running in oil usage

[SJPB1982]

Hi

I have reecently bought a replacement for my thieved GS, another R1200GSA.

I have only covered 350 miles and the oil is at the bottom of the sight glass and when I was going into the underground carpark the oil pressure light came on. It went off when the ground leveled out after the ramp.

I checked the oil with the engine warm and cold and you can hardly see and oil through the glass. The dealer said not to top up the oil during running in as it is a different viscosity.

They are going to recover my bike on Tuesday to examine it.

My last GS did not need to be refilled during running in (it was not a twin cam version), my question is - is this normal or should I be concerned / looking out for anything?

Thanks.

 

[Mr K]

My bike seems to have gone through cycles of oil useage.

When she was new I was told to expect anything up to 500ml per 1000 miles.

In her mid life crisis she used nothing between services ..

...and now at 56000+ she needs a small top up every 1000 miles, but I think that's going out into the clutch...

 

[autogs]

mine has covered 350 miles and the oil is about a quarter way down,my dealer also said it would not need topping up until first 600 svc.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

The dealer said not to top up the oil during running in as it is a different viscosity.

Any oil is better than no oil

 

[mr badger]

Hi
The dealer said not to top up the oil during running in as it is a different viscosity.
.

Any oil is better than no oil

Indeed. Are you sure that's what the dealer said and not that you should avoid using full-synth during the first 600m?

 

[GSmonkey]

Any oil is better than no oil

Yep - oil pressure light is not a good thing to see. You shouldn't see that even if the oil level is right at the bottom though.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Dear god man, put some feckin oil in it to get the level up

I can't believe a dealer would advise against topping it up as they do use a bit when they are new

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Yep - oil pressure light is not a good thing to see. You shouldn't see that even if the oil level is right at the bottom though.

It's an oil leve; light isn't it

 

[Martyn H]

It's an oil leve; light isn't it

No - it's a low oil pressure light. In the OP's case it probably meant that if the oil in the sump surged, the pump was momentarily "gulping" some air in with the oil.

 

[Rasher]

I thought it had a "level" warning in the display which should come on before the "pressure" light.

Just a few seconds of low pressure can bugger an engine, or do some damage that means the engine will expire considerably sooner than if it had not had the pressure drop.

On my last bike I rarely checked oil as it used @ half a litre every 4,000 miles, and could go from one service to the next without topping up.

As I know these bikes guzzle the stuff I check it pretty much every ride (once a week typically). Probably a good habbit on any bike, seems especially important with these things.

 

[littleredrooster]

I thought it had a "level" warning in the display which should come on before the "pressure" light.

No, that is only a static check. It doesn't work on the move.

I cannot believe the stupidity of a dealer who would tell someone NOT to top the oil up during the period of greatest usage - i.e. when the thing is brand new.

If the oil light comes on, that can signal immediate and unrecoverable danger for the engine as no oil pressure is present in the main oil gallery. At anything above tickover, that spells disaster in a matter of seconds, or a major shortening of the life-expectancy of the engine if it comes on even for a brief period.

 

[skywalker]

The running in oil is like water so it does what its supposed to do.However its the responsibility of the owner to check his oil level so any good quality oil can be used for top up. What a set of amatuers to suggest you don't top it up.
I wouldn't recommend a full synthetic to top up either.
Interestingly enough I think BMW have had another rethink of oil grades again on the DOHC boxer engine & are now recommending full synthetic for these as well as Castrol SAF-XO for the gearboxes as well for "ultimate protection"

 

[rodders]

I have a new 1200GS and have just gone over the 600 mile mark this morning. The oil level is midway on the glass sight. I have not had to top up at all. I have followed the run in procedure as per book.... i.e red lined by 600 miles...