Oil usage

[dickins]

Been giving the 1200st a bit of a fettle today and noticed that the oil had dropped about a quarter of an inch in the sight glass. this is after approx 600miles. Should I be worried?

[Albert]

Hi Dickins,

You don't say what year or what your current mileage is but I can relate my experience (06 RT, owned since new). I used a small amount of oil for the first 15 to 20k miles. When it was new I probably would have seen a drop such as you describe on an occasion or two. I did notice a gradual drop off in oil use as the miles built up. At around 20k miles I could actually feel the engine break in (sounds crazy but I was on a cross country trip and the change was noticeable). Since that time I almost never need to add oil between changes (I'm approaching 50k miles now). In my experience any level in the sight glass is OK. I'm sure you'll get some other input as well.

[mneblett]

My R12 used ~1/4 qt. in the first 700 miles. When I returned from the MOA rally I had about 3.5K, and had used enough oil to bring the level to the bottom of the sight glass -- refilled with 1/2 qt. So, a use rate of ~1 qt./5K. I expect this to continue to decrease over the next 10-15K.

[Paul Mihalka]

Been giving the 1200st a bit of a fettle today and noticed that the oil had dropped about a quarter of an inch in the sight glass. this is after approx 600miles. Should I be worried?

That would be roughly 3K to 5K miles to 1 quart. That is very good normal. BMW's acceptable is, if I remember well, 1 quart/liter for 600 miles/ 1.000 km. That would be way excessive, but 2.000 miles / quart is quite normal. Oil use varies very much by type of riding. Mine uses a lot more in day to day riding than long distance traveling. Somehow I get the feeling that oil use goes more by number of cold starts than by miles.

[Guest Kakugo]

It depends very, very much on how the bike's been run in and upon mileage.

Bikes run in the "hard way" tend to use considerably less oil than others right away.

However in my experience there's a second drop in oil and fuel consumption at around 40000km/25000 miles.

My RT is an oil sipper: in the last 7000km it used slightly less than 100cc of oil.

 

However it may also depend on how you check the oil: after many tries I have come to use the following method.

Go for a 30+ miles ride, five minutes on sidestand to allow the oil cooler to drain, five minutes on centerstand to allow oil to drain to the bottom, check level.

[dickins]

The bike has 10k miles on it so far. It's my first beemer (had it about three weeks) and I have really enjoyed it so far,then I noticed the oil drop and thought 'here we go,a dark cloud looming over my short tenure with the Bmw brand',but according to your feedback,it does'nt sound so bad.

Thanks all.

[Boffin]

The oil level in the window tends to be a variable feast on Beemers. There is a tendency for oil to be held in the cooler sometimes and not others - hence the oil dance, hot engine, sidestand for five minutes then centre stand for five more before checking the level. BMW state that the oil level can vary by 10mm based solely on oil temperature.

The general rule is - see oil, go ride.

 

Andy

[Hank in WV]

I have a '10RT with 17000 miles and just returned from an 1800 mi ride which included the Blue Ridge Parkway. It used a little over half a qt.

[Ponch]

Mine uses half a quart every 3000 miles and seems to be getting tighter as the miles increase. I have 11K and change. At worst it was 2x that.

[duckbubbles]

My '05 ST will use to the bottom of the sightglass between oil changes (5000 mi.). Just enough to make me think about adding before changing it. It has 47,000+ miles on it. Checking the oil level over time and doing it in a consistent manner (per Boffin) will get you consistent results.

 

Frank

[mneblett]

Checking the oil level over time and doing it in a consistent manner (per Boffin) will get you consistent results.

 

+1 -- On Saturday I rode ~250 mi (DC to Richmond and back). Started with the oil level just about dead on the top of the red ring. When I got home, I immediately parked in the garage on the centerstand. 10 mins. later I checked the level, and it was down to ~2/3 of the window (about 0.15-0.2 qts in 250 mi.)

