Has anyone used Amsoil 100% synthetic motor oil?

[Rider_Rico]

I've been using Amsoil Signature series 100% synthetic motor oil on my previous bikes. I asked my dealer if it was ok to bring my own Amsoil oil at time of the 600 miles break-in service, and of course he told that with a bike like BMW that I should really use their recommended oil. BMW has a partnership with Castrol. He has to say that...Anyway, was wondering if anyone is currently using Amsoil for your 650gt? and if so, which one did you use?

 

[JaimeC]

On the TMAX forum everyone agrees that Amsoil is BAD for the CVT transmission, in that it makes the belt slip. According to WebBikeWorld, BMW has a very specific recommendation for their scooters, and it is NOT Castrol either:

BMW Scooter Oil and Filter Change - webBikeWorld

 

[Xian Forbes]

I would like to know if the CVT and the Clutch on the C series motor is a wet or a dry system. On other CVT bikes that I've owned and have seen, the CVT is separate from the crankcase and is a dry system, so if this is the case the type of oil would not effect the trans system. I have looked into the Driven oils developed by Joe Gibbs racing...the product developed for wet clutch motorycles looks interesting.

Joe Gibbs Driven MX1 - Wet Clutch Racing Oil

 

[Xian Forbes]

After giving it some thought... I would recon that the main reason that I have not seen any CVT transmission that is NOT a dry system is that there is no CVT wet system that uses rubber belts...(Honda had developed one that used a metal belt that was god awful expensive for an automotive application that was never developed for production) The belt connecting the clutch and the CVT would have to be dry as it is critical to the system that the belt hooks up the pulley with as little compression force from the pulley spring as possible. JamieC ... I find it interesting that the T-max guys complain about oil messing with the cvt, as far as I can tell...there is no oil in this type of transmission.

 

[Porkie]

The BMW CVT is dry as far as the belt goes as is the clutch, so the engine oil won't affect it at all if there are no leaks.

The CVT belts on my past T-max 500 and my current Kymco 500 and Burgman 650 are obviously dry belts. The CLUTCH on the T-max and Burgman are WET, oil bathed "Motorcycle type clutches." Oil is nowhere near the CVT belts in the Tmax or the Burgman.

Sam

 

[Skutorr]

The BMW CVT is dry as far as the belt goes as is the clutch, so the engine oil won't affect it at all if there are no leaks.
Sam

...but remember, the seal behind the clutch on the C650 and C600 is defective from the factory, until upgraded late in 2014, and will eventually leak. (Right, Xian?) So, until you've put the better seal in under warrantee (it's a RECALL in Europe) you should avoid synthetics like AMSOIL, which will leak easier than Dino oil...

 

[Porkie]

SKutorr, you brought up a good point about leaks that I have known for a long time and have discussed with master BMW motorcycle mechanics concerning synthetic oils: They can "Cause" leaks almost immediately in areas that have never leaked and especially on older bikes/ scoots. Apparently, DINO oil causes 'seals' to 'swell' and stay tight for the most part. Once synthetic oils are used those same seal start to shrink and the oil seeps or weeps out. New bikes/ scoots/cars have tighter seal that are more elastic and form fit better.

Now, at least to me, here's where it gets interesting and has been proven: In most cases a small leak that appears after using synthetic oil for the first time, can or may stop after the use of Dino oil again.

The affect of chemicals on rubber or elastic seals can be easily seen by using carb/ fuel injection cleaner on an old 'O' ring that fit in a groove in a carb for instance: Soak the 'O' ring in carb cleaner and within a few minutes it will grow enough to not fit at all in it's last application. Liquid Hydrocarbons in Transmission fluid helps keep them from leaking in cars and stop leak has lots more in volume of the stuff.

By the way, thanks for the heads up about the leaking seal problem---I will just add that to the numerous others that must be done by dealers before they sell them (Supposedly) or never taken care of at all by someone selling a used C600/ 650

Sam

 

[yellasei]

i use the specified castrol 15/50, ran all last year and covered 5000 miles without either a topup or change and had absolutely no issues. we are switching to shell this year as this is now BMW's specified oil but tbh, im so happy with the castrol that im staying with it in mine. im booked in for a 6,000 and annual at the start of february.

 

[Dale]

I have used Amsoil Motorcycle 10W40 from the 600 mile oil change to present without any problem.

I do not know where the seal myth got started but I hope people will start to understand synthetic oil will not harm seals or start leaks. If the seal is damaged it will start leaking because synthetic penetrates much greater than mineral oil. 100% synthetic is made of Esters which will help prevent seal leaks.