Help! Oil level drop!

[Romeo]

Today I was reading my service handbook and it told me to check the oil level every other fuel filling. I hadnt looked at the oil level since I bought my bike because it had only just had its 6,000 mile service. Today I checked it and it was at the minimum mark. There is 8,6000 miles on the clock. I dont see any oil leak . Is this normal? Can I top it up or is it better to drain and refill ? Which type of oil should I use?
PS The bike is an 1150 GS ADv
Thanks for any advice. Romeo.

 

[cookie]

absolutely normal, just top it up.

what with? best do a site search on oils when you have a couple of hours spare

decent mineral 10w40 or 20w50 is what i would use.

 

[DavidHale]

'Yes Sir, they all do that'

Mines almost stopped using oil after 28k. Why not give your dealer a ring to see what they put in it when it was serviced?

 

[Bigtwin]

Well I'd be worried.

It really should be using a lot more than that.

 

[Sax]

I checked it and it was at the minimum mark.

Similar happend to me (12G). New to biking & GS'S, the dealer told me nothing of an oil guzzler. Only checked it because of some artical I read in a magazine back issue. There it was oil, at the minimum. I guess the oil light would of come on eventually???

 

[Noddy]

I guess the oil light would of come on eventually???

RTFM again.

 

[Fanum]

While you're reading up on oil consumption, keep your eyes open for all the threads about checking the levels correctly....and the side stand increased consumption thing.

But don't worry about it

 

[Sax]

RTFM again.

OUCH!!!

Not enough pix

 

[Rob Farmer]

The oil consumption gets less the more miles the bike covers. It will probably take 25,000 to bed the bike in properly. Don't worry about it

It's a boxer engine thing. My Subaru has a similar thirst for oil. (0.6 L for a few thousand miles quoted in the manual)

 

[Bigtwin]

There it was oil, at the minimum. I guess the oil light would of come on eventually???

No no NO! Light is a pressure warning, not a level warning. By the time the pressure is that low, you could have so little oil left in there that you could have already done damage.

Check the level - it's the only safe way!

 

[Steptoe]

I serviced an ADV with 6Kmiles on the clock, he mentioned a "noise" that had started a couple days before. I couldn't see any oil in the sight glass, and asked when he'd last topped it up.

He replied "Never, why should i, it's a nearly new bike" .

When i drained the oil, there was less than 1 litre .

After the service, the noise ( quiet knocking) had gone, but i would think the chances of that bike making 100K miles are very low .

I have a note of the reg number in case i see it for sale one day.

 

[cookie]

was it silver?

 

[Steptoe]

was it silver?

Black ADV .

 

[cookie]

Black ADV .

pity. i might buy one of them one day

 

[steveh]

deffo a boxer trait

The oil consumption gets less the more miles the bike covers. It will probably take 25,000 to bed the bike in properly. Don't worry about it

It's a boxer engine thing. My Subaru has a similar thirst for oil. (0.6 L for a few thousand miles quoted in the manual)

my scooby has covered 26k now and has now eased off on oil consumption, was at .5ltr every 2k miles. Come to think of it the bike is almost identical, a little higher perhaps although I'm only into the 1st 2000 miles.

 

[Pukmeister]

Romeo, only add a little oil at a time, its easy to throw a lot in to get a level, then when it has been run for a while the oil returns to the sump and the level goes out the top of the sight glass.

Best advice I was given is to check the bike has a level above the min mark, run for 10 minutes to get hot, then turn off engine, put on the centrestand and wait 10 minutes for level to stabilise before checking and topping up. I now put it on the stand after my daily ride home, have a cuppa then pop in the garage and check it. After 21k my 1200GS has finally bedded in and stopped using oil.

No doubt someone else will be along in a minute to offer different advice.

 

[cookie]

i never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever,

ever,

top it up much above the centre of the window. any time i have, the bloody stuff replicates in there after a ride & goes straight over the top of the glass

 

[Romeo]

Thank you to all

I followed all the advice and i used 0.7 litres of oil to top up with the same oil of the last service. I phoned the garage and asked.
Thank s for all the advice. At least now I Know that for my next long journey I need to carry a litre of oil with me! Best wishes Romeo