Oily bafflements

[ShakeyGS]

Just back from a 2330 mile jolly in Northern Spain on my 2021 1250GS TB. We had 10 days riding in 25 - 30 degree heat

On day 7, towards the end of the ride, I got an oil warning message. "Insufficient oil quantity". Finding somewhere to stop, we checked and the oil was indeed at the bottom of the circle.

I got some 10W40 (near enough) oil and added 600ml to the top of the circle. All was well until we were coming home. Waiting at the port in Larne to cross to Cairnryan, we checked again and again the oil was low. I put the remaining 400 ml in and completed the trip home.

I measured pretty much exactly 4 litres when I dropped the oil so I have now refilled and will keep a very close eye on this as I still have a year of warranty left.

is 5W40 just to thin for those temps? I see no evidence of a leak anywhere and my exhaust isn't any blacker than anyone else's.

Any ideas?

 

[wessie]

it's the W40 that is pertinent in hot ambient temperatures. The 5W40 should be fine up to 40C

If you were in an area where 40C is a regular occurrence then using a W50 or W60 oil would be better

 

[GB.]

I run 5w-40 fully syn silkolene in my 1200LC, nearly 60000miles on it now, was in Europe earlier in the year for 10days in the heat wave and it never used a drop. I’d be taking that back if I had any warranty left on it. The old hex heads used to use oil until they had a few thousand miles on them but not the watercooled.

 

[MrC99]

I'm with @GB here. I'd be taking it back to the dealer now before the end of the warranty gets close. I've a 1200 LC with 62K on it and it's never used a drop between services and it's had a lot of miles in temps way higher than your 25-30.

 

[GB.]

I'm with @GB here. I'd be taking it back to the dealer now before the end of the warranty gets close. I've a 1200 LC with 62K on it and it's never used a drop between services and it's had a lot of miles in temps way higher than your 25-30.

Is this normal on shitcams, even when I’m using mine off road and giving the clutch a battering it never uses oil.

 

[leadfarmer]

As a rule they don't use oil

I'd get it checked if it's under warranty

 

[siddo]

I recently did 4k miles in temps up to 36c. Not a drop used on my 2022 GSA.

 

[ShakeyGS]

My old 1200 LC never used a drop either. I’ll get it booked in.

 

[ShakeyGS]

BMW" ... well sir, we can't find any source of oil usage [either]. by the way, here's 600 quids of other work you could have done if you felt so inclined.
The tech reckons that your oil consumption is within acceptable parameters"

Me: Does that mean consumption since the last service 4500 miles ago, over the 18000 miles the bike has done, or the 2400 miles I did on tour, first checking that the oil level was OK?

BMW:"........................"

Me: OK, I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[Pukmeister]

Maybe whip out a spark plug on each cylinder and see if its oily ??