An Oil Q Again

[Baza 07]

Morning all,a weird oil Q,i checked my oil level the other day and it was just above the bottom
of the glass,probably 1/4 of an inch,so i presumed it needed quite a bit of oil,so i started with
a Ltr,of Castrol 15/50,then i checked the glass,and bugga me,it was full,i've left it over night
and it has'nt moved,so first Q is how come,as i thought it would take at least 3 Ltrs,and
secondly without draining all the oil,whats the easiest way of get some of it out,its on
a BMW R1200GS 2010,
Thanks in advance Baza

 

[littleade]

1st Q is did you check the oil level in line with the destruction manual as with many cars and bikes you need to check the level at operating temperature after you've let it settle for a set period of time. Guess you could put some soft stuff on the ground, take the oil filler plug out, and lie it on its side? Bit messy, though. I think I'd get a clean container drain the lot then start again, retaining how much you put it behind so you're effectively starting where you were before topping it up?

 

[Flintlock]

The oil level seems to vary alot. When I park up in the garage I always put my GS on the centre stand. I check the oil after about an hour, & if the level is low ( below half on the sight glass)add a small amount & leave it for about another hour before checking again & repeat if necessary.
Maybe this is not the 'right' way to do it, but it seems to work for me.

 

[Baza 07]

1st Q is did you check the oil level in line with the destruction manual as with many cars and bikes you need to check the level at operating temperature after you've let it settle for a set period of time. Guess you could put some soft stuff on the ground, take the oil filler plug out, and lie it on its side? Bit messy, though. I think I'd get a clean container drain the lot then start again, retaining how much you put it behind so you're effectively starting where you were before topping it up?

Thanks for your reply mate,yes I run it for about 5mins, it took ages for it to reach the glass, I’m trying to work out how much over the top I’ve filled it, that’s what it looked like before, and after 1 ltr it’s full to the brim

 

[MWH]

I believe the difference between the bottom of the red circle and top of the red circle is 1/2 litre.

 

[Baza 07]

I believe the difference between the bottom of the red circle and top of the red circle is 1/2 litre.

Ah now it makes sense,thanks for your reply mate, serves me right for not doing my homework first,so I reckon I’ve put about half a litre to much in
Thanks again mate

 

[littleade]

Thanks for your reply mate,yes I run it for about 5mins, it took ages for it to reach the glass, I’m trying to work out how much over the top I’ve filled it, that’s what it looked like before, and after 1 ltr it’s full to the brim

You're doing the right thing to sort it rather than leave it. I got a soft bollocking for overfilling my 1st GS by the muckanik when I had it serviced after topping it up. He said it was better to have less than more as long as you could see some in the sight glass. Whether that's boolacks or not, I don't know

 

[botus]

you can get 4 litres in them and its just overfilled (by not enough to care about if lazy)

its meant to be 3.5 litres with filter - if the oil cooler remains full you'd get much less out - mine always does 3.8 litres to top circle mark of sight glass

 

[DrFarkoff]

Morning all,a weird oil Q,i checked my oil level the other day and it was just above the bottom
of the glass,probably 1/4 of an inch,so i presumed it needed quite a bit of oil,so i started with
a Ltr,of Castrol 15/50,then i checked the glass,and bugga me,it was full,i've left it over night
and it has'nt moved,so first Q is how come,as i thought it would take at least 3 Ltrs,and
secondly without draining all the oil,whats the easiest way of get some of it out,its on
a BMW R1200GS 2010,
Thanks in advance Baza

You have 3.8 litres in the Oil "storage" area of the crank case

The window roughly shows from litre 3 to litre 4 i.e. your "top up" zone

Method to check oil level fairly reliably .................. Drive in and park up with bike at 5 bars (Operating temp)

Park on SIDE stand leave for 10 mins

Pop on centre stand for a while and it will be there or thereabouts

If its 1/2 full I wouldn;t bother topping up, What you end up with is a distorted oil usage figure

It gets to half you top up, and that becomes a cyclic process, Etc etc etc

Whilst it may make you uncomfortable I assure you that these things find their own level and basically stop using oil OR slow down a lot

I used to top up my 1200GS despite my knowledge of the bikes but she had already dropped a valce once and I wanted no excuse to drop another

SO I was religious in topping up my oil Until a friend used that exact statement "They find their own level"

My bikes is just between 1/3 and a half full in the sightglass it stopped using oil between services (6000mile) previous to that with the constant topping up it was a litre and a half, to 2 litres

 

[Baza 07]

You have 3.8 litres in the Oil "storage" area of the crank case

The window roughly shows from litre 3 to litre 4 i.e. your "top up" zone

Method to check oil level fairly reliably .................. Drive in and park up with bike at 5 bars (Operating temp)

Park on SIDE stand leave for 10 mins

Pop on centre stand for a while and it will be there or thereabouts

If its 1/2 full I wouldn;t bother topping up, What you end up with is a distorted oil usage figure

It gets to half you top up, and that becomes a cyclic process, Etc etc etc

Whilst it may make you uncomfortable I assure you that these things find their own level and basically stop using oil OR slow down a lot

I used to top up my 1200GS despite my knowledge of the bikes but she had already dropped a valce once and I wanted no excuse to drop another

SO I was religious in topping up my oil Until a friend used that exact statement "They find their own level"

My bikes is just between 1/3 and a half full in the sightglass it stopped using oil between services (6000mile) previous to that with the constant topping up it was a litre and a half, to 2 litres

Thanks for the info Doc

 

[DrFarkoff]

Thanks for the info Doc

Too many are quick to be cheeky about stuff or criticise and say Use search button

Info is easy shared

 

[Baza 07]

Too many are quick to be cheeky about stuff or criticise and say Use search button

Info is easy shared

I did read a couple of threads about overfill with oil, but when it got silly, I switched off, and posted my own, thanks again

 

[Baza 07]

Ollox !!!!!!! this job is going from bad to worse,just checked oil drain plug,it certainly has seen
better days,reckon it would'nt take much to strip the inside of the plug,i've been hunting the net
looking for a new one for tomorrow,no luck as yet,going to bell local bike shops in the morning.
Are there any alternatives,that will fit,plus is it a T50 torx as mine seems a little on the small size.
Thanks again for all the advice,,,,,Baza

 

[DrFarkoff]

Ollox !!!!!!! this job is going from bad to worse,just checked oil drain plug,it certainly has seen
better days,reckon it would'nt take much to strip the inside of the plug,i've been hunting the net
looking for a new one for tomorrow,no luck as yet,going to bell local bike shops in the morning.
Are there any alternatives,that will fit,plus is it a T50 torx as mine seems a little on the small size.
Thanks again for all the advice,,,,,Baza

BEFORE You try to Undo the sump drain plug

Hit it a crack with a small to medium hammer A square bouncing blow NOT a Smash through the casing

This will break the stiction of Alloy to steel for both threads and sealing washer and will make it break loose much easier

32Nm is the torque for the drain plug when refitting

It should be an 8 mm Allen not a torx!!!

HOLD PLEASE Your call is important to us!

Yes verified the same Oil drain plug is in use Throughout! LINKY

 

[Santa-2512]

I fit a new plug and washer every time I do mine

The cost is meh

 

[DrFarkoff]

I fit a new plug and washer every time I do mine

The cost is meh

Lunatic!

I still have the Original one in my 93,000 mile RT

Sealing washers changed every time Oil done Every 6000 there or thereabouts

 

[Pale Rider]

Lunatic!

I still have the Original one in my 93,000 mile RT

Sealing washers changed every time Oil done Every 6000 there or thereabouts

Im thinking of getting a magnetic drain plug next service from Motorworks as my original one is a bit chewed up, I think some fool used a torx on it at some point.

 

[seahorse]

Bottom to top of window is 600ml I believe.

 

[Santa-2512]

Lunatic!

I still have the Original one in my 93,000 mile RT

Sealing washers changed every time Oil done Every 6000 there or thereabouts

I think it costs me about £3 for the plug and washer, hardly going to break the bank, just looking to spend £300 on a new exhaust flap, so £3 is peanuts

 

[botus]

the drain bung isn't a torx ? its a std 8mm hex