Rob Gomez Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 Need help on oils and lubes for my 08 RT. Finall km drive? Spline lube? Gear box oil? Any help would be greatly appreciated Link to comment
Rider1260 Posted March 15, 2020 Share Posted March 15, 2020 This should help https://www.beemerboneyard.com/her1sek1rk12.html Link to comment
dirtrider Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 16 hours ago, Rob Gomez said: Need help on oils and lubes for my 08 RT. Finall km drive? Spline lube? Gear box oil? Any help would be greatly appreciated Morning Rob Gomez This is a motorcycle forum so asking about what oil to use is like asking what woman to marry, or what underwear to buy. There is no one specific product but many that will meet the BMW specifications. As long a the oil or grease meets BMW specs then you have many/many choices Let's start with the final drive splines-- The BMW manual calls for Optimoly TA, unfortunately Optimoly TA is difficult (almost impossible) to find any more so you will probably have to substitute. The common substitution seems to be Honda Moly60. But about any high moly content spline lube will work (there are number on the market). Personally I still use the Optimoly TA as I have good amount remaining but when I run out I will probably just switch to the Honda Moly60 or a Loctite equivalent (TBD). Just clean the spline joint thoroughly before wiping on new grease. On the transmission gear oil-- The service manual calls for a Brand name hypoid-gear lubricant SAE 90 API GL 5, unfortunately finding a straight SAE 90 API GL 5 is very difficult as most are rated 85-90 or 75-90. Most of us use a brand name 75-90 or 75-140 GL5 gear oil. Most bearings in the trans are sealed so the important thing is the GL5 part. On the 75-90 or 75-140 thing, some BMW 1200 hexhead motorcycles shift better for longer with the 75-140 & others shift better for longer with the 75-90. Try one the then the other next gear oil change then use the one that shifts best for the longest. On the BMW hexhead about ANY good quality 75-90, 75-140, 80w90 GL5 gear oil will work OK it is just the shifting that can get better or worse depending on gear oil choice. On the final drive gear oil you are more limited-- The BMW manual calls for (used to anyhow) Castrol SAF-XO gear oil, that gear oil is very difficult to find in the US. You can use about any good quality 75-90 GL5 gear oil as long as it doesn't contain harmful additives. My one recommendation here is to NOT use a gear oil that is rated LS (Limited Slip) as LS gear oil contains a wicking additive to migrate into posi-traction clutches. Your BMW hexhead uses a sealed crown bearing ( sealed with it's own internal grease). You don't want to take a chance that the gear oil will migrate in & pollute that sealed-in grease. There are quite a few gear oil's that qualify as good up level final drive gear oil but my personal favorite is the Castrol Syntrax long life NON LS 75-90 gear oil as that is basically the same as the SAF-XO (not easy to find the 'non LS' in the US though). Link to comment
Skywagon Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 Mods....the above questions get asked a lot. DR gives a thorough explanation. Maybe this should be captured and posted.... Link to comment
szurszewski Posted March 16, 2020 Share Posted March 16, 2020 That's a great idea - can we do sticky/pinned threads with the new software? It would be really convenient to have a "Welcome to your new Cam/Oil/Hex head - basic maintenance" post up at the top of the relevant forum. Link to comment
Dann Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 I've been using this for years on my 07. Same thing as the SAF-XO but half the price: Castrol Syntrax Long Life 75W-90 2003-2009 Land Rover Range Rover Differential Oil - Rear Differential - Castrol LRN7591 - Syntrax Long Life; Equivalent to: Castrol SAF-XO) Link to comment
bacos Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 does the non-LS oil conjunction apply to the oilheads as well? (if so, oops, mobil-1 LS is just too convenient to find..) Link to comment
dirtrider Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 6 hours ago, bacos said: does the non-LS oil conjunction apply to the oilheads as well? (if so, oops, mobil-1 LS is just too convenient to find..) Morning bacos Yes, it won't kill your final, drive just a better chance of a pinion seal leak. Link to comment
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