 

Today, on return from the office commute, I put the bike on the sidestand for about 15 min., then put it on the centerstand. Level was back up to the top of the red circle. Makes some sense, I suppose, as the oil cooler and lines have somewhere between 0.1 and 0.2 qts in them.

[SPX]

Makes some sense, I suppose, as the oil cooler and lines have somewhere between 0.1 and 0.2 qts in them.

 

But the question is, do we want to check the oil quantity with oil in the cooler, or no? It seems to me that we may want to check the quantity with oil in the cooler, as that's how it is when the motor is running.

[David13]

There is a reasonable, wide variation on the exact amount of oil in there to be absolute perfection. Approximate is good enough.

It's like a washing machine, the oil is sloshing, and splattering and slopping all around anyway.

None is no good. And utterly full to the brim and pouring out thru' the filler hole would be no good.

But any happy medium is fine.

No eyedropper necessary.

dc

[dirtrider]

----But the question is, do we want to check the oil quantity with oil in the cooler, or no? It seems to me that we may want to check the quantity with oil in the cooler, as that's how it is when the motor is running.

 

Morning SPX

 

To check it CORRECTLY you need to use the exact method spelled out in your owners manual. Don't add any extra steps like side stand first.

 

Now, you can check it in a lot of different ways but to use a way not spelled out in the owners manual requires that way to be verified first using a correct engine fill at oil change. Then check it in any way you want to see where the fresh (re correct) fill stacks up against the oil sight glass dot or top.

 

Checking per the manual on the center stand (no side stand first) allows the oil cooler to drain back to the level of the lowest oil hose fitting on the oil cooler as long as the engine is hot enough to have opened the oil cooler thermostat.

 

Placing the bike on the side stand first allows the oil cooler to drain back even more as the side stand side oil cooler fitting is now tipped way down low. Not a lot of difference but a difference.

 

If the oil level is checked after engine starting/running but before the engine is warm enough to open the oil thermostat then the oil cooler will take many hours to drain back (maybe overnight) so under those circumstance the oil level will show low on the sight glass even if the correct amount of oil is in the engine.

 

[mneblett]

There is a reasonable, wide variation on the exact amount of oil in there to be absolute perfection. Approximate is good enough.

+1 -- if there's oil visible in the window, you can ride it.

 

My post above was intended to point out that if you check oil different ways, you'll get different/unreliable levels.

 

The primary objective is -- however you want to rain dance to check your oil level -- do it the same way every time. That's the only way to get consistent results and will be able to tell whether you are actually using any oil.

[Ponch]

From the JVB FAQ2 page:

 

5.1 How much oil goes into the engine?

 

1100/1150:

Without changing the filter: 3.5 liter (0.92 US gallons)

With change of filter: 3.75 liter (0.99 US gallons)

 

From lower edge of the glass to the high edge is 0.5 liters of oil.

 

R1200GS: With change of filter: 4.0 liter

 

 

5.2 What is the part number for the oil filter?

 

1200: BMW part # 11427673541 Filter

 

Here is an alternative list of filters:

Oil filters:

FRAM is the correct FRAM but hard to find at WallyWorld. PH6063

FRAM is readily available and works PH3614

AC DELCO PF-53

NAPA 1348

Mobil-1 M1-102

BMW 11.42-1 460 843 or 845

Mahle/knecht/microstar/tecafiltre (original part) OC91

Champion (of motorcycle range) C301

Purflux LS188B

Tech9 (France only, made by Mahle in fact) n°16

Hiflofiltro (from Thailand) HF-163

Mann-Hummel MW712

Detlev Louis (Germany) 10050195

Toyota 08922-02004 or 90915-YZZB9

Perf-form (on www.perf-form.com) BMW-1

UFI makes one too (italian)

Donit (www-motobins.co.uk) 43 10 133

For After May, '97, 1100RT

Purolator P/N11421460845

AMSOIL SMF122

Bosch 3330

WalMart ST3614

Purolator L00241

AC PF53

 

The author of this table, the Honorable JVB, writes:

Keep in mind that that list was originally compiled for the R1100/1150 bikes. But they will fit and work on an R1200. I will not personally attest to their suitability in either application. I only know that countless people have successfully used them on the R1100/1150, and more and more are using them on the R1200. I am aware of no reports of any issues with their use.

