Sight glass comes off on RT

[BRT Rider]

I was on my way to work last week riding my 2000 R1100RT (58K), when the sight glass comes off and dumps oil all over the roadway. I was traveling on an expressway about 70mph when this ocurred. I was fortunate that there was an exit nearby, so I only traveled about a half mile after the oil loss. I ordered and will have a new sight glass next week, however I am very concerned and worried about engine damage.

Has this happened to anyone, and if so can the engine survive running a short distance with very little oil?

 

 

[Boffin]

A regretably common occurence. Fortunately, the oilheads have a very large resevoir of oil and the pickup is way below the level of the sight-glass. As long as you oil warning light never came on, you did no damage.

 

Andy

[BRT Rider]

Thanks for the reply Andy. I actually don't know if the oil warning light came on.

Everything happened so fast I didn't notice because I was in heavy traffic and I was trying to get off the expressway and park somewhere safe where I could wait for a tow.

[upflying]

Lot's of long distance riders carry a spare sight glass..just expecting it to pop out. Unfortunately it is just an interference fit. I doubt you did engine damage, four quarts is a lot of oil to lose and probably would have caused an accident behind you if you lost that much.

Sure would be nice to have someone invent a safety tie for those things.

[guitardad]

As Andy said, if the oil light didn't come on you're probably OK. At this point, your best bet is to replace the sight glass, refill the oil, and give it a try. If everything sounds OK, then just ride it. But if the engine sounds expensive, you're in for something like this..... My R1100RS

 

I've got a question - how did you know you were losing oil? In my case, the oil light and the noises were pretty much simultaneous.

[BRT Rider]

I've got a question - how did you know you were losing oil? In my case, the oil light and the noises were pretty much simultaneous.

 

I noticed that I was losing oil when I happened to look in my mirrors and saw lots white smoke behind me. I didn't hear or feel anything, but I sure noticed all the oil all over my boots, pants, left side of bike when I stopped. I could,nt have travelled that far because I was only a few miles into my morning commute.

[BABABeemer]

I wonder if hot melt glue could be put around the perimeter of the sightglass to hold it in? I had the oil fill blow out because of an improperly installed rear oil seal but the sight glass held in despite the increased crankcase pressure!

[knight88]

I wonder if hot melt glue could be put around the perimeter of the sightglass to hold it in? I had the oil fill blow out because of an improperly installed rear oil seal but the sight glass held in despite the increased crankcase pressure!

 

I doubt it I think the case heats up way above the melting point for those glue sticks. If I was really paranoid about this I would tap a small hole on the edge and put a screw in with a washer large enough to overlap a part of the sight glass to hold it in.

But I'm not THAT paranoid, so I just carry a spare

[BABABeemer]

Yeah your probably right about the heat. I just carry one of those expandable rubber freeze plugs to contain the oil until I get home.

[Scarecrow]

Can you give details about the rubber freeze plug? What size? If I go into the local Home Depot, what specifically would I ask for? And then how do you fit it?

TIA,

[millbert]

I wonder if hot melt glue could be put around the perimeter of the sightglass to hold it in? I had the oil fill blow out because of an improperly installed rear oil seal but the sight glass held in despite the increased crankcase pressure!

 

I wonder if Belzona or J&B weld around the perimeter would work?

[NoHeat]

Can you give details about the rubber freeze plug? What size?

 

1.5" adjustable freeze plug, sold in auto parts stores and in plumbing departments of hardware stores.

 

That's according to a post in this thread, which has more details:

 

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=1&Number=172928

[gthorpe]

I wonder... If you clean the surfaces really well with degreaser then put down a thin bead of high temp Silicone RTV adhesive. That could work.

 

Of course it depends on how well the adhesive adheres over numerous temp cycles.

[BRT Rider]

What is the proper installation of the new sight glass?

Is this a compression fit with no adhesive and I simply add oil to o-ring, then tap it in?

[azpilot06]

Remember...it's not a flaw...it's a feature. What other bike provides you with a build in crankcase over-pressure blow-off valve?

[BRT Rider]

What also concerns me is why this happened at all.

Is there an over pressure problem with the engine, or is it just and old seal on the sight glass that got loose?

[smiller]

What also concerns me is why this happened at all.

Is there an over pressure problem with the engine, or is it just and old seal on the sight glass that got loose?

They just get loose, happens sometimes. There's not likely any underlying problem to worry about.

[T__]

What also concerns me is why this happened at all.

Is there an over pressure problem with the engine, or is it just and old seal on the sight glass that got loose?

 

 

Bruce, probably more than one reason those can come out.. I have personally seen two instances of the sight glass popping out,, in both instances the engine was fast idled for an extended period before the incident.. Just speculation on my part but all that exhaust heat in the sight glass area sure couldn’t have helped it stay in place..

 

Twisty

 

[BABABeemer]

Its 1.5" in diameter and has a 5/16" bolt through the center that you tighten up once it is in place to expand the plug. I think I bought it at an auto parts store like Kragens.

[AndyS]

Is there any room to fit an internal 'C' clip?

 

Andy

[waylap]

This would be a really cool "Mythbusters" bit. I wanna see a high speed film of the glass flying out followed by some hot gushing oil.

I carry a few large carrots when riding for a snack and the end could also plug right in there in a pinch.

[Scarecrow]

1.5" adjustable freeze plug, sold in auto parts stores and in plumbing departments of hardware stores.

 

That's according to a post in this thread, which has more details:

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?

ubb=showflat&Board=1&Number=172928

AND

Its 1.5" in diameter and has a 5/16" bolt through the center that you tighten up once it is in place to expand the plug. I think I bought it at an auto parts store like Kragens.

 

Thanks guys for the info and for the link...

 

[A-Red Bill]

The site glass is not glass it's clear plastic. With time and heat cycles it ages. My guess is that the plastic had started to fog. When the plastic ages it shrinks, pops off and water proofs your left boot. Just replace it and keep a spare. If and when the replacement fogs replace it before it expeles itself.

[breyfogle]

For those who are really concerned, here is one fail safe solution:

 

one solution

[Urban Surfer]

If you consider the potential for disaster, I'm surprised BMW hasn't issued a recall.

[PapaJ]

I think an auto parts store would have it. It's a rubber cylinder with a bolt through the center and a wing nut on one end. You could try home depot, you never know.

[guitardad]

What is the proper installation of the new sight glass?

Is this a compression fit with no adhesive and I simply add oil to o-ring, then tap it in?

 

It's just a compression fit. The construction is very similar to an oil seal on the crankshaft - no o-ring, just the stiff rubber of the seal itself. A 30mm socket is just the right size to tap it home.