Oil loss over 1k miles?

[Sgt Bilco]

The important thing is how you check it. I warm the engine and place it on the side stand, mine has never needed any oil.

Bang on and it doesn't really matter which method you use as long as it's the same each time. I always have a peek at mine in the morning and as long as there is something in the window I'm good to go

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Us 'larger' tossers shouldn't have to bend down so far to check the oil level. Why couldn't BMW have put the window higher up? I'm thinking of glueing a mirror to the end if a stick to make life easier.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Mine has just done 2800 miles around the alps and back used no oil some do some dont the way they are run in can make a difference

 

[newboy]

Take a photo with iPhone - then look at it when stood up...

Obviously holding the phone upside down causes confusion!

Us 'larger' tossers shouldn't have to bend down so far to check the oil level. Why couldn't BMW have put the window higher up? I'm thinking of glueing a mirror to the end if a stick to make life easier.

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

I was only joking. But that's a nice idea

 

[B4ndit]

2011 TC. Used to use lots of oil up to 12000 mile service. Now has used only 100 ml in 4000 miles. Well chuffed and hope it stays that way.

BTW. Checking the oil level is an art in its self.

 

[Bendy toy]

What's wrong with a car engine style dipstick? Long flexible strip goes in close to sump centreline so not affected by lateral slope.
Yet another example of bikes being different for the sake of being different.

 

[Beemerman59]

'08 GSA - doesn't use a drop between services.

 

[Dahoum]

No mate, I did 50K on my last GSA and never topped it up between services -

Me either. I think it comes down to running it in properly

 

[sidestand]

My 2010 GSA oil consumption has gone right down now - put about 200ml in it since the 18k service & its got over 20k miles on it now

 

[Roymondo]

I think it is fair to say that some bikes will use next to no oil between services, while others may use a litre or more in the same period (depending on a whole host of factors). The important thing is to check the level on a regular basis (preferably following the instructions in the owner's manual - but in any event being consistent in your approach) and top up as (in)frequently as necessary. At the end of the day, does it really matter if your bike uses ten quids' worth of oil between services? You (and the bike) are not going to live forever, so just ride the thing and keep it topped up with fuel, oil, fluids etc as necessary. Oh - and clean & polish it too - lest anyone should accuse you of neglecting the thing.

 

[Neil W]

Regularly at work we would get a batch of 6 vehicles often with consecutive vin numbers and the variation in performance, oil consumption, use of coolant and fuel consumption could be massive, some would drink oil from day one yet others never seemed to need a top up between services.
Some would be relatively speaking flying machines whilst others could be up to 10 to 15 mph slower, vagries of production perhaps?
My gsx1100 katana which I ' ve owned since 1984 when it had 2500 miles on the clock always used a litre of oil every 5 to 6 hundred miles. When I rebuilt it with a Wiseco big bore kit I made sure the clearances were kept tight and the head and valves were all done properly. Since being run in it has used less than 200cc of oil per 1000 miles

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

Four days ago I topped with 500ml of oil to the 'full' level, then over the last 3 days I've done another 1,000 miles riding from Sheffield upto Inverness and back. I noticed the oil level reducing each day and today it was at the bottom of the window, needing another 500ml of oil. So it seems my bike is using 500ml per 1000 miles.

 

[bikemad]

My oil has dropped Iv done just over 2000 miles since changing (when I got the bike) it was halfway in sight glass last weekend worried me a little,but if it's as you say only 500mm top to bottom half way 250mm wasn't such a problem
Mines had all sorts long runs on Mway fast country lane use up n down gearbox & around town once a week shopping trip.

 

[seahorse]

It probably needs a few good thrashings. At 6k it won't be fully run in yet.

 

[Old Wobbly]

Mine uses a little but it does vary. Fortunately BMW put a nice cutaway into the RHS tank inner so I always have 750ml oil on board so can top her up as and when - simples.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

My oil has dropped Iv done just over 2000 miles since changing (when I got the bike) it was halfway in sight glass last weekend worried me a little,but if it's as you say only 500mm top to bottom half way 250mm wasn't such a problem

Why would it worry you? As long as you have oil in the window somewhere, you are good to go. The window is the same as the upper and lower levels on a dipstick i.e there is no issue as long as the oil is beween the levels and to be honest, you don't have to really worry until the oil level light comes on.

On mine, that level may be different every day. When I go out to it in the morning, I have a quick butchers (if I remember) and as long as something is showing, no problem. I've probably only put about 2 litres in between service over it's 8 years and 105,000 miles and that's generally when I've been in high temps and the level light has flickered on.

 

[Deleted account 200502001]

I did get an oil can symbol appear on the display, is there a warning light as well when it gets even lower?

 

[pojoel]

I came home last week from the holiday no-expressway-allowed-trip. 5130 km ~3200 miles (SWE: Olofström - Alvesta - Karlsborg - Falun - Ullånger - Burträsk - Luleå - Övertorneå - FIN: Inari - NOR: Kirkenes - Nordkapp - Narvik - Alta - Steinkjer - Stjørdal - Røros - SWE: Funäsdalen - Älvdalen - Sälen - Hagfors - Mariestad - Ulricehamn - Norraryd - Olofström) in 20 days.

Mixed tarmac/gravel, mixed weather and temp, rain - tropical heat (29C at Nordkapp, 34C in Finland), 7-8C in Norway the day after Nordkapp.

I am a heavy engine braker. Maybe because I like that spluttering backfire noise she makes and I had fully loaded Varios x 3, and gf on pillion.

I brought a litre of 15W/40 with me, and I now can, if I absolutely want to, maybe fill 200 ml. Bike is a 2006 R1200GS with ~82000 km (51000 miles) on the clock.
I will not bring a litre-bottle the next time.

 

[SteveM]

I came home last week from the holiday no-expressway-allowed-trip. 5130 km ~3200 miles (SWE: Olofström - Alvesta - Karlsborg - Falun - Ullånger - Burträsk - Luleå - Övertorneå - FIN: Inari - NOR: Kirkenes - Nordkapp - Narvik - Alta - Steinkjer - Stjørdal - Røros - SWE: Funäsdalen - Älvdalen - Sälen - Hagfors - Mariestad - Ulricehamn - Norraryd - Olofström) in 20 days.

Mixed tarmac/gravel, mixed weather and temp, rain - tropical heat (29C at Nordkapp, 34C in Finland), 7-8C in Norway the day after Nordkapp.

I am a heavy engine braker. Maybe because I like that spluttering backfire noise she makes and I had fully loaded Varios x 3, and gf on pillion.

I brought a litre of 15W/40 with me, and I now can, if I absolutely want to, maybe fill 200 ml. Bike is a 2006 R1200GS with ~82000 km (51000 miles) on the clock.
I will not bring a litre-bottle the next time.

Sounds like a great trip!!!!