What procedure did you follow to check the oil?

 

Oil Consumption


What I have read is that the oil check should not be done before a full minute has passed after warm-up and that the dipstick should be inserted but not screwed in and then withdrawn and checked. Correct?

 

cbdane question is a good start, mostly what I am think is if you didn't check the oil at the same operating temperature each time, with the last one barely warmed up.

Now that being said, if you do a search here, you will see that some (break in is crucial on BMWs) had some issues that eventually resolved once the rings completely seated in. Do a search on break in and oil consumption on the forum, maybe some of that will give information you need.

 

The bike should be on the center stand and level to check oil. fully warmed up, instructions say to let the cooling fans come on, cycle off, run for one minute, then shut down the engine, wait one minute for the oil to drain down and then check the level. Do not screw in the dipstick.
It's cumbersome to say the least.
I tried to find a way to check mine cold while I felt I was using excessive oil. I never did find a reliable method. Now my oil consumption is diminished and the electronic level sensor seems to work as designed. If I'm showing oil "OK" when I shut it down I don't worry about the next ride. If not "OK" I know to check my oil level manually.

 

Now, doesn't it sound silly to run this engine for this long just to check the level, when you suspect the engine may be low on oil? If I'm reading this right, the engine may have NO oil, but to verify that you have...to run the engine through cooling fan cycles, then one more minute. Or until the engine seizes, whichever comes first? Got to be a better way, German engineering and all that jazz...

 

First I would check and make sure your bike has an updated dipstick. Otherwise use the electronics. BMW had a dipstick on early models that were too short. You might be over filling

 

First I would check and make sure your bike has an updated dipstick. Otherwise use the electronics. BMW had a dipstick on early models that were too short. You might be over filling

The good thing about the change in the dip stick is that only the lower line moved; the upper full line remained the same so using the old version should lead to overfilling. If you search around you'll find a scaled photo comparing the two.

 

Dry sump oiling systems are different from a conventional system, as most motorcycles and autos have. I have noticed on my K1600GT and also on my previous K1300GT that the service departments tend to overfill with oil. I thought it was a simple mistake at first then it kept happening, until something was said. This has been done by 2 different dealer service departments! Thing about a dry sump system is the