Oil Query

[alexw]

HI All,
Just wondered if my GS1200 is using more oil than it should. I did around 400 miles and was checking the bike to find that there was no oil showing in the sight glass. I think off hand it required a 150ml. Is it normal for these machines to use oil? The bike has only done around 2600 miles.

 

[John Armstrong]

Normal, a lot of people say that the bikes not run in until 10 000 miles.

Just keep an eye on it and always check the oil the same way, eg oil at normal temp, bike on main stand for 5 minutes on level ground, then check the oil level.

 

[terayon]

Depends what oil your using. BMW recommend mineral oil, Don't use semi or fully synth till it's done at least 20,000 miles. They can use up to 1/2 a litre per 1000 miles. It's all part of the bedding in process, and they say a boxer engine is not fully run in till it's done 30,000.
Get yourself some castrol GP20w-50 or similar spec api SF,SG or SH oil, and try to make it 20w-50 or 15w-50

 

[alexw]

I asked the BMW Dealer in Dundee and he told me to use 10W50 is this wrong?

 

[John Armstrong]

I asked the BMW Dealer in Dundee and he told me to use 10W50 is this wrong?

Mine says 20 / 50. Depends on how warm it'll be when you're out on your bike

 

[terayon]

Being that it gets a little colder in scotland than it does down here, I would probably say they were right. BMW recommend 20w-50 but you could get away with a 15w-50 as the 15 takes you down to -15C and the 50 takes you to 30c+. The 10w would take you to -20c, does it get that cold?

 

[alexw]

The guy had asked me if it had been serviced as I been serviced but all that has been done is a running in check. I ave been told that they change the oil to another type is this correct and why?

 

[alexw]

And it is synthetic that I bought should I stop using this a £12 a litre?

 

[terayon]

yes, synthetic doesn't let the engine run in properly and won't help the rings to seal. Change to a mineral oil and you will find after a while it will stop using it. Mine was a secondhand bike when I got it and the previous owner was using synth. BMW dealer told me to take it out and use mineral oil. When I got the bike it had 4700 miles on it and was using 1/2 litre per 1000 miles riding, having changed to mineral and now the bike has 13,000 miles on it and does about 4000 miles for 1/2 litre. 1 Litre of Castrol gp costs £5.50

 

[alexw]

Sorry to be a pest about this but can I just go and use mineral or should I drain it all out and then use the mineral which would be gastrol gp?

 

[terayon]

can't see why you can't just pour some mineral oil in, it will mix with the synth oil even if you get a different weight oil. It will thicken up the 10w-40 and slowly change it to what ever you put in.
Although for the cost of the synth oil you were using I would drain it out leave the filter on and start again.
Which ever you choose it's your choice