Oil

[Eastriding2002]

I've read numerous tales of oil useage on the GS, yet in 1800 miles since new I've not ahd to add a drop to mine. Serviced at 600 miles when the oil will have been changed and topped up, both before and since it shows no signs of using any great amount.

Does this tally with other owners of the 1200?

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Mine has been the same for 13,000 miles. Didn't need topping up before its 600 mile service, I topped it up once before its 6k mile service out of duty (it had dropped slightly from the max level). And none between 6 and 12k.

It was similar with my 1150GS before that as well. Perhaps I've just been lucky?

 

[cookie]

Does this tally with other owners of the 1200?

not quite.

i've only done 1750 miles without putting any in mine.

 

[Eastriding2002]

Thanks fellas, I wonder how long I'll carry the litre of oil around with me then!!

I'd heard so many tales of woe regarding oil useage I was expecting to top up like a two stroke.

 

[DavidJames]

Keep an eye on it, I thought my bike was not using any oil until after about 2000 miles and then it starting using a fair bit.

 

[John Armstrong]

Thanks fellas, I wonder how long I'll carry the litre of oil around with me then!!

I'd heard so many tales of woe regarding oil useage I was expecting to top up like a two stroke.

I follow that principle when going away, usually. If I've got a litre with me I'll not use it. Didn't take any to Garmisch last year and had to buy some in Switzerland

 

[cookie]

Keep an eye on it, I thought my bike was not using any oil until after about 2000 miles and then it starting using a fair bit.

i suspect when i start to thrash mine, it will drink a bit.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

0.25 of a litre in 4500 miles here

 

[Blackal]

Thanks fellas, I wonder how long I'll carry the litre of oil around with me then!!

Give it another 3 months and then swap it for a litre of vodka

(No - I don't need a lecture on drink-driving )

Al

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Oil consumption

I have never had excessive oil consumption on my two year old 1200GS - nor on the previous 7 BMW's I have had. The checking does have to be done carefully - that is as indicated in the manual; Overfilling WILL result in higher consumption.

 

[steveh]

mine used a fair bit...

up to 6k miles on mineral. Since the 6k service and the change to semi-synthetic oil its not used a drop.

 

[Patventure]

used a bit

My '06 GSA12 used about 0.75 litres up to it's first service. I'm sure I wasn't overfilling, and the oil light came on once which scared me.

I guess it's all down to tolerances which of course vary from bike to bike.

Patrick.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

i suspect when i start to thrash mine, it will drink a bit.

I suspect you are right

I tend to find that normal riding and my oil consumption is negligible but long days on M Ways in Europe and it'll need one top up between oil changes.

Seems reasonable to me.

Andres

 

[John Gates]

GS oil use

20K on an '04 1200 and used 2 litres up to when I sold it. BUT keep checking, checking, checking.

 

[Hoseman]

1st 2000mls mine used none, mainly made up of short journeys of less than 50mls. Since then it used 1/2 litre in one day after a long run of 400mls.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Half a litre

As my oil level seems to vary up and down each time check it, but is always within the limits I would not know how to to judge if it had used half a litre after a particular journey. Last week I thought it looked a little low but this week it seems a little high - both checks carried out in the same way, but ambient temperature may be a bit different.

 

[Pukmeister]

Don't panic until the level drops out of the window.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Oil consumption

I wonder if it varies if the bike is normally parked on the prop stand? I know that my old K10RS used to puff out large quantities of smoke when left for not very long on its sidestand.