Oil Consumption Rant ( sorry )

[doubleR]

Beginers question alert!

The 1100 I just bought had a 6K service at 12300 and now covered 12900, the oil level has dropped to the bottom 1/3 of the sight glass ring.
From the thread it seems this would be typical, but whats the recommended top up oil (what do they use for the service).

Thanks

 

[Andy Smith]

Both of my previous 1100GS's never used any oil, my Adventure has used 1 ltr in 1700 miles. I dont agree with the swept volume arguement as I have a 1800cc harley that uses negligable oil.Without doubt the worst bike for oil consumption that I have had was a K1100rs that used 3.5 ltr in 2800 miles. The problem only seems to be a BMW problem.

 

[Andy Smith]

Has anyone tried the new oil from Mobil that has been made spicificlly for air cooled twin cylinder motorcycles
Its called V Twin and is a 20w50 synthetic.

 

[Howard Millichap]

My TRIUMPH TIGER has not used any oil from new. None, zero, zilch. Now has 17000 miles in it's first year.
I recon that BMW are still using the same 1923 machine tools that they used to make the first R23.

 

[BBB61]

Its not all sweetness and light from Truimph though Howard. My Sprint ST used no oil at all in its first 15000 miles.Then it started to use a bit while I was on a run down to Alicante. My friend who I travelled with noticed it was kicking out a puff of smoke when I gave it a bit of a handful for overtaking. I asked the dealer to check it at the 18000 mile service. They initially said it was within service limits. I pointed out that it had gone from zero consumption to a pint or so every 1000 miles. In short, I contacted the factory and they told the dealer to run a proper check. It was using 300ml every 500 miles, which was outside limit, so the engine was taken apart. The valve seats were believed to be the culprit, but they put new pistons and rings in as well just as a precaution. Its done 15000 miles since this work, and consumption is back to zero between oil changes.

Bob

 

[Greg Masters]

My 1150 used to use a little oil when new, but at 10k miles Wreford and I did our 4400 mile/7 day trip to Morocco. Neither of us used enough to warrant topping up; the spare oil we carried was wasted luggage capacity!

Greg

PS I generally use the mainstand and don't 'work' the engine until it has 5 bars on the oil temp.

 

[Lord Snooty]

My 1150GS has done 34500 miles, since the last service at 30k I've topped up with about 100ml - it does seem that the more the engine is bedded in the less they use.

 

[nud1e]

My '87 Transalp loves the thick gloopy stuff, drinking nearly 1lt every 1000km, and this is within the Honda service limits. Sips petrol, 55mpg. So it's swings and roundabouts

 

[jackwabbit]

Looking at what I’ve seen here it would appear that BMW could extend their service intervals, on their R series bikes.
If you are putting 1L of oil in for every 500 miles then by the time you have done 3500 miles you would have changed all your oil once.
And by the time your 6000 mile service comes up you would have already changed your oil twice ! now you change it again just for good measure. (No wonder the world is running out of oil)
I know the boxer engine has been around for a long time, but for BMW to still operate the total loss oil system developed in the 1800’s is a bit ridicules to say the least.
For the annual mileage I do, that would add up to 30L of oil each year.
The service interval’s on my old F650 & FJ1200 is 6000 miles, but I change the oil every 4-5000 miles but I’ve never had to top either of them up, between oil changes because no matter how many times I check they are always on the full mark. (There again the F650 isn’t a reel BMW is it ? after all It has a Rotax engine and was built by Aprilia, & the FJ1200 is a Yamaha)
I’ve always fancied the R1100RT or the R1150RT as my next bike. But after finding this site & meeting up with a few GS owners, I was beginning to think I should have a closer look at the quirky funky (or as some owners call it “f*****g ugly”) GS.
Everyone who has one keeps saying how good & practical they are, & the GS does everything you want it to. The things I want out of a bike is for it to be reliable cheep to run & comfortable, I’m very surprised that a company as big as BMW or have been running as long as they have can still get things so wrong.

“COME ON BMW GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER” you can’t rely on your badge alone!

 

[MikeO]

“COME ON BMW GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER” you can’t rely on your badge alone!

With demand for the GS far exceeding supply, it seems they can.....

Mike

 

[Ross]

20-50W V-Twin oil

Andy,

I think you are refering to the "Morris" V-Twin Heavy duty 20-50w oil. This stuff is recommended for BMW, Harley D and certain Yamaha's of the air cooled form. I ran with it in my 1100GS and did 35K with out any problems till it was written off in a bump. I did note however that I rarely had to adjust my tappet's in it's later life, but this was more likely the engine settling down from new. But it drank the stuff till 20K then stopped! I also run it in my 1150 ADV but as it's only done 14K it's early day's yet. Also I did have a duff left hand cyclinder head that had to be changed under warranty. This was a manufacturing issue not lubrication.

Anyway the oils produced today are very good and provided the correct oil is used and changed as required then you can't go far wrong what ever the brand. I just like the Morris brand as I've used a lot of their industrial oils with satisfaction.

 

[Howard Millichap]

Its not all sweetness and light from Truimph though Howard. My Sprint ST used no oil at all in its first 15000 miles.Then it started to use a bit while I was on a run down to Alicante. My friend who I travelled with noticed it was kicking out a puff of smoke when I gave it a bit of a handful for overtaking. I asked the dealer to check it at the 18000 mile service. They initially said it was within service limits. I pointed out that it had gone from zero consumption to a pint or so every 1000 miles. In short, I contacted the factory and they told the dealer to run a proper check. It was using 300ml every 500 miles, which was outside limit, so the engine was taken apart. The valve seats were believed to be the culprit, but they put new pistons and rings in as well just as a precaution. Its done 15000 miles since this work, and consumption is back to zero between oil changes.

Bob

At least they fixed it.
My point is that BMW continue to deny the problem and rely on the owner to cough up for oil until the engine is fully run in. With better machining in the first place an engine will run in quicker.

 

[BBB61]

Not without a bit of a battle though Howard. The dealer told me the consumption was within tolerances. I had to write a strong letter to the factory before they intervened and got it sorted out. I was not impressed with the dealer, especially when it took them 2 months to do the work. They blamed the factory for the parts not being available when in fact the parts arrived in 5 days. The dealer was having cash flow problems and they didn't have the cash to pay the distributor for the parts. At least I managed to wangle their TT600 demo bike out of them for the duration.

Bob

 

[Dragon]

oil gs

I have just purchased a GS 1150 Adventurer,02 model,and cover a 1000 miles with no oil lost to date.
regards to all, Dragon.

 

[pragmatix]

Soloution to oil consuption

Drain out all the oil and fill with grease, that should do it.

Pete A