not quite sure I see this. As both oils will have the same viscosity once the engine is at operating temperature why would 10W40 act any different to 5W40 ?

Won't make any difference unless you're starting your bike when it's -25c and under, very few tend to ride when it's that cold and probably even less leave their bike outside where it would go to that low a temperature, here in the uk at least.

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:09 pm**

In the UK, (Scotland) oil has to work between these temperature ranges.

Posted: **Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:04 pm**

David. wrote: In the UK, (Scotland) oil has to work between these temperature ranges.

Re: Oil filters and oil weight

Re: Oil filters and oil weight

Not sure what you're implying here?  Frost can develop on a screen at -1c, where's the relevance to -25c? and that's if it's left outside, which the majority of motorcycles aren't, never mind rode.

Posted: **Fri Aug 21, 2020 1:30 pm**

Levisp wrote: Another reason for possibly considering 10W40 over 5W40 is availability. In the UK I have only been able to purchase 5W40 in 1 litre bottles. This is not only not very green but more expensive too. However 10W40 is readily available in 4 litre bottles and is cheaper.

Now I have not tried 10W40 yet ! I have 2 more oil changes of 5W40 left. Then the bike will have 54K on it and I will try the thicker grade and see if it makes any difference. I will stick with the recommended make for my bike which is Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T

[size=2px]Silkolene Pro 4 5w40 is readily available in 4ltr containers via ebay and costs about £50. My last purchase came in an environmentally friendly box similar to a wine box.[/size]

Posted: **Fri Aug 21, 2020 2:16 pm**

Thanks Pickaxe for the info.

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2020 2:11 pm**

Re the 15w50 spec, I've just bought  Smith and Allan's 'own brew' fully synthetic, at £24.00 delivered for 5 ltrs - it meets the API spec as well as the JASO MA2 one (although I believe that's a wet-clutch spec, so not really relevant to my 1200RT). Couple that with my '3 Mahle filters for fifteen quid' find, and that's a nice price for an oil service. I also bought their own GL5-spec gear oil.

They've been in the business for over 80 years, and have exceptionally good customer support - I've called them a couple of times for advice, and got to speak to someone who obviously knew lubricants inside out. Highly recommended!
https://www.smithandallan.com/

Pete

Posted: **Sat Aug 22, 2020 8:09 pm**

Another great find Pete, Smith & Allen are only 15 miles away from where I live. If out in that direction, could save the postage too.

Posted: **Sun Aug 23, 2020 12:26 pm**

Yes excellent find, very reasonable postage rates. Thanks

Posted: **Thu Jul 20, 2023 9:09 am**

milleplod wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 2:11 pm Re the 15w50 spec, I've just bought  Smith and Allan's 'own brew' fully synthetic, at £24.00 delivered for 5 ltrs - it meets the API spec as well as the JASO MA2 one (although I believe that's a wet-clutch spec, so not really relevant to my 1200RT). Couple that with my '3 Mahle filters for fifteen quid' find, and that's a nice price for an oil service. I also bought their own GL5-spec gear oil.

They've been in the business for over 80 years, and have exceptionally good customer support - I've called them a couple of times for advice, and got to speak to someone who obviously knew lubricants inside out. Highly recommended!
https://www.smithandallan.com/

Pete

Old thread I know but just ordered 5w-40 fully synthetic,5 litres £29.99 delivered.3 oil filters with crush washers from NN's £39 delivered,sorted.

Thanks Pete for the link.