Oil consumption question

[Osprey]

Hi to All on the Forum. Ive just joined after becoming the unbelievably proud owner of a 2002 1150gs. Over the last three years i have gone through a fair number of bikes, 1050 Tiger, Blackbird (desperately uncomfortable), 1200rt (very good but colossal), VFR800 (too small) searching for 'the one' and have finally found it. Jeez I love this bike. But a question. I am aware that these engines use oil as I discovered with the RT but what is considered a 'reasonable' oil consumption and when should it become a concern? This particular model is clearly burning it although it isnt visibly smoking. I guess over 500 miles the level in the sight glass has dropped from about 3mm from the top to half way down. Is this normal? I would appreciate any opinions on this.

 

[GORILA]

Make sure you measure it correctly. You need to place your bike on the side stand after a run, when the engine is fully warmed up.
Leave it there for at least 10 minutes. Then place it back on the centre stand and leave it overnight, before checking the level in the morning.
This will allow all of the engine oil to drain out of the oil cooler and will give you an accurate reading! It is easy to underestimate the oil quantity and then overfill it.

Regards.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

If my memory serves me right, The official quote is 500ml for every 1000 miles.
Someone one will come along and confirm this.
My bike used a little up to 20K while running in, now uses nothing. (57K)

 

[B4ndit]

Osprey,

It seems all the 1150s consume oil differently. Mine consumes oil (Only had it about 8 months) and to me it seems quite a lot. But it sounds good, it doesn't appear to be burning it. It is on 68000 miles though and I have just changed the oil from fully synthetic (Thats what BMW recomended and it cost nearly £100, ouch) to the 20w 50 mineral oil. I am looking forward to a quieter ride now.

Do as Gorilla says and measure it correctly. It would seem with my bike that anything over the centre of the oil sight glass and it spits out the excess oil.

Mine was a noisy clanky beast when I got her, but I've changed the cam chain adjuster and done the valves etc and it sounds a lot better now. In fact its worryingly quiet.

I still worry about the old girl but she keeps coming up with the goods.

Beware you can buy loads of accesories for the GS. Too many. But its fun customising your bike.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Beware you can buy loads of accesories for the GS. Too many. But its fun customising your bike.

I spent 8 years sticking all sorts of Bling (Shit) on my bike, and the last four taking it off !
Dont worry about the noise......

 

[iftikartaxis]

funny oil

if you run your 1150 with fully or semi synthetic
it will burn it mine did
get some nice thick treacle 20/50 they love it
mine doesn't burn it now

 

[Osprey]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I will go down to mineral oil route and see what effect that has. Its not something that is worrying me unduly, just something I would like to understand better.

 

[Steptoe]

I guess over 500 miles the level in the sight glass has dropped from about 3mm from the top to half way down. .

Don't worry about it.

 

[Dr Bones]

I've been running my R1100GS on Valvoline VR1 Racing Mineral 20W50 Engine Oil:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/c...ineoils/20w50-engine-oil/?521770500&0&cc5_251

Reasonable price for 5L and it doesn't seem to use much.

 

[MikeO]

Mine tends to use a bit of oil in high ambient temperatures - especially if doing some miles at reasonably high speeds (4k revs in top) on the motorway or autoroute. I usually have to put at least half a litre in by the time I get to central France or northern Italy. This is generally the only oil I have had to put in between services.

I check the oil every day I ride - 2002 1150 Adv with 155k miles...

Mike

 

[gently-does-it]

Hi to All on the Forum. Ive just joined after becoming the unbelievably proud owner of a 2002 1150gs. Over the last three years i have gone through a fair number of bikes, 1050 Tiger, Blackbird (desperately uncomfortable), 1200rt (very good but colossal), VFR800 (too small) searching for 'the one' and have finally found it. Jeez I love this bike. But a question. I am aware that these engines use oil as I discovered with the RT but what is considered a 'reasonable' oil consumption and when should it become a concern? This particular model is clearly burning it although it isnt visibly smoking. I guess over 500 miles the level in the sight glass has dropped from about 3mm from the top to half way down. Is this normal? I would appreciate any opinions on this.

Firstly, welcome to the site.
What mileage has your bike done? My 2002 GSA had 23000 miles when I got it and used about 1l of oil per 1000 miles, now at 40000 miles and it uses less. I think it's normal for these bikes to use what might seem like alot of oil. Just make sure to check it regularly, and in the correct manner, that the manual says and you'll be fine.
If it does become a huge concern there are some wonderful forum members on here who will buy your bike for a very reasonable £20 and you'll never have to worry about it again.

Enjoy your GS.

 

[garry a]

oil

everyone says 1150's burn oil mine is a 2002 50,000 miles only use cheap 20/50 don't change it that regular never uses a drop and it been like that for the last 40,000 miles i would say i ride it quite hard its getting a little noisey but that is more throtle bodys on idle it will probaly go bang now !!!