Have I ruined my engine?

[Gazzza]

My bike was serviced by a BMW dealer a month ago and it has been stood in my garage ever since (apart from riding it home from the dealer’s I haven’t used it). This morning I took the bike onto the drive and started the engine. It sounded a bit "knocky" initially (for about 2 seconds) but then sounded normal after a few seconds of running (in fact it usually does this so I didn’t think anything of it). I left it running for about 10 minutes before switching it off. A few hours later (bike still on drive) I noticed a pool of what I thought was water on the drive under the sump. It wasn’t water it was oil (nice clean oil which resembled water on first seeing it). I checked the oil level window and it was empty. I went back into my garage where the bike had been sat for the last month and the carpet under the bike was absolutely saturated with oil. It had clearly been dripping down from around the oil filter, down the centre stand legs and onto the carpet. I haven’t investigated properly yet as I had to rush back to work but it seems to be coming from around the oil filter. I have a feeling that it wasn’t tightened properly by the mechanic when he serviced it. My worry is that I have run the engine for about 10 mins with very little or no oil at all. Is this likely to have damaged the engine?

Any advice greatly received

Gaz

 

[lofthopper]

My bike was serviced by a BMW dealer a month ago and it has been stood in my garage ever since (apart from riding it home from the dealer’s I haven’t used it). This morning I took the bike onto the drive and started the engine. It sounded a bit "knocky" initially (for about 2 seconds) but then sounded normal after a few seconds of running (in fact it usually does this so I didn’t think anything of it). I left it running for about 10 minutes before switching it off. A few hours later (bike still on drive) I noticed a pool of what I thought was water on the drive under the sump. It wasn’t water it was oil (nice clean oil which resembled water on first seeing it). I checked the oil level window and it was empty. I went back into my garage where the bike had been sat for the last month and the carpet under the bike was absolutely saturated with oil. It had clearly been dripping down from around the oil filter, down the centre stand legs and onto the carpet. I haven’t investigated properly yet as I had to rush back to work but it seems to be coming from around the oil filter. I have a feeling that it wasn’t tightened properly by the mechanic when he serviced it. My worry is that I have run the engine for about 10 mins with very little or no oil at all. Is this likely to have damaged the engine?

Any advice greatly received

Gaz

I think you might have got away with it if the engine was still running when you switched it off as it has not been under any load, however i would contact you bmw service desk and give them both barrels and further suggest they come and collect and sort good luck

 

[Blue]

Depends how much oil was left in the engine.
I would get straight on to the dealer and explain what has happened he should have recorded the mileage when it was serviced, so he will now you have not done many miles.

 

[pedro]

well,

i'm no expert, but if you're in the habit of leaving the engine running and the bike stationary, then that's going to cause you problems.

 

[andyclift]

Seems pretty certain that the engine is knackered but I assume you have a receipt or stamp in the service book which confirms the mileage when it was serviced. You can therefore prove that it has not been used since you drove it home. Therefore a claim against the dealers seems in order.

 

[Slowdown]

The last time I serviced my bike the rubber gasket around the top remained behind when I removed the oil filter. So my bike poured oil everywhere after I'd put a new filter on (i.e I had two rubber gaskets )

No idea about the engine though..... Good luck(I'm sure it's fine, looking at it from the comfort of my sofa)

 

[Rushy]

Sorry to hear about this but regardless of the oil servicing problem its not a good idea to start an air cooled bike like the GS and then leave it idling for 10 mins ........start it , get on it and ride it.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

No argument

Insist that the dealer takes the bike away immediately and checks for any possible damage; Don't make any effort to clean up oil or tighten filter etc;; Unless your dealer is a rogue he should accept full responsibility - which I am sure he will.

 

[twig]

Insist that the dealer takes the bike away immediately and checks for any possible damage; Don't make any effort to clean up oil or tighten filter etc;; Unless your dealer is a rogue he should accept full responsibility - which I am sure he will.

i am with brian on this one. i would be straight on the phone and expect your dealer to help you without question.

 

[team duvet]

Gazza.........agree with all above re the dealer go see him, BUT get photos of your garage floor etc.

Good luck
TD

 

[Snoopy]

It'll be fine. I once drove a Suzuki GS500 300 miles with zero oil in after I split the crankcase on a windy dark night...

Oil's to lube, you'd have still had oil all over the inside. Get it fixed, fill it and drive on.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It'll be fine. I once drove a Suzuki GS500 300 miles with zero oil in after I split the crankcase on a windy dark night...

Oil's to lube, you'd have still had oil all over the inside. Get it fixed, fill it and drive on.

You never cease to amaze, Snoopy

Good luck

 

[Dahoum]

Depends how much oil was left in the engine.
I would get straight on to the dealer and explain what has happened he should have recorded the mileage when it was serviced, so he will now you have not done many miles.

What he sed

I left it running for about 10 minutes before switching it off.

Why would you do that?

 

[(RIP) Proff]

One other thing, if you have left it running on the stand, check the oil level window, as they have been known to melt then leak

 

[Wingit]

Is it worth undoing the sump plug and catching the remaining oil (if there is any) so that you can assess how much oil was still circulating and therefore what the likely potential for damage is? Also you could see if there is any metal particles in the oil which might indicate significant damage.

 

[MartinL]

Is it worth undoing the sump plug and catching the remaining oil (if there is any) so that you can assess how much oil was still circulating and therefore what the likely potential for damage is? Also you could see if there is any metal particles in the oil which might indicate significant damage.

No. Leave it alone and get on to the dealer.

 

[Dellis]

Is it worth undoing the sump plug and catching the remaining oil (if there is any) so that you can assess how much oil was still circulating and therefore what the likely potential for damage is? Also you could see if there is any metal particles in the oil which might indicate significant damage.

No it isn't! Get the dealer to come and collect the bike it's their problem not yours. However, I wouldn't mention the ten minutes on tickover as that is not the way to treat an air/oil cooled motor.

Dave

 

[jogo]

Very sorry to read what happened to you.
What I would do:

• Don't do anything with bike, don't even move it, but take good pictures.
• Report what you have found to the dealer in writing (you may considder not to mention that it was running for 10 minutes, that may kill you warranty claim).
• Invite them in writing to take a look at bike where it is now and ask them to collect it.
• Ask them to do all that is needed to find any damage that may have occured - and of course to fix it. Ask for a detailed report and the parts that they change.
• File a small report with the fotos you have taken, a description of what happened and what the dealer is telling you when he hands the bike back.
• Have them signing the report.

Most likely you will be fine. If not and your engine turns out to be faulty in a month or two, you just put your report on the table and ask them to order a new one, sweet and simple.

Overkill? May well be.
I'd rather do what I can now to stengthen my position later on. The price of an engine would definitely make it worth the effort for me.

Anyway, good luck!

 

[chipsonfriday]

However, I wouldn't mention the ten minutes on tickover as that is not the way to treat an air/oil cooled motor.

Dave

Oops. Bit late now isn't it. Likely the dealer may read this forum...

 

[Gazzza]

Thanks to everyone that responded, I'm very grateful.
In hindsight, it wasn't 10 mins it was more like 2 or 3.
However, even if it was as long as 10 mins, I can't see how that gets the dealer off the hook. The oil had slowly leaked out over a month from a stationary bike. Even if I had fired her up, got on and ridden off straight away, rather than wait the 2 or 3 mins it took me to get my helmet, jacket and gloves on, the engine would have died a few miles down the road. I will see what the dealer says tomorrow and will update this thread.

Many thanks
Gaz