Oil Consumption?

[birdseye]

I've always been told that it's the gearbox that is harder on the molecular structure of oils, rather than the engine.
At least with our BMs they're seperate items and can use specific oils for the task.

Yes - thats true. The gears and roller bearings chop up the long chain polymers that are added to convert SAE 10 base oil into SAE 10/40. Thats why bikes with roller bearing cranks often still use single grade oils, and why new oild had to be formulated when the Mini was brought out.

 

[JJ Crafford]

I do 1500-2000 miles per month hard riding, mostly motorways. 200ml used in 2500 miles.
I'm sure oil consumption is directly related to run-in and type of miles covered.
Who else finds this to be the case?

My bike was run-in over 5 evenings from London to Portsmouth at constant engine speeds between 3000 and 5000 rpm. After 600mile service no mercy.
Fuel consumption never below 10miles/ltr regardless how hard I ride. Most miles motorway at 6000rpm and above. Not saying which gear. (don't know who's watching)

 

[Tomcat]

Just come back from a (rather wet) 700 mile, 3 day blast to mid Wales and back, mostly on curly roads and mostly at 'advanced pace'. The GS was an absolute hoot to ride, even (especially?) on slimy roads but used a scarily large amount of oil. Must be around 1ml per mile. I've done a little over 3000 miles now, ran the bike in according to BM's instructions (ie kept generally around 4000 rpm, but lots of variation to engine load by riding twisty and hilly roads) and since then have ridden it quite hard.

But not hard enough it seems - just been discussing the oil consumption with the service guys at Vines and they say to ride up to the rev limiter from time to time. Apparently the demo bikes, which get thrashed mercilessly, use the least oil...

So Big Jessy is now about to get a thorough thrashing, and we'll see if that sorts her out

TC

 

[GSmonkey]

Apparently the demo bikes, which get thrashed mercilessly, use the least oil...

...I have an ex-Vines thrashed demo and it guzzles @500ml/1k. I also thrash it

 

[Dave Price]

I find that the oil consumption varies dramatically, depending on the type of use the engines getting. Throughout the winter period, consumption was negligble, but now the roads are more conjusive to progress it's started to rise.
I think that you have to take with a pinch of salt, claims of negligible oil consumption. Everyones idea of working an engine hard is different.
I've never known a present generation BM twin, that won't use oil when worked really hard, over a significant time. It's just the nature of the beast, and tends to conflict with our notion that the engine is worn out or poorly engineered.

 

[Engineer]

After the 600 mile service, the oil was just level with the top of the circle in the inspection window.
I have now done a further 1,300 miles and the oil level had fallen to a couple of mm below the top of the circle, so I put in 100ml of oil and the inspection window is now full all the way to the top.

A quick bit of arithmetic means that I used less than 100ml of oil in 1300 miles.

P.S. I ran the bike in by the book - never exceeded 4,000 rpm and didn't labour it.

 

[andy1200]

Quite a lot, more commuting to central London than when mostly doing longer runs, but to be honest I just glop some in when it needs it. Haven't the faintest how much per however many miles.

Castrol GP from Halfords. Plan to change to GPS or a synthetic once it doesn't drink oil any more, which, from previous boxer experience, will probably be at about 20,000 - 30,000 miles.

On the other hand, mineral works fine and is cheaper ...

Tough old engines, these, so personally I doubt the mineral/semi-synth/synth debate is actually that important.

 

[Gas'd Off]

My 1150 had about 20,000mls when I got it and it was burning a full litre of oil every 1000mls what ever type I put in it. It`s now nearing 40,000mls and only uses 400cc every 1000mls. These boxer engines need serious miles to bed in fully!! What an excellent excuse to have to ride

 

[streaky]

mine used a little drop up to first service/867 miles,Now 2171 miles and not used a drop!

 

[Chris Terry]

Where does the oil go?

