Carrying engine oil

[(RIP) Bobble]

It must be just me then, I did 2600 miles last month in 10 days, serviced bike before I left, then on the way up through France I had to go to three garages before I found one with Semi synthetic, all the others only sold Full synthetic and no Mineral anywhere. Next time I'll take my own. Oh and it's an 1150 with nearly 48K - still not run in? - or maybe it's fecked

 

[g.s.john]

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

spose thats sod's law innit

 

[Funners]

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)

Oi !! I represent that remark Mister Fanum !
Mine are on the rear of the pannier because I have a power inlet on one and they get in the way of my missus as well... so Ner !

besides....
no one can see them on the front can they ??

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Touratech Bottle?

I've got a GS1150 Adventure with the original, very pretty, aluminium panniers. Has anyone fitted the Touratech 2ltr fuel/oil bottle and carrier to them on the front (hinge) side of the panniers. From the dimensions on the Touratech website I'm concerned that they may be a tad too tall and foul the lid when it opens? (I don't want the carrier / bottle to project below the bottom of the panniers if possible)

 

[Invicta Moto]

I'm a bit worried now.... maybe I should carry an oil bottle with me... I do 175 miles a day every day to work and so far since getting back from Assen at the end of June have only needed 250ml... and covered about 4500 miles.

Is it not run in yet?

 

[Pauly S]

Sprite bottles

i use 500 ml sprite bottles, and just put a bit of electrical tape around the lid , just to be sure it cant be knocked undone,when its empty throw it away, tough as old boots, cheap as chips,and they will hold probably 50psi pressure if they need to, never had one leak yet...he says

 

[Fluffy Bridges]

Carrying oil

I have a 2006 1200GSA with aly panniers.
The left hand side one has a cutout for the exhaust but is full width at the top leaving a useless shelf that slopes down at the front. I sourced and cut an ally sheet to fit inside the pannier full length and up to the black top edge - not into the lid - and bolted it to the inboard side of the exhaust cut out. There are some bolts you can use that hold on the mounting lugs but you have to relieve the new plate so it fits flush with the side. I just drilled some holes in it.
This gave me a self contained recess the length of the pannier exactly the right width and depth to carry a 1 ltr oil bottle in the front, and various other stuff that would otherwise rattle around in the botton. Judicious use of some black silicon sealer means that in the event of a leak it's contained but frankly there's little chance - says me. I found a length of plastic edge binding sleeve that holds a wodge of paper together, like a report; you can get them at Smiths, just to finish the top edge off.
I know you want a piccie but the wife's got the camera and won't let go!
Took about an hour to do. It's not an original idea but it works a treat. If you ave the standard panniers you may be able to rig up something similar.

Fluff.

 

[Pauly S]

piccy

come on fluff, itching to see,cant you do a pic on yer phone and put it up?

 

[Stewart H]

i use 500 ml sprite bottles, and just put a bit of electrical tape around the lid , just to be sure it cant be knocked undone,when its empty throw it away, tough as old boots, cheap as chips,and they will hold probably 50psi pressure if they need to, never had one leak yet...he says

I used to have a temp job testing those PET pop bottles once, they go to 85 psi before distorting usually, I dont know about exposure to oil over a long period but theyre free everywhere

Stewart

 

[MacFarlane]

I find that the places where you stop to fill your bike with petrol usually have oil available only in overpriced 1ltr containers

Garage from mine sells 20w50 mineral Litre bottles only £3.75, mind I buy a 5 litre container for £11.75!

But for what it is at least its sealed and leakproof, if you want I can let you know the manufacturer?

 

[rockchunk]

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.

I but its always handy for frying yer sausages saves them sticking to the bottom of the pan

 

[Fluffy Bridges]

come on fluff, itching to see,cant you do a pic on yer phone and put it up?

Now that should be on!
If I just press this little button here.............. Doh!

 

[Greg Masters]

The last time I went to Morocco I took an unopened 1 litre bottle of oil.

The last time I returned from Morocco I brought back an unopened 1 litre bottle of oil.

Never again will I carry oil for the GS. If I get desperate, any car oil will suffice - as Steppers has pointed out, most filling stations offer that.



Greg

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

What's oil? Where does it go? A recent 5,000 mile trip didn't require topping this strange stuff up. On the other hand, beer top ups were frequent and very much needed. Carry beer.

 

[GSband]

I'm on my second R12GS, the first sold at 60000km, and the second has just had its' 50000km maintenance. There's not much oil consumption in day-to day use. But when I ride in the mountains, oil consumption increases dramatically. I've read this has to do with more engine braking, but have never heard a decent explanation (hint).
So when I'm going on this kind of trip, I definitely take some reserve oil with me. It's true that most petrol stations stock oil, but I like to have oil of the same spec in my engine. When leaving I make sure the enigine is full, so there's no need to take 1 litre canisters of oil. When oil level is at it's minimum, max refill is about 1/2 litre, so a small coca-cola bottle (1/3 litre) will do. This summer took me to the Alps for about 5000km, and yes, I needed the 1/3 litre of oil.

