Oil top up

  • Thread starter Thread starter GSoh
  • Start date Start date
Never had mine come on in two years and would not expect it to. It seems a strange response from a dealer as I can't see any way the road can affect the oil pressure unless the level is VERY low.

I think they were saying that motorway riding can increase the pressure....!!!

If the oil level is OK get it looked at before you get a very expensive failure.

I think you're ring and I'm going to call them to see if I can pop it in on Saturday morning.
 
there are 2 sorts of oil lights - ones that react to oil level and ones that react to oil pressure. again I'm not totally sure of the GS system but I believe it reacts to oil pressure. if that is the case then it should never come on when the engine is running, and if it does you should stop and check the level immediately. if the level is OK then call bmw assistance - do not ride the bike.

no way should oil pressure be affected by the terrain. it should react to a number of things like temperature (thin oil, pressure drops), engine speed (faster speed pressure increases) and the relief valve.
 
Several times the term Relief Valve has been mentioned.

First of all can some one pointout this so called Relief Valve...where it is.....?????

I do know that the oilhead lubrication system has a built in oil pressure by- pass mode but no relief valves per say due to high crank case pressures......

The discussion above has to do with the addition of too much oil in the crank case....period......and what the out come is if too much oil is in the so called crank case.

Yes,as stated above,foaming hydraulic lock,seal damage..blah blah blah...etc all has the possibility to occur.

And if "crank case" pressures exceed a certain amount of pressure due to an increase/over amount of crank case oil, where is this so called Relief Valve...???

I have SEEN,WITNESSED, and CORRECTED engine case leaks all due to "Over Fill" situations on BMW motorcycles and including transmissions and rear drives.

But I've never seen a Relief Valve on a motorcycle engine especially a BMW.
 
Several times the term Relief Valve has been mentioned.

First of all can some one pointout this so called Relief Valve...where it is.....?????

I do know that the oilhead lubrication system has a built in oil pressure by- pass mode but no relief valves per say due to high crank case pressures......

The discussion above has to do with the addition of too much oil in the crank case....period......and what the out come is if too much oil is in the so called crank case.

Yes,as stated above,foaming hydraulic lock,seal damage..blah blah blah...etc all has the possibility to occur.

And if "crank case" pressures exceed a certain amount of pressure due to an increase/over amount of crank case oil, where is this so called Relief Valve...???


The relief valve is in the oil pump discharge line.

It is what maintains a steady oil pressure from (say) 2000 rpm - all the way to the red line. How else are you going to regulate the discharge pressure of a positive displacement pump, connected to the crankshaft? :nenau

Al :rolleyes:
 
The relief valve is in the oil pump discharge line.

It is what maintains a steady oil pressure from (say) 2000 rpm - all the way to the red line. How else are you going to regulate the discharge pressure of a positive displacement pump, connected to the crankshaft? :nenau

Al :rolleyes:


So your saying its in the LINE and not built into the pump assembly???Hmmmmm can't seem to find it.....in the line....hmmmm still can't find it...



After a brief discussion with BMW mechanic here is a diagram he sent me.
The relief valve is #11.

http://maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/Diagrams/B0000219.png

.....so if too much oil in crank case,or pressures build up....this is supposed to relieve the crankcase pressures....as per emission laws.
Where as in the "olden days"...a vent was placed on top/side or rear mounted of motors whether cycle/auto/truck.......
 
Must admit I had Honda bikes for years and you never had to check the oil between services. My 1200 GS has done 33000 so appears not to use much oil but I regularly check the level and it seems to vary. I have'nt got any spare oil for the bike, so perhaps I need to invest?
 
So your saying its in the LINE and not built into the pump assembly???Hmmmmm can't seem to find it.....in the line....hmmmm still can't find it...



After a brief discussion with BMW mechanic here is a diagram he sent me.
The relief valve is #11.

http://maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/Diagrams/B0000219.png

Good for you (now what exactly is your point? )

"Discharge line" is surely the same as being on the discharge side of the pump- your drawing shows it connecting the discharge side of the pump to the suction again - :augie

Al :rolleyes:
 
When you go back and reread all the posts,somewhere along the way the oil pressure topic (Crank Case) that was originally being discussed somehow had gotten mixed up to where now the thought was oil pressure (engine lubrication)...two different topics.


Good for you (now what exactly is your point? )

QUOTE]

We both agree that this Discharge Line/Relief Valve is the same as I stated in Post 23, part of the oil pressure by-pass system,"found internally" off the oil pump.....

My point is (back to the original question).... it has "No Bearing" on "Crank Case" elevated pressures created by an "over fill" situation.
The by pass valve/system only relieves pressure in the "engine" lubrication system.

Relieving "high" crank case pressures from an over fill would most likely be relieved by the "engine crank case breather" connected to the airbox. Hopefully relieving enough pressure to prevent any seal damage from elevated internal pressures.
Hense, an abnormal amount of oil found in the bottom of the airbox caused from too much oil in the crank case.
 
there are 2 sorts of oil lights - ones that react to oil level and ones that react to oil pressure. again I'm not totally sure of the GS system but I believe it reacts to oil pressure.

If you have the OBC you have both. Otherwise you just have the oil pressure warning light, which as you say means stop right now.

With the OBC I sometimes get a little oilcan and "CHECK OIL" on the LCD, and it is a pretty reliable indicator it's getting towards the bottom of the sightglass and needs a topup. This comes and goes depending on engine temperature etc, but if it comes on at all you should check it when you next stop.

To check the oil: ride somewhere til the engine warms up; go home; take your gear off or wait 5-10 minutes; then look through the glass. It makes a huge difference to the level so you do need to follow the procedure. Immediately after you stop the oil has been drawn up into the engine and the level will seem much lower than it really is. (After you refill, start the engine and watch it all get sucked up!)
 
The crankcase breather is one of the hoses from the rear of the left cylinder head, isn't it? It'd be a hell of a mess before you filled it to that level.

I can imagine overfilling with oil to the point where the sump touched moving parts could produce a oil foam, which might blow a gasket. Think of a washing machine with too much soap.
 
With the OBC I sometimes get a little oilcan and "CHECK OIL" on the LCD, and it is a pretty reliable indicator it's getting towards the bottom of the sightglass and needs a topup. This comes and goes depending on engine temperature etc, but if it comes on at all you should check it when you next stop.

This is exactly what is happening to me and I've booked it in with my local dealer to check it out for me tomorrow.

Thanks
 
There seems to be some confusion over what people mena when they talk about oil pressure. Overfilling the sump (A Bm is a wet sump, thats why you put oin in the engine and not in a separate tank) will not affect the oil pressure - ie the pressure of the oil in the feeds to the mains, big ends, underside of pistons, valve gear etc. Oil pressure is modulated by a pressure release valve within the system. If this failed (it won't) you would blow the plain shell big ends and mains (I have seen this on a British bike engine) .

The dumb american website doesn't seem to appreciate this (it is in fact a load of total bollix as someone pointed out) Overfilling the oil may cause an increase in crank case pressure as the sump is part of the crank case. However thats why you have a breather - the pistons cause an increase / decrease in crankcase pressure as they fly back and forth. Without a breather oil mist in the cases would get forced up past the pistons (even with an oil control ring) leading to smoke. The breather (which vents into the airbox) prevents this. So for the last time overfilling the sump by a smallish amount will not cause a problem. Overfilling it by 2 pints might....
 
This is exactly what is happening to me and I've booked it in with my local dealer to check it out for me tomorrow.

I guess taking it in to check won't hurt, and you always should if you're not sure. But if it's just low oil, topping it up is easy to do yourself. Buy the right oil for your climate (ask your mechanic), and tip it in the little hole following the instructions in the book, or ask here if you don't have a book. :)
 
I guess taking it in to check won't hurt, and you always should if you're not sure. But if it's just low oil, topping it up is easy to do yourself. Buy the right oil for your climate (ask your mechanic), and tip it in the little hole following the instructions in the book, or ask here if you don't have a book. :)

I did just that and all is okay - thanks.
 


Back
Top Bottom