Hi,

I have a 2005 XB 1200 Lightning and the oil needs topping up.
I have a bottle of Silkolene fully synthetic 15W - 50 oil, will this be OK to use?

Cheers.

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Wear the fox hat

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FUBAR pilot

You only need two bikes in life-an S1 and a Multistrada!

How good, BMW didn't notice that yet ... otherwise the would surely market some blue-white colored oil also.

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

moved from Tech section because...

Technical Forum

Playground of the Techies. The place for resolution of more detailed questions and problems. Attempts to start The Tyre Thread or The Oil Thread in here may result in personal injury.

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Feros Ferio

It is always best to top up with the same oil as already in if possible ......is it on mineral or synthetic at the moment? I'd suggest if you don't know the answer to that to get it changed to a good quality mineral 20/50 like the genuine harley stuff or other air cooled vtwin grade .
Find a quality suitable oil that's available locally to you and stick with it

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2001 X1 2009 1125CR 2006 Uly X3 2010 Uly a fully Maz'd S1 and a 1991 RS1200 Westwind.

You should really have used the search function before posting this question. Literally, 3 or 4 days ago, we had another person asking the same question which was discussed in a 2 page thread: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=14098

And before that, a long list of other people have asked the very same question. Not trying to be grumpy, but a question about oil is not really a specialist technical subject that would need a whole new thread creating again........

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Illegitimi non carborundum

Besides no one asks what the figures mean and why the W?

You should be a moderator...

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08 Specialized Langster

Henry look at the spec on the back of the bottle
for the SAE info for compatibility

from Wiki..
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has established a numerical code system for grading motor oils according to their viscosity characteristics. SAE viscosity gradings include the following, from low to high viscosity: 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 or 60. The numbers 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25 are suffixed with the letter W, designating their "winter" (not "weight") or cold-start viscosity, at lower temperature. The number 20 comes with or without a W, depending on whether it is being used to denote a cold or hot viscosity grade. The document SAE J300 defines the viscometrics related to these grades.

Kinematic viscosity is graded by measuring the time it takes for a standard amount of oil to flow through a standard orifice, at standard temperatures. The longer it takes, the higher the viscosity and thus higher SAE code.

The SAE has a separate viscosity rating system for gear, axle, and manual transmission oils, SAE J306, which should not be confused with engine oil viscosity. The higher numbers of a gear oil (e.g., 75W-140) do not mean that it has higher viscosity than an engine oil.

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Feros Ferio

So will Henry's Silkolene fully synthetic 15W - 50 oil be OK then

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Wear the fox hat

dunno can't see his bottle from here

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Feros Ferio

Nope. 1 - It's too slippery. 2 - It's compressible.

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Try doing this to yer fueller...........

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FUBAR pilot

You only need two bikes in life-an S1 and a Multistrada!

A spoonful of sand and water should sort that Steve

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.