E30TECH Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 I have noticed that my RT has not been consistant with the oil consumption. I am using regular BMW 20w50 oil. The bike has 9500 on it. I realize that I pretty anal about the oil level. I try to keep it at the midpoint of the sight glass. Before my last 300 mile trip, it was at the dot. When I returned, it was 3/4 full with the side stand (and 'empty' with the center stand). It took nearly 1/2 qt to bring it to the dot, which seems like a lot of oil for 300 miles. I know that most people say if you can see it with the side stand, ride. My question is does ambient temperature and variation in engine speed increase consumption? I was throughout the RPM range, even bouncing off the limiter once or twice. I was probably averaging 5K RPM due to the nature of the roads. The ambient temps were about 80 degrees. Mostly backroads and not much idle time. I have noticed some black on the end of the muffler as well. The last time I checked mileage vs. oil usage was a 600 mile trip, mostly highway, about 65 degrees, I used about 1/4 qt. Does oil consumption of this nature usually diminish as the running in process is complete? The bike runs perfect otherwise. Link to comment
Spyder Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Perry, My '04 has about 18K miles on it and I still see the same pattern that you do including the black shmutz at the end of the muffler. One exception is that I never had to add a half of a quart. If I do alot of short trips like errands the consumption goes up. If I am on a trip I use almost no oil at all anymore. Link to comment
g_frank_nin Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 What is that "black shmutz at the end of the muffler"... is that normal? (bought my first boxer oil head recently) Link to comment
Spyder Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 What is that "black shmutz at the end of the muffler"... is that normal? (bought my first boxer oil head recently) I assume that it is oil blow-by past the rings which have not fully seated yet. It is widely believed that the full "break-in" on the boxer does not occur until after 20K miles. Link to comment
Couchrocket Posted May 31, 2007 Share Posted May 31, 2007 Yup... that seems to be "the" factor in oil consumption. 200 miles of on-throttle / off-throttle w/ lots of shifting in the twisties will burn 6-8 oz. for me. By contrast, I ran home from Torrey at a pretty constant 80-90 mph, for 560 miles in one shot. Didn't burn a drop. Did the same thing last year from Lake Shastina to Temecula at warp speed in one day 750+ miles and didn't burn a drop. Been this way since new, w/ now 32K on the clock. Link to comment
g_frank_nin Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Thanks for the "heads up" my 1999 R1100R “new to me” boxer has only about 2500 miles on it and I find myself wiping the pipe every now an again, I was beginning to wonder about it. Funny how these bikes seem to have a few quirks and BMWisms that I never knew about before making my purchase. I just learned the “performance shifting” or “preloading the shift pedal” technique a few weeks ago. And before that was the “surging” that happens about 3700 rpm with the fuel injected bikes. Interesting… Link to comment
E30TECH Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share Posted June 1, 2007 Thanks for the "heads up" my 1999 R1100R “new to me” boxer has only about 2500 miles on it and I find myself wiping the pipe every now an again, I was beginning to wonder about it. Funny how these bikes seem to have a few quirks and BMWisms that I never knew about before making my purchase. I just learned the “performance shifting” or “preloading the shift pedal” technique a few weeks ago. And before that was the “surging” that happens about 3700 rpm with the fuel injected bikes. Interesting… I didn't know about them either, although I love the bike anyway. This oil consumption has me a little disappointed though. Link to comment
g_frank_nin Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Don’t get me wrong, I love my R1100R too... always wanted to have a boxer twin, now that I have one I’m going to ride it a lot. Link to comment
Bob Palin Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 I think it's almost guaranteed that you didn't use 1/2 a quart in 300 miles, the bike is notorious for hiding oil. Next time you think this has happened you should take it for a quick spin, enough to get up to full temperature then do the oil sight dance again and see what the level is. You should also open the drain from your airbox and see how much oil is in there, that's where the excess goes, I'm betting there's quite a lot in there which may be creating the "schmutz". Link to comment
E30TECH Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share Posted June 1, 2007 AJ + Scott - I'm glad to hear that there is some other 'outside' factors contributing to this and that I am not alone. Bob - I just pulled the air filter, and had a look inside the filter housing. There is just a trace amount of oil on the bottom. I'm assuming it is oil since it is only a sheen that I can see, no real depth. If there were oil in there, I would see it pooled up - right? After adding the 1/2 qt and getting it to the dot, I took it for a 50 mile ride. When I came back and checked the level, it was a hair below the dot. The reason I was riding it a little more aggressively was to help with the run in. I think the previous owner babied it a little, although I am only speculating. The 600 and 6K mile services were completed on his dime. I have put 1/3 of the total miles on this bike. The last ride I did was clearly the worst as far as consumption goes. Link to comment
TN_R_Girl Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 Ooh. Thanks for the insight everybody. I've got about 14K on my '04 R11S and was thinking the same thing about the oil consumption issues. Relieved to know that it is somewhat "normal" Link to comment
E30TECH Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share Posted June 1, 2007 Ooh. Thanks for the insight everybody. I've got about 14K on my '04 R11S and was thinking the same thing about the oil consumption issues. Relieved to know that it is somewhat "normal" I've always been the one to ask the questions everyone else was afraid to ask Link to comment
John Dickens Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Like many of us I was sceptical about the running in period but I have had to eat my words (again). My 850RT has pretty much stopped using oil between services. I do check it regularly and I do know all the steps to the oil check dance but it really doesn't need much more than 250ml of oil in the 6000 miles between services. Link to comment
E30TECH Posted June 2, 2007 Author Share Posted June 2, 2007 Like many of us I was sceptical about the running in period but I have had to eat my words (again). My 850RT has pretty much stopped using oil between services. I do check it regularly and I do know all the steps to the oil check dance but it really doesn't need much more than 250ml of oil in the 6000 miles between services. Did your oil consumption diminish or has it always been minimal? I did about 120 miles today and it didn't seem to use a drop. I got 3 extra quarts just in case Link to comment
Capt_Ron Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 I think it's almost guaranteed that you didn't use 1/2 a quart in 300 miles, the bike is notorious for hiding oil. This may be part of my perceived problem with oil consumption. I appeared very low, so I added oil and now the oil level is too high. There seems to be a specific way to check the oil to get anything like an accurate reading. This is a little frustrating for me. I just haven't gotten it right yet. Ron Link to comment
glwestcott Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 I think it's almost guaranteed that you didn't use 1/2 a quart in 300 miles, the bike is notorious for hiding oil. Next time you think this has happened you should take it for a quick spin, enough to get up to full temperature then do the oil sight dance again and see what the level is. You should also open the drain from your airbox and see how much oil is in there, that's where the excess goes, I'm betting there's quite a lot in there which may be creating the "schmutz". +1. These bikes a terrible for telling you how much oil is really in them. I suspect that at times there is a problem with oil draining down from the cooler with a bubble of air causing an airlock or something. Check mine after a long ride and its right there in the sight glass. Remember I forgot something a block away and ride there and back and check the oil again and its nowhere to be seen. This is frustrating and certainly led me to over fill and have oil coming out of the fill hole all over my boot when I had the bike at first. Now, I do the see it on the side stand and ride bit, although after a longer ride, I make sure to check it just to insure that good warm feeling and, sure enough, its right in the sight glass. Wish it were different, but if you are going to insist on exact oil level knowledge with these machines, you better buy another bike. Our Teutonic motorcycle design friends didn't do this bit well. Link to comment
Ken H. Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 I just haven't gotten it right yet Nor will you. Depending upon personality, at some point in time most people just give up. (Or not.) Look at sight glass + see oil = ride the bike. Link to comment
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