 

[Myke Rocks]

1/3rd of a litre of oil?

I'm on my second R12GS, the first sold at 60000km, and the second has just had its' 50000km maintenance. There's not much oil consumption in day-to day use. But when I ride in the mountains, oil consumption increases dramatically. I've read this has to do with more engine braking, but have never heard a decent explanation (hint).
So when I'm going on this kind of trip, I definitely take some reserve oil with me. It's true that most petrol stations stock oil, but I like to have oil of the same spec in my engine. When leaving I make sure the enigine is full, so there's no need to take 1 litre canisters of oil. When oil level is at it's minimum, max refill is about 1/2 litre, so a small coca-cola bottle (1/3 litre) will do. This summer took me to the Alps for about 5000km, and yes, I needed the 1/3 litre of oil.

So why are you carrying oil with you?

1/3rd of a litre is neither here nor there in the bike's engine oil capacity.

If it used a litre, I would not be worried about the level.

I never even check mine beteen services.
Yes they use some oil until around 25,000 miles plus some hard driving,but why bother continually topping up?

It is pointless, One does not do it in a car, whose oil is subject to sideways "G" forces in cornering, and therefore much more likely to suffer from starvation if the oil level is low, so why do it on a bike?
Myke

 

[John Armstrong]

1/3rd of a litre is neither here nor there in the bike's engine oil capacity.

True

If it used a litre, I would not be worried about the level.

Because after about 1/2 litre has been used you don't know the level

I never even check mine beteen services.
Yes they use some oil until around 25,000 miles plus some hard driving,but why bother continually topping up?

It is pointless, One does not do it in a car, whose oil is subject to sideways "G" forces in cornering, and therefore much more likely to suffer from starvation if the oil level is low, so why do it on a bike?

How many cars in the manaul say that 1 litre per 1000 miles is ok And why do cars have sumps with baffles in, just like bikes?

For those who have bikes that drink the oil, having some spare gives peace of mind, but then they might as just well buy some at a garage en-route if it's an oil guzzler.

 

[GSband]

So why are you carrying oil with you?
1/3rd of a litre is neither here nor there in the bike's engine oil capacity.

I had to fill oil while riding in the Alps, not when I got back home. The oil level had dropped to approx 3,5 litres, so I topped it up. The 1/3 litre may not be important in comparison to the total oil capacity, but may be important enough to prevent starvation of the oil pumps and thus engine parts. If BMW says not to let the oil level slip under the lower level of the looking glass, that's reason enough for me.

... If it used a litre, I would not be worried about the level. I never even check mine beteen services.
Yes they use some oil until around 25,000 miles plus some hard driving,but why bother continually topping up?

It is pointless, One does not do it in a car, whose oil is subject to sideways "G" forces in cornering, and therefore much more likely to suffer from starvation if the oil level is low, so why do it on a bike?
Myke

- Boxers do consume oil, sometimes more than 1l per 10000km/6000miles, so your not checking is hazardous, but that's your priviledge.
- Topping up is required when oil level is dangerously low in any bike or car.
- The carter of the R12 boxer engine is divided into front/rear compartments. In a car, the inside of the carter has fins to make sure the oil is kept in place during hard cornering.
- In any bikes' or cars' manual it's advised to check the oil level regularly. All cars I have owned up till now consumed oil. My current car does not, but as engines wear oil consumption goes up and so I continue to check it regularly. And, last but not least : a sudden dramatic increase of oil consumption is a sign that something's wrong, and I'd want to know.

 

[Myke Rocks]

Sory to disillusion you

I had to fill oil while riding in the Alps, not when I got back home. The oil level had dropped to approx 3,5 litres, so I topped it up. The 1/3 litre may not be important in comparison to the total oil capacity, but may be important enough to prevent starvation of the oil pumps and thus engine parts. If BMW says not to let the oil level slip under the lower level of the looking glass, that's reason enough for me.





- Boxers do consume oil, sometimes more than 1l per 10000km/6000miles, so your not checking is hazardous, but that's your priviledge.
- Topping up is required when oil level is dangerously low in any bike or car.
- The carter of the R12 boxer engine is divided into front/rear compartments. In a car, the inside of the carter has fins to make sure the oil is kept in place during hard cornering.
- In any bikes' or cars' manual it's advised to check the oil level regularly. All cars I have owned up till now consumed oil. My current car does not, but as engines wear oil consumption goes up and so I continue to check it regularly. And, last but not least : a sudden dramatic increase of oil consumption is a sign that something's wrong, and I'd want to know.

Believe it or not, when you are cornering on a bike, the oil doe not flow sideways as it does in a car, so a bike does not require baffles unless you are seriously into wheelies or stoppies.
Therefore, sump level in a bike is much less of a worry than a car, wher the oil is thrown sideways by "G" forces. Since the sump holds 4+ litres, and the contents are not subject to being pulled away from the pickup pipe as they are in a car, my original point holds true, which is: why check the oil so often? As I stated, one does not do it in a car, whre loss of level is much more likely to cause damage.
Myke

 

[STUBBS]

if i need oil i get it when i top up with fuel