Oil Consumpsion

[LBL]

Hi All,

The search facility isnt helping me much so can someone tell me what is "normal" for the ammount of oil my 2008 GS is using.

It used nothing from new in the first 700 miles, after the first service its now dropped from the top of the site glass to near the bottom in the last 1300 miles, is this normal ?

just checking if im "normal"

 

[Montrose Sun]

Im not sure LBL, but i'll be interested to find out too. My 2006 GS had its oil changed around 300 miles ago at bmw before i took delivery but now on level ground on the centre stand (as before) its half way down the sight-glass. Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Shurv]

It's all perfectly normal. All GS's use oil. Many don't "seal up" until 20,000 miles.Just keep an eye on it.You may find that one day it looks like it's empty, then 20 miles down the road it's all come back. It's what they do.

 

[Meatwagon]

Cant remember where i read this but its what i tend to do
Put the bike on the side stand 5 or so mins then onto the center stand 5 mins then check your oil

 

[NYUK]

Hi All,

The search facility isnt helping me much so can someone tell me what is "normal" for the ammount of oil my 2008 GS is using.

It used nothing from new in the first 700 miles, after the first service its now dropped from the top of the site glass to near the bottom in the last 1300 miles, is this normal ?

just checking if im "normal"

I don't believe there is a normal. It depends on how much you use the bike and how hard you ride. Mine used about a litre and half to two in the first 2000 miles. Which seems quite a lot but its settle down now.

I would just keep it topped up with the best oil you can use and not worry about it.

 

[Demongroover]

It's all perfectly normal. All GS's use oil. Many don't "seal up" until 20,000 miles.Just keep an eye on it.You may find that one day it looks like it's empty, then 20 miles down the road it's all come back. It's what they do.

Mine still uses oil at 36k.
Just keep an eye on the sight glass.
Put on centre stand overnight and check before riding in the morning.
Top up as necessary.

 

[LBL]

oil consumption

Thanks for the remarks,

i have been using it for work to look at sites so a lot of stopping and starting and some longish runs and tend to ride it quite hard ye ha.

i got some Castrol 20/50 which they used at the oil change and gave it a wee dram to keep it going.

 

[EggChaser]

I think the sticker that is below the clocks when a new boxer engined BMW is delivered kind of gives the game away as to it possibly being normal, that said however it does not affect all bikes equally.

My '08 R1200GS has only so far needed 1/3 litre in just under 6000 miles since the 600 mile inspection

One other point to be aware of is that oil does get trapped in the cooller when riding which is why the bike has to be warm but have stood for short while before checking. I believe recommended seems to be about 5mins on side stand and then 5 mins on main stand.

 

[E. Buygum]

I think the difference between top and bottom in the sight glass is half a litre which is exactly what my (new) bike used up to 2,000 miles i.e. exactly the same as yours, LBL. I have now done 5,500 miles and have used (in total) a litre which seems fine. It has also been ridden hard on occasions and seems to thrive on it.

 

[B-Road Explorer]

Just like LBL's, my 08 GS used nothing while running in, then started using. After another 950 miles I realised it had drunk 500ml, panicked, got some ActEvo and started keeping an eye on it. I'm up to 2600 miles now, and all up I've put 1.25 litres in it.

I didn't thrash it from new, and now I'm starting to wish I did, as lots of riders that did report it never uses oil.

Does anyone have an opinion on what sort of riding makes it use more oil? Am I burning it when I ride hard or when I'm relaxed? Sometimes I rev it hard, and it often spends much time running 5-7k, but I also do quite a bit of running at 60mph in 6th.

 

[davedyer]

Why worry? The price of oil is on the way down!

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Here we go

Oil consumption is just another variable which like tyre wear, petrol consumption etc; will alter according to the rider, roads, traffic, ambient temperature; check the level each time exactly as laid down in the handbook and avoid misleading variations. If you can't see any level tilt the bike one way or he other (with help) to see if it is too high or too low. My last 1200GS used virtually no oil in 18000kms and was run in exactly as instructed but that may be too boring for some!

 

[BeemerBaz]

Mine loses Oil, especially out from the oil level glass seal, leaks quite nicely, its being replaced in a couple of week at the next service (6K)