Engine Oil For 2007 RT

[NE Tourer]

Just purchased oil for oil change from my local BMW dealer (ouch).

Owners manual recommends 20W50. Can anybody recommend a decent brand of 20W50 instead of paying through the nose for the BMW branded oil.

 

Thanks

[marcopolo]

Since there is no such thing as BMW-branded oil in Canada (and many other countries), I've had dealers use everything from Castrol, Motul and Spectro (all 20W50). If I were doing it myself, I'd use Castrol.

[JayW]

Motul makes an excellent synthetic 20W-50, which is what I am using at present. You'll get lots opinions on this question, and most of them will be right.

 

Jay

[Mister Tee]

Also, since your BMW uses a dry clutch, there is no need to use a "motorcycle specific" oil (without anti-friction additives), so any good quality auto spec 20W50 will be fine as well. I myself have been using Valvoline full synthetic.

[Twisties]

If you flip the page, after 20W50 is a whole list of other oils you can use. Given your climate, I'd like to suggest 10W50 as an all season choice. I've been using Castrol:

 

RS R4 4T

 

It's about $10/qt, which is still quite a bit less than BMW.

 

IMHO 20W is too heavy for cool temperature starts.

 

 

[R1200Rdr]

Several folks on the MOA form, including Pual Glaves, recommend Castrol 20-50 4T. It is made in Canada. In the US, I have purchased it Auto Zone for about $5.00/qt. It is a motorcycle specific oil and is rated SG/SH only. At my Auto Zone it is located in the motorcycle oil display, not with the car oils

 

It is a whole lot less expensive than the BMW branded oil sold by the dealers.

 

Joe

R1200RT

[markgoodrich]

Just purchased oil for oil change from my local BMW dealer (ouch).

Owners manual recommends 20W50. Can anybody recommend a decent brand of 20W50 instead of paying through the nose for the BMW branded oil.

 

Thanks

 

You'll get lots of suggestions for brands, all of which will be just fine, but the only definitive source for oil recommendation is your owner's manual, which should specify weight AND API specification. In 2006 the spec was 20W50, API spec SF or better. "Or better" means, according to API and according to the head of BMWNA customer relations, SF, SG, SH, SL and SM oils will all satisfy warranty requirements AND keep your motor running just fine. Translated, it means go to the auto store or your favorite discount store and buy an oil that has API spec equal to one of the above.

 

THIS THREAD should wear you out.

[rglassma]

I agree with the Castrol 4T "Dino" oil. I have been using it now for several years. It is probably the most economical oil that I have found that meets or exceeds the specs as per BMW. I purchase it at Pep Boys by the Gallon for 13.99 in either 10w/40 or 20w/50.

 

You didn't mention if you were using dino oil or synthetic BMW oil. I see no need to use synthetic myself on my '05 RT. All the dealers that I have spoken with say that you really don't see any real benefit for the price. Especially if you are changing your oil as recommended by BMW or more frequently.

[smiller]

For oil/hexheads an almost universal answer is Mobil 1 15W-50 'silver cap' (non-EP) oil. Inexpensive, readily available, and easily as good as anything else out there.

[JMR]

Just purchased oil for oil change from my local BMW dealer (ouch).

Owners manual recommends 20W50. Can anybody recommend a decent brand of 20W50 instead of paying through the nose for the BMW branded oil.

 

Thanks

THIS is, without question, the best oil & filter related thread I've ever read. Tim Titus (aka "Grumpy-ol-fart") is the poster of the best oil info I've ever read...his posts start on the second page. Tim has a knack for putting things into plain English....I like that.