BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Hi everybody, I am new here. I have a new 2014 RT that I found with only 700 miles on it.
I do my own work but I can't find this recommended oil for the bike.
I have found 10w-40.
I have found 15w-50.
But I cannot find 5w-40.
Did BMW just dream up 5W-40 because it is not sold anywhere except the dealer?
5w or 10w I don't think it matters which one for the difference is so slight, am I right?
Does anybody have a source where I can buy the correct oil?

In the US castrol 5-40 4T can be found at cyclegear a large retail chain
Amazon also has it by the 6pak case, with prime free shipping
I always keep a couple cases on hand along with spare filters, also avaible on Amazon

siclmn wrote:Does anybody have a source where I can buy the correct oil?

Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T SAE 5W-40, API SL/JASO MA2 is available from Moto-Oil.co.uk. http://moto-oil.co.uk/motorcycle/castro ... g-4t-5w-40
or
OPIE Oils.co.uk, http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-77367-castr ... e-oil.aspx

I prefer to buy from OPIE, using the Moto-Oil price as a Price Beater promise with OPIE.

The recommended oil for your bike is 5W-40 ADVANTEC which is a BMW branded Shell  oil.  You will probably only find it at dealers.  They changed from Castrol at the beginnings of 2015. Nothing wrong with the Castrol though if you can find it.

siclmn wrote:But I cannot find 5w-40.
Does anybody have a source where I can buy the correct oil?

If you can't find Castrol oil, Motorex do a 5W-40 Boxer Oil for LC RT's.



http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/3018 ... BMW-1200-s

siclmn wrote:5w or 10w I don't think it matters which one for the difference is so slight, am I right?

Looking at the BMW Rider's Manual for a TC RT, (viscosity classes are not listed in the LC Manual),
5W-40 viscosity temperature range is for greater than or equal to -20degC,
10W-40 viscosity temperature range is for greater than or equal to -10degC.

siclmn wrote:Did BMW just dream up 5W-40 because it is not sold anywhere except the dealer?

Looks like with the 5W-40 for LC RT's, it's another case of, (quote taken from Motorcycle Info Pages).

http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/index19 ... eId=753225

"If you're a cynic like myself you'll wonder whether BMW's recommended engine oil for the R1200GS (BMW motorcycles) is actually the best engine oil you can choose or is their recommendation based on a financial 'partnership' they have with Castrol?!....I'll say no more! :-)"

For Castrol, now replace with Shell.

DaygloDavid wrote: Looking at the BMW Rider's Manual for a TC RT, (viscosity classes are not listed in the LC Manual),
5W-40 viscosity temperature range is for greater than or equal to -20degC,
10W-40 viscosity temperature range is for greater than or equal to -10degC.

The only teensy, weensy difference between the TC RT and the LC is that the LC has an oil-bath clutch fed through a precision-bored push-rod.


5W-40 for me until otherwise informed.  YMMV

The next generation of tractor engine bikes will have a very special oil specification 8W-45 comes is 1/2 litre bottles supplied by BMW at a very reasonable cost of £20 / bottle. I can't wait.

If the information on this website, http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/viscosity.htm, is to believed, then 10W-40 would be recommended over 5W-40.

"NOTE especially that 10W50 is not recommended for over +10°C; and the 15W50 is not recommended for over 30°C. Contrast with the 20W50. There is a real reason that certain multigrade oils are not good at higher temperatures, even though they have that top figure in their stated viscosity. I can sum it all up rather easily: When the top number is divided by the bottom number, and it exceeds 2.5, the oil fails to lubricate well-enough. This has BEEN SO, for DECADES, and IS SO, today. It also applies to the BMW 5W50 SuperPower oil...please do NOT purchase that oil, no matter what BMW says!...unless the air temperature will be below freezing, during your entire ride."

10W-40 gives a factor of 4 and 5W-40 gives a factor of 8, both greater than the 2.5 recommended in the above article.

The change in the BMW recommendation for a TC RT from 10W-50 to 15W-50 gives factors of 5 and 3.3 respectively, that latter is getting closer to 2.5.

I think my head is going to explode reading that article.

Dont let it worry you.  Just put in it what BMW tell you in the belief they know best.  Those that think they only quote a certain oil to make a few more quid should possibly have not bought the bike in the first place.

Thanks to everybody for all this information. I found the oil at Cycle Gear as somebody here told me. I always thought Cycle Gear just sold a bunch of low end products but at least they sell good oil. The BMW oil made by Shell is just 2 or 3 bucks more at the dealer. I thought there would be a much bigger difference in price.