5.3 Can I reuse the washer when changing the oil?

 

Yes you can, if you must, but preferably not. It is a so called crush washer that deforms to seal perfectly. Thus the bolt and case are designed with the assumption that a new washer every time. They are inexpensive!

 

BMW part # 07119963252 Crush washer

 

5.4 What type of oil can I use in the engine?

 

BMW, the designer and manufacturer, specifies "HD Oil classified as

API SF, SG or SH, or HD oil classified as CCMC G4 or G5." Almost all

modern mineral engine oil will meet these classifications.

 

Furthermore, the viscosity (in the range -10 centigrade to 30

centigrade) should be SAE 20W40 or better.

 

Here is a real question which started Yet Another Oil Thread in GSpot, and the Politically Correct answer:

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe User Hello, I wanted to know what type of oil do you use on your bike. I own an hp2 and I am thinking to use Bel Ray Sae 20w-50 (API SG, JASO MA). I was using Castrol full synthetic, but my dealer told me that there is no need to use full synthetic, as BMW suggests for air-cooled engines simple oil. This is true or not? Does simple oil lubrictes as well as full synthetic or things are different for boxers? Thanks..

 

Too many questions at once.

 

First, it is true that BMW, the designer and manufacturer of your HP2, clearly states that the engine has been designed to run on plain mineral oil. They do so by stating the requirements for the oil. Plain, traditional mineral oil meets these requirements.

 

You are free to value the opinion of BMW, the designer and manufacturer or your HP2, lower or higher than opinions aired on the Internet.

 

Second, it is not true that an old-style mineral oil has as high (and stable) quality as an expensive, fully synthetic oil.

 

It is also not true that an old-style mineral oil lubricates as well as an expensive, fully synthetic oil after even the shortest use.

 

Now, based on these three observations (one true and two false), you must decide with great care which of them you believe answered the question you wanted to ask.

 

You see, I believe you wanted to ask the first question. On the Internet most answers will be to one or both of the second two questions. In particular, you can expect most replies to answer your first question with false BECAUSE the two second questions have false as their answer.

[xoomerite]

I have a 2005 R1200ST with 105,000 miles on it. It uses less than a quart per 6,000 miles with hard riding in the mountains. Less on long mileage runs.

 

Chris

[racer7]

FINAL WARNING!!!!!!

 

Failure to both obsess over trvial amounts of oil usage and to regularly post in oil threads will cause your application to join other neurotic and obsessive compulsive BMW owners in practicing such behaviors to be forever rejected!!

 

OTOH, a snappy response ensures immediate approval.....

[SPX]

FINAL WARNING!!!!!!

 

Failure to both obsess over trvial amounts of oil usage and to regularly post in oil threads will cause your application to join other neurotic and obsessive compulsive BMW owners in practicing such behaviors to be forever rejected!!

 

OTOH, a snappy response ensures immediate approval.....

 

12k service was done two weeks ago. I used 1/4 of a quart of oil between 12k and 12.6k; I haven't used that much in about 3,000 miles. Now at 13k, and I haven't used any oil in the last 400 miles.

 

[dickins]

Quick update and I will say no more on the subject.Oil 3/4 up the sight glass when I set off on a 120ml run .Got home,put the bike in the garage,decided to look at the level(had'nt been thinking about it until now,honest!),it was completely covering the sight glass.I decided to leave the bike to completely cool then check again,still full.So I decided to drain around 150ml,did this and the level still did'nt show,so I fire her up and idle for 30 seconds,turn off and leave 5min.oil now 1/2 way on the glass?I'm sticking with the guy who says as long as it shows on the glass it's ok.

Another thing.My bike has only been serviced by a dealer and has been fed on synthetic oil,don't know what sort but it looks red. When I called at my local dealer he told me BMW recommend semi synth only.

Sorry guys,hey,take it easy i'm new to this Bmw breed!