Good advice! Yes...great bike.

Reading the info on one of the websites provided by oilguy2 I noticed that it said that an oil is not actually certified by the API if it doesn't display the API seal....Well, I looked at a bottle of Mobil 4T and it has SG,SH on it but no API seal..Neither does it have the JASO seal on it....I'm pretty sure it's tested to meet the standards of those tests, but it appears that it may not actually be API SG/SH or JASO MA certified...

There are no "API Certified" seals on any oil currently being processed and sold other than those which are Energy Conserving: 0W-20, 0W-30, 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30.

This would mean that we should not put an API Certified oil in our motorcycles (although some designs can handle it).

The API certification is not on 10W-40 High Mileage, 5W-40 Turbo Diesel Truck, OW-40 European Formula, 15W-50 Extended Performance, 10W-40 Racing 4T or 20W-50 V-Twin, etc.

An oil that meets obsolete requirements (such as SF/SG), or is a "Motorcycle Oil" should not have "API Certified" on it.

Reference that an oil meets JASO MA should satisfy concerns regarding sufficient "oil friction" for wet clutch operation.

The current confusion in the marketplace has forced motorcyclists to become knowledgeable about oil. In the process, we have been able to select oils that meet our needs without always paying the higher expected premium.

It is best to research any oil before you use it unless you have first person testimony regarding its suitability (such as comments obtained from this website) or have other Internet reference material to call upon.

Another point regarding what oils BMW recommends you use: as a matter of United States Federal Law, if a manufacturer requires you to use a particular oil to maintain the warranty intact, they must provide you with that oil free of charge.

If a manufacturer or their dealer require a particular maintenance schedule be followed to maintain a warranty in force, they must provide that maintenance free of charge.

That law was passed years ago to prevent manufacturers and their dealers from offering a warranty to sell a product and then looking for an excuse to deny claims.

If you experienced a mechanical failure and a dealership or manufacturer began to inquire about oil used and the maintenance schedule followed, I would remind them that any attempt to deny warranty claims on the basis of oil used or schedules not followed is a violation of Federal Law if they did not provide those requirements for free. That would mark the end of their investigation as to the cause of mechanical failure.

Since BMW does not provide the oil or the maintenance free of charge, then we are left to our own judgment to determine what level of protection our equipment needs. Recommendations do not have to be followed and in some cases, should not be.

Until fuel dilution can be corrected, I suggest you shorten your OCI (which is already pretty short) to be safe.

I wonder if BMW has a recall or technical notice regarding fuel dilution on your year and model. Worth looking into.

My choice of words was incorrect...Should have said API Service Symbol Donut...

I noticed it was missing on a bottle of Mobil 4T oil...I'm sure it meets the standards of SG just like it states on the bottle, but what I'm wondering if it's actually gone through the API for SH,SG since there is no Donut...Same with the JASO...Perhaps they use their own labs to see if the SH/SG and JASO standards are met?

Ok I read this twice since I'm slow. Does any bottle say "API Certified" on it? My M1 15W50 has a API Service SM/CF donut and off to the side says SM, SL / CF. My Rotella T 15W40 has the API service donut as well says "meets" about every letter and number combination you can think of . I only have a 2002 vintage M1 Vtwin bottle and it has no donut but, with no other words around it, says API SG, SH /CF JASO MA.

So what does it take to be official? Just the letters like the M1 Vtwin, the letters accompanied by the donut like the M1 15W50, or the letters, the donut and the words "meets or exceeds API SM, ILSAC GF-4, AECA A1/B1, A5/B5" like my car oils and Rotella T 15W40 which lists CF, CG, CH, CI, CI+, CJ, SJ, SL, and SM? I don't really care as my Red Line has no letters has no donut and I use it in my newest bike. It just says formulated suit the requirements of AECA. Just curious about what makes it official which I think is what Whitesands was asking.