The oil being consumed can only be "up the bores" or "down the valve guides" or "leaked on the floor".
If the bores are worn or machined badly, or the piston rings don't work (i.e. bad fitting\design) oil will be drawn up the bore and burnt.
If the valve guides seals are worn or bad fitting\design oil will be also drawn down the valve stem and burnt.
Valve guide seals & piston rings (the oil scraper piston rings) have been around for a long time, and have been pretty much perfected.
Why there is a high (relative) oil consumption with the BMW twin is a puzzle. The Japs bikes (and most cars) seem to run with no oil usage at all? All of my 4 cylinder machines (including BMW cars) did not use any oil, that’s more valves & cylinders than the GS's. I think it must be a question of the machining tolerance being higher in the BMW bike factory! Or is it the dynamic flexing of internal engine components under stress??.
................... and relax..................

 

[Mouse]

There's one other way that engine oil can get burnt. Through the crankcase breather into the airbox.

If you have overfilled the engine slightly, the excess oil will get burnt off this way. I think new BMW owners are prone to overfilling their bikes (I know I was) because if you read the oil level when the engine is cold, it looks as though the oil is low. Remember to check your oil 5 minutes after a good run, while the engine is still warm.

The design of the boxer twin also means that more oil will naturally get burnt this way than with a four cylinder engine. Because the pistons move in phase (ie both "out" at the same time) the volume of the crankcase effectively changes by 1200cc on every stroke. Thus 1200cc of oil saturated air is blown into the airbox on every stroke, through the breather,

The fact that oil consumptiom settles down after a few miles (about 15,000 in my case) does suggest that the majority of the consumption is past the piston rings though.

 

[YosemitePaul]

Am told my bike has 20-50 mineral in it. Am about to do a couple of thousand miles around Europe, and want to take some spare with me 'just in case'. But finding 20-50 is like finding moondust. Where can I get it, and if not, what will happen to the engine if I put in top up levels of 10-40, which is readilly available.

Paul

 

[Alex]

I think you will find it readilly available in most warmer climates. In Greece and Italy you can get it everywhere. Otherwise just go to your dealer and buy some from there.

 

[Chris Terry]

Good point Mouse! , what we need is 4 cylinders in a radial?? Has it been done yet?.

 

[Mouse]

Radial? Not sure about that, probably some old WWI biplanes

The engine used in the Subaru Impreza (and other Subarus I think) is a 4 cylinder boxer.

 

[Cestria]

Am told my bike has 20-50 mineral in it. Am about to do a couple of thousand miles around Europe, and want to take some spare with me 'just in case'. But finding 20-50 is like finding moondust. Where can I get it, and if not, what will happen to the engine if I put in top up levels of 10-40, which is readilly available.

Paul

Your right in that 20-50 is difficult to find, however...

Tescos do an own brand 20-50 mineral oil, does not say on the package that it meets or exceeds the relevant standards set down in the manual but only that the 'quality is guaranteed'. I am using it for topping up untill I find a branded 20-50 oil. Its cheap as chips!!Probably better than mixing in 10-40.
I have also seen a 20-50 oil manufactured by Route One in a number of motorist discount stores and in the 'car' dept of places like Boyes etc.

 

[Emperor Norton]

But finding 20-50 is like finding moondust. Where can I get it, .

Paul

Shouldn't be much of a Problem in Germany and Austria. You'll find 20-50 at any major gas station. In Italy, however, it is more difficult. Suggest a stopover at a Hein Gericke / Polo /Louis shop in Germany; you'll find nice things (at better prices) there besides oil.

 

[Algey]

Hi Everyone.
I am new to this board and to the R1200GS and after riding sports bikes for a while the level of oil comsuption is taking some getting used to. I have had difficulty finding the right grade oil (20W50), until today. As previously mentioned 'Boyes Stores' have a motoring dept and do stock 'route 1' oil in 20W50, but they also have Duckhams mineral oil in 20W50 and the correct API classification. Hope this is of some help.

 

[buzz]

Hi
My dealer told me to use 10 w 40 oil.

 

[Mouse]

What grade of oil to use depends on the ambient temperature, I thought. Isn't there a chart in the handbook showing this? Haven't got mine to hand right now so I can't check.

I would have thought that a 20W/50 oil would be more appropriate for hotter climates, whereas 10W/40 would be better in the relatively chilly UK.