ENGINE OIL LEVEL

[steveuk]

my first BMW...6 weeks old from new, GS1200 with 4,500 miles on the clock.....

i check the oil regularly (i know they are thirsty engines) - pretty much every time i get on / off it...

- level is fine say maybe 2/3rds in the window, then go out for maybe 100 miles - get back - leave it in the garage (level ground) and check it 10 minutes later and there is no bloody oil in the window! wait half an hour - still nothing in the window...

stick a quarter of a litre in - take it out for a few miles, check it when back and the window is full..... (now i'm worried i've over filled it!!)

is it possible the oil is not draining down when i stop and therefore giving a false indication of level?

please help!!!!

 

[Tsiklonaut]

It's normal. BMW boxer spirit.

Oil often get's "stuck" into cylinders & radiator when stoping the bike.

I use the following tip, ride and fully WARM UP the engine so the oil has optimum viscosity. Stop it an put the bike on sidestand for few minutes, then put it to centrestand, wait few hours or let it be overnight even better and check then, it usually gives adequate results for me. Though i must say it's not really perfect method eighter (some oil will be left on left cyl)! If there's even little oil on oil sight glass then you're OK, it's much worse to over-oil it.

Have fun and don't worry that much.

 

[GrinningGSer]

is it possible the oil is not draining down

Yes this is undoubtedly what is happening. There are loads of discussions about this, but I have not seen the mechanics explained.

Oil must be imprisoned within the oil cooler and I have seen discussions re a valve which opens and closes. Theory:If you stop bike with it closed , then oil will remain in the cooler.

However, I asked BMW mechanic about a valve in the 1200GS and he was not sure.....

Does anyone know if 1200GS has a permanently open oil cooling system, or is the circuit controlled by a temperature controlled valve ? Would explain a lot..

 

[Paul Young]

Hi Steve,

This is a well documented phenomenom with the 1150, so I presume the 1200 still does it.

The Solution

When you get home from a ride, place the bike on the sidestand while you go & change out of your gear. Come back after 5-10 mins, put it onto the centrestand & check the level.

If placed on the centrestand immediately on stopping, oil stays in some of the horizontal galleries within the engine & oilcooler so doesn't drain into the sump. After the engine cools a little, the thermostat for the oilcooler circuit closes & traps the oil in there. If it's not in the sump, you can't account for it, hence the tendency to overfill.

HTH,

 

[steveuk]

thanks alot- appreciate the clear / quick answer...

however- it's likely i've overfilled it....... i geuss if in the morning i can see a gap in the glass then i've got nothing to worry about? but how about if it's just oil all the way to the top of the glass??

 

[fatnfast]

There are many ways people on this site recommend to check the oil level (do a search),but its important to stick to one method. I had the same concerns but now do the following:

Ensure bike is fully warmed up (dont let it idle, ride it)
Pull up on level ground (your drive), count 20secs, switch off.
Place bike on side stand for 10-15mins
Place on centre stand and wait at least 15mins
Check oil level

This works for me....

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Tip the bike away from you slightly and see if oil level appears. If so, good. If not, tip her some more (anyone remember Para Handy tales?) until you do see the level. assess then if it is ott, prolly not unless you put in a jugful.