GS1150 Adventurer Questions

[Anthonypowell]

Hi I am new to the site and believe I posted my question in the wrong place, My question is I have just bought a 2004 GS1150 Adventurer with 22000 miles on the clock, I must admit the finish for a 2004 bike ie pitting round the bottom of the forks and inside the wheels is not great, How do BMW see this problem on a bike less than three years old, also when I remove the oil filler cap when the bike is running even just after start up it pumps out smoke is this normal or is this likely to be a ring problem please advise
thanks tony

 

[Geordie Foote]

Anthoney...

The smoke your seeing is I beleive, an oil mist, this is perfectly normal.
Why would you remove the oil filler cap with the engine running anyway?

Check oil level by warming the engine thoroughly (short ride), leave the bike on its side staand for 5 mins, then stand the bike upright (no stand) check the oil in this postion for an accurate reading.

Do not overfill, or you will just blow it all out your exaust or worse still, blow a gasget.

 

[wessie]

As the previous poster has said, there will be an oil mist, under pressure, in that area of the engine. Hence the nickname oilhead.

When you open the oil filler cap you are allowing oil mist to escape. Now, when hot oil mist meets oxygen in the air you are going to get smoke.

It's generally a good idea to keep the mist inside the engine and allow the correct pressure to build up. There's nothing wrong with your bike but something might wear prematurely if you keep undoing the filler cap...

 

[Jon P]

As the previous poster has said, there will be an oil mist, under pressure, in that area of the engine. Hence the nickname oilhead.

When you open the oil filler cap you are allowing oil mist to escape. Now, when hot oil mist meets oxygen in the air you are going to get smoke.

It's generally a good idea to keep the mist inside the engine and allow the correct pressure to build up. There's nothing wrong with your bike but something might wear prematurely if you keep undoing the filler cap...

The oil should not be under pressure within the rocker cover and hot oil meeting oxygen?? - there is already oxygen present. The area within the rocker cover is essentially at ambient pressure (or very slightly above - maybe a few kPa) and is therefore not considered a pressure vessel. The oil in the rocker cover is supplied by the low pressure pump and splash from the cam chain. The term oilhead represents the increased oil flow directed by the second high presssure oil pump that circulates around the area of the exhaust valves - this is contained within internal oilways and not the rocker cover. (hope this does not read rude Wessie - not my intention! )

If any 'mist' is seen it may essentially be considered steam created from moisture present in the air or oil.

If however 'smoke' is seen, then there may well be a problem.

Can't tell the difference between smoke & steam? Simple, put a cold flat surface (eg: small mirror) above the opening - steam will condense back to a liquid on the surface - smoke won't!

Ok - so it is smoke......do you have a local dealer? Five minutes of their time should give you an indicator as to where the trouble could be.

Good luck.

 

[Steptoe]

Put the oil filler cap back in place.
Don't remove it while the engine is running.
And don't worry about it.