10/50 Close enough?

Hi all, my apologies if this has already been answered somewhere. The previous owner of my 8V put new oil just before selling the bike to me, but he put 10/50, not 10/60. Should I change it now or let it ride? If 10/60 is a must, is it possible to find it in a brick and mortar store, or do I have to order it online? I don't see it at Pep Boys or Autozone.

IMHO the viscosity rating isn't as important as using a very high quality full man made full ester oil. The biggest problem is that although generally the 8V's run cool there are places in the engine, the oil galleries and under piston cooling sprays, where the oil get flash heated to a very high temperature. Using an el-cheapo mineral base oil is asking for it to break down under these conditions and busted-arse oil cannot cool, lubricate or clean which are its three functions.

Unless you are travelling slowly in very hot conditions I wouldn't worry until the next change as long as the oil you have in it now is a full ester synthetic. In about 5,000 Km drop it and replace it with a 10/60.

Pete

I put in some 10-40W this past winter when my morning drive dropped down to 29deg F.
I changed my oil again recently (summer temps hitting 95-103deg F) with the Napa brand 15-45W full synth.
I could NOT find anything that said "full Esther" and when I said those words to the store clerk he knew less than I did.
Putting in the 15-45W full synth was a big improvement in the running of the bike and my fuel light quit coming on at 135 miles. It started coming on at 150-155.

DM

1100 and 1200 are completely different engines. Important to not confuse the fact that what is acceptable for one is not OK for the other.

Pete

Ok thanks guys. He said he put in Mobil 1, so I'll let it ride and just keep an eye on it. In the meantime I'll see if I can find a real store that stocks 10/60. I can't even find 10/50 at Pepboys or Autozone.

BMW dealers carry 10W60 full synthetic, also you should be able to source LIQUI-MOLI 10W60 full synth at your local NAPA or CarQuest store, although you may have to ask them to order it for you.

Alternatively, your best bet is to order exactly what you need online. Buy enough for 3 or 4 services and you'll save on shipping. The best deal I have found comes from Powersport Superstore - Fast shipping and under $70 for 4L of MOTUL 10W60 full synthetic, 1L of MOTUL 75W90 full synthetic Gear Oil and a HiFlo HF551 oil filter.

Click here for a copy of an invoice of everything you need to order.

This way you will have enough on hand for several services and you won't have to worry about schlepping down to Pep Boys for something that they'll never carry.

Manny, Moe and Jack don't ride GRiSOs...

Thanks Steak! I figured Manny Moe and Jack were Harley guys!

WARNING!
If you find Mobil 1 or any other quality oil on the web at unbelievable prices, don't believe it.
Local guy here got cheap Mobil 1 for his S1000RR BMW, engine got noisy, oil changed colour real quick and smelt funny, then his clutch failed.

Subsequent lab tests proved it had a large % of canola oil.

Yes, just like counterfeit designer clothes, Rolex watches, Gucci handbags etc the copy cat mongrels are flogging oils as well. This has been confirmed by import/distributors for several oil brands.

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always with free shipping if ya look a bit

be cautious putting synthetics in the transmission and bevel box, the seals were designed for dino products, the odd wt they specified is an odd weight just so no one could find a synthetic eq.

it will probably be ok but I know some amsoil gear oils eat the carc seals...seen that one first hand