Bike still burning oil

[Comfy Old Boots]

03 r1150gsa.
39,500 miles.

She's still burning oil. About a litre every one / two thousand miles.

Not a problem for me but I thought these bikes usually stopped burning oil by this stage?

Just curious

 

[DrFarkoff]

Someone has to do it! What oil are you using???

Fully Synth? 10 W 40?

Steppers recommends mineral 20W50 and I agree wholeheartedly with him!

03 r1150gsa.
39,500 miles.

She's still burning oil. About a litre every one / two thousand miles.

Not a problem for me but I thought these bikes usually stopped burning oil by this stage?

Just curious

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

10W40 mineral

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I'll get some 20w 50. See what that's like

 

[(RIP) Bobble]

If the bikes running ok and you can't see smoke out of the exhaust, just top it up, some use it some don't, mines at 60k and uses about 500ml every 2k ish

 

[DrFarkoff]

I'll get some 20w 50. See what that's like

Also I know it sounds daft BUT

Lean the bike on the sidestand for 10 mins after a run Stick on centre stand Drain the engine and let it drip for a good 10 mins

Get a container and take enough oil out of your new container of oil to leave you with 3.8 litres (I know it's 3.75 required but you can measure 3.8 and only guess 3.75 on an oil container)Or use a 2 measuring jug and measure it

Screw off the oil filter and stick some of 3.8 litres in the new filter and replace then put the rest of that 3.8 litres in the motor

You now have a starting point you know that is what BM intended to be in the motor So remember to leave on the side stand for a while after a run before setting on the centre stand and Voila it'll be a "truer" measure

Also If the oil is up to the 2/3rds full level It probably really isn't that important to fill it right up to the top! There's plenty in there and many folk have reported a drop in oil consumption when used like this????

 

[Dazlove]

Piston Broke

This may be a load of b******s but I am sure I read somewhere that the oil consumption can increase for a while if the piston rings move around so that the gaps line up. This apparently happens as the rings have no seating pegs. On a normal piston with 3 rings these (the pegs) would be set at 120 degrees. After a while the rings buzz around so that they are 'out of line' and the consumption drops back down.

BTW as I write this I realise how absurd this sounds but have written it now.

No doubt I will be informed either way!

regards

Dazlove

 

[Aidjay]

03 r1150gsa.
39,500 miles.

She's still burning oil. About a litre every one / two thousand miles.

Not a problem for me but I thought these bikes usually stopped burning oil by this stage?

Just curious

Mines an 02 R1150GSA with close to 70k miles. I use 20W50 and my oil consumption is about the same as yours, and has been this way from 45k miles (when I got the bike) to now. Nothing to worry about as long as you keep it topped up.

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

Thanks lads. I might just top up for the moment and get it serviced in a month or so. Good to know it's normal.

Thanks for the detailed description Jaytro. Appreciated

 

[Trullion]

This may be a load of b******s but I am sure I read somewhere that the oil consumption can increase for a while if the piston rings move around so that the gaps line up. This apparently happens as the rings have no seating pegs. On a normal piston with 3 rings these (the pegs) would be set at 120 degrees. After a while the rings buzz around so that they are 'out of line' and the consumption drops back down.

BTW as I write this I realise how absurd this sounds but have written it now.

No doubt I will be informed either way!

regards

Dazlove

Early BMW K series bikes ("bricks") used to burn oil if the bike was parked on its sidestand. The reason is because oil used to run past the piston rings. BMW then pegged the middle piston rings (a la two-stroke) to stop them rotating and hopefully to prevent all three ring gaps lining up and letting oil pass. From memory I believe it was a Citroen or Peugeot idea they copied. Based on my own experience of a late 8 valve K with the pegged rings it wasn't particularly effective. Anyway, oilheads don't have pegged rings, so the oil can still creep past them into the combustion chamber if the gaps align, which is why they can sometimes smoke when left on the propstand.

 

[Decster]

mine (1150GS) still using oil, 40k+ miles.....20W50 mineral for the last 20k, top up and go in between services

 

[Keith Chapman]

mine (1150GS) still using oil, 40k+ miles.....20W50 mineral for the last 20k, top up and go in between services

Mines the same but with 80K on the clock. Some use oil some dont. As long as it is within the recommended limits just keep riding and top up as needed.

 

[Steptoe]

At the end of the day what's the point of worrying about it, it won't change the consumption. Just top it up as and when needed.

They use more oil if used in stop start town riding.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Two little tips from my experience...

Don't top it up over the half way spot on the window.

Give it a bit of a high revs thrash and get it toasty.


Some burn some don't and non of my R and K bikes have had the same using rate.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

if you're over 50, you're not thrashing it enough - give it some welly every now and then or you'll glaze the bores up.

 

[Shurv]

Do a trackday, that'll do it. GS's often don't get thrashed enough to seal them up.

 

[Aidjay]

Don't top it up over the half way spot on the window.

 

[Rasher]

Has anyone tried pegging the pistons?

Also there is a lot of controversy over running in and ring sealing, certainly I have seen various issues with bikes that have been used very gently for long periods.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Although BMW dyno all new bikes which should help if this is a big factor.

 

[cartejo5]

Mines an 1100 with 62k on it, I put 20/50 in at the last service since then its quieter and never used a drop.

Prior to that it was .5 litre every 2000miles ish normal riding and a fair bit more when i'd been to Cadwell for a track day.

Hope this helps.

 

[TeaPig]

Has anyone tried pegging the pistons?

The rings are supposed to rotate and because they do, even if at different rates on different bikes, the average proportion of running time the gaps all line up will be the same, so I don't buy the idea that gap alignment is the cause of high oil consumption on some bikes compared to others. I can, however, see how it may explain the occasional and apparently random emission of smoke on start up for bikes left on the side stand.

Pegged rings are essential for two strokes in order to stop the end of a ring aligning with a port in the barrel. Pegged pistons require peg-compatible rings which may be difficult to source for a retro-fit.

I personally reckon oil consumption is dependent on how the engine was run in (bore glazing), the oil level maintained by the user (overfull more likely to pump oil mist into the airbox), how the bike is ridden, how many miles the engine has run, and of course the old chestnut, which oil is used. So no straight answer, of course.