Oil usage

SJPB1982

SJPB1982

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Being new to BMW boxer engines, I don't know what normal oil usage is. I have done the 600 mile service, and up until recently used my car mainly, but I sold that and now use just the bike. it has now covered 1200 miles and used an additional 250 ml of oil. When I bought the bike lots of people told me that boxers use a lot of oil so I always carry a litre round with me just in case, my question is: Do I need to, or am I just being a tosser?
 
What oil do you use?

Seriously, to be serious here, no really not, unless you.

1. Don't check your oil at all and wait for the red light to come on before refilling, or
2. Doing a dead big trip
 
If you do 50 miles a day then having a litre of oil is a bit ott. Once you've done a few miles the consumtion rate should settle down, hopefully. I'd probably only take some spare oil on a 500 miles plus trip.
 
The MacFarlane said:
What oil do you use?

Seriously, to be serious here, no really not, unless you.

1. Don't check your oil at all and wait for the red light to come on before refilling, or
2. Doing a dead big trip
Click to expand...

I use the stuff that they give you at the dealer, Castrol, I am just really paranoid because of what people have told me
 
If you check the oil level Daily before a commute or at stops on a big trip you will be fine.

If you are going on a big trip take some oil with you just in case, you probably wont need it, but its there if you do.

Don't however be tempted to over fill the oil, just keep it at the level specified in your handbook.:thumb2
 
SJPB1982 said:
I use the stuff that they give you at the dealer, Castrol, I am just really paranoid because of what people have told me
Click to expand...

DONT PANIC

It's a motorcycle, and the same with any motorcycle check the oil at regular intervals, and you'll get used to how much oil is being consumed. I'd be more paranoid about carrying said oil and container leaking myself.

Anyway, you should be more worried about how much Dot4 the brakes and clutch use!

(Joke)
 
I have had 2 GS's now, the first did 20,000 miles and used a minimal amount of oil - probably no more than a half a litre over the whole time.

The second has got nearly 2,000 miles on it from new and I have not put a drop in it yet.

I think the secret is not to fill it to the max as every engine will find it's own level so you constantly keep topping it up.

Just watch the oil and top it up when it gets to the 1/4 mark in the glass (if it ever gets that low)

Just my opinion but I have never had to think about carrying oil except on a big trip and then rarely use any.
 
Had my 1200GS from new, done 17,500 apart from oil changes during servicing have put less than 1000ml in.

That said my 1100S used about 1000ml per service interval so I think the oil consumption can vary.

However I hardly ever carry oil, just make sure it is topped up if you do a long trip.
 
Why carry oil with you :confused:

Do they not sell oil in other parts of the country / world :nenau

Keep a regular eye on it, get a feel for how much oil your bike uses and you'll never be caught out :thumb2

Andres
 
There is a 1/2 litre between the top and bottom of the sight glass; so long as there is some oil visible in there when you check after a run then you will be fine.

My last 1200 generally consumed a bit less than 1 litre between 6k services. I generally only took a bottle of oil on Euro trips as I tended to run 3-4k before getting home and it would need a top up. Whilst most Euro petrol stations will have oil; not all stock bike oil and you can never find the same brand (Castrol) when you actually need it; easier just to take your own. Also not too easy to get bike oil in parts of Maroc and, judging by prices in Norway, I hate to guess how much I would have had to pay for oil there.
 
Outtomunch said:
Why carry oil with you :confused:

Do they not sell oil in other parts of the country / world :nenau

Keep a regular eye on it, get a feel for how much oil your bike uses and you'll never be caught out :thumb2

Andres
Click to expand...

I live in Birmingham, there are more developed third world countries.
 
I carry a litre of oil when going on very long trips - e.g. the South of France, but normally don't bother.

Oil usage varies a lot, mine used to use a bit more, but now after 42,000 miles uses no more that 0.5l between services i.e. every 6,000miles.

P.S. I ran it it by the book.
 
I bought mine with 2k miles on the clock, it mainly runs in town/urban london, and in that environment it used to need about 1 lt of oil every 2500 miles or so... I would normally refill in 300ml bits when the level would drop to the bottom of the sight window...

Over the last 2-3k miles (now at 12k total) both oil and more interestingly fuel consumption have dropped...

Its now taken 300ml for 3k miles and fuel consumption does abt 30miles more to the tank in town before reserve kicks in... 145 miles vs 110-120 before...
 
You only need to carry oil for the big euro trips when you're doing maybe 3-4k. Wouldn't take oil for anything less than a 1k trip. Although my boxer engines have all sipped the black stuff, it's always been at a predictable rate, so you don't find yourself out of oil after 100miles from a fully topped up bike.

The only thing I find makes the bike burn it faster is high rpm.
 
Got My 1200GSA new and it used about 1 litre between services every 6k. My riding is mainly high speed motorway revving in top at 7-7500rpm (work it out mph !). It's now covered 20K miles in 12 months and they have just put in the Fully Synthetic 10w50 oil. I have done 2k miles and not put a drop in, must be a better oil for high revs I guess.
 
bottle of oil

SJPB1982 said:
Being new to BMW boxer engines, I don't know what normal oil usage is. I have done the 600 mile service, and up until recently used my car mainly, but I sold that and now use just the bike. it has now covered 1200 miles and used an additional 250 ml of oil. When I bought the bike lots of people told me that boxers use a lot of oil so I always carry a litre round with me just in case, my question is: Do I need to, or am I just being a tosser?
Click to expand...

YES You are!
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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