Carrying engine oil

[Hamlet]

Hi

Having now had a little experiance of touring on my R1200GS I have found that there is a need to carry engine oil for top ups. However, I have also witnessed friends having leaks from bottles carried in topbox/panniers which has destroyed clothing etc.

I have the standard BMW panniers and topbox so fixing oil bottles to these does not seem either straight forward or easy.

Can any of you more experianced tourers give me some advice on how best to carry an oil bottle fixed to the bike?

Thanks

 

[Andrew Dalton]

Hi

Having now had a little experiance of touring on my R1200GS I have found that there is a need to carry engine oil for top ups. However, I have also witnessed friends having leaks from bottles carried in topbox/panniers which has destroyed clothing etc.

I have the standard BMW panniers and topbox so fixing oil bottles to these does not seem either straight forward or easy.

Can any of you more experianced tourers give me some advice on how best to carry an oil bottle fixed to the bike?

Thanks

I would get a better bottle - Sigg are pretty leak proof.

 

[Andrew Dalton]

Hi

Having now had a little experiance of touring on my R1200GS I have found that there is a need to carry engine oil for top ups. However, I have also witnessed friends having leaks from bottles carried in topbox/panniers which has destroyed clothing etc.

I have the standard BMW panniers and topbox so fixing oil bottles to these does not seem either straight forward or easy.

Can any of you more experianced tourers give me some advice on how best to carry an oil bottle fixed to the bike?

Thanks

If you got a Sigg bottle you can get a standard size bicycle cage to hold it, which you could find somewhere to fix it on a tube. If you ride with a pillion that would be a bit of a bugger because I would be tempted to fix on the grab rail, or the down tubes. A bit of elasicated velcro should hold it in place in the cage. Or Touratech do all sorts of mad little bags to fit in odd places. If you only need max 500ml of oil then a Sigg bottle and a stowaway bag might well do it and it keeps the oil away from your own kit.

 

[cookie]

I would get a better bottle - Sigg are pretty leak proof.

i stick a small sigg bottle of 20w50 in the top box, wedged in place by the liner

not sure i've ever used it though

 

[Fanum]

I have a 1 litre aluminium water bottle from Decathlon in its holder inside my pannier rail for use in Morocco.

Don't overfill, or it will leak when there's a good change in temp or altitude, but it does the job fine.

The rack is bolted though its lugs to the rail but I cable tie through the loop in its lid as well or offroad, it would bounce out......it only takes a moment to cut the cable tie and I always carry lots of spares anyway

PS I did try carrying some lying flat on the carrying platform I have instead of a tail rack, but the ally chequer plate it's made of wore through the skin of the bottle and made a hole, even though I'd wrapped it in a couple of layers of gaffer tape first

 

[John Armstrong]

Don't overfill, or it will leak when there's a good change in temp or altitude, but it does the job fine.

And don't overfill it / carry too much oil in case it breaks your subframe too

 

[Blackal]

I use plastic bottles, previously used to retail liquid ammonia.................

I work on the principle that if it holds ammonia, which is one stage away from MethylEthylBadShit, and Aliens' Blood - it should be fairly secure for engine oil

Not been let down yet.

Al

 

[ianboydsnr]

I just use one of those little scottoiler top up bottles, then put it in a freezer bag, if it used a lot of oil, I would just buy a litre bottle of oil and double bag it, but I have Ardcases so can put it where it stays upright.

 

[Fanum]

And don't overfill it / carry too much oil in case it breaks your subframe too

Surely nobody would be that silly would they?



PS I Was going to comment on the bottles that a lot of wannabees seem to carry on their panniers adding a fair bit of weight to exactly where you don't want it on the bike (they would be better on the front side of the pannier rather tan the back but then of course they wouldn't be seen ) but for a road trip, there's probably no difference in real terms)

 

[John Armstrong]

I use plastic bottles, previously used to retail liquid ammonia.................

I work on the principle that if it holds ammonia, which is one stage away from MethylEthylBadShit, and Aliens' Blood - it should be fairly secure for engine oil

Not been let down yet

That'll clean out the engine nicely

 

[wessie]

As 2wh says, a standard 1 litre bottle with multiple wraps of carrier bags. This goes in the right throwover pannier with other bagged items like a pair of old trainers, spare maps in case the GPS packs up etc.

Although, I've never used more than half a litre on any trip inc. going to Croatia. That's in a 1150, mind.

 

[Myke Rocks]

top up oil?

How often do you need to top up the oil?
On any normal European trip, I usually change the oil before leaving, & never check it again till long after I get home. (3500+miles)
If I needed oil in the bike that badly, I need a new bike. Down half a litre or more is neither here or there on any Boxer I have had. Never used more than half a litre on any trip, & if I drive the shit out of it during the trip, E.G. 500 miles in 6 hours, it stops using oil, so this is a bonus.
Myke

 

[Steptoe]

I find that the places where you stop to fill your bike with petrol usually have oil available as well.

Never carried oil with me anywhere in over 30 years of riding/driving.

Like Myke rocks, i changed my oil before going across france and spain to morocco, and all the way back without having to top it up, thats 4400 miles. I've since done another 1200 and still not needed any.

 

[cookie]

I find that the places where you stop to fill your bike with petrol usually have oil available only in overpriced 1ltr containers when i just want 250ml or so. then i have to carry the surplus home with me as i am compulsively tight about such things.

Never carried oil with me anywhere in over 30 years of riding/driving until i bought a bmw

 

[Steptoe]

I find that the places where you stop to fill your bike with petrol usually have oil available only in overpriced 1ltr containers when i just want 250ml or so. :

Don't buy one a litre bottle until you need to add a litre.

Maybe i ought to worry about things more.

 

[g.s.john]

usually carry 500ml bottle of oil on the outside of the pannier never used it i am starting to wonder why i bother

 

[Stewart H]

I have a very nice one litre plastic jobbie that used to have organic peroxide activator in it, thats a nasty one and the bottle is extremely tough I only carry it for insurance

Stewart

 

[John Armstrong]

usually carry 500ml bottle of oil on the outside of the pannier never used it i am starting to wonder why i bother

Bet the first time you don't take it, you'll need it

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I did 1150 miles around France in a week. When I got home, the 1200gs oil level was below the bottom marker.

I obviously topped it up, and since covering another 2k, it's been fine. The only explanation I can think of is that in France I was parking the bike on the sidestand overnight. I know this can cause some oil to be burnt on start up.






Ps. If I'm going to carry any spare oil, what oil should I be carrying????

 

[John Armstrong]

R100GS down to Cortina and back, hardly used a drop of oil

500 miles up and down the hills, around the corners and 1/2 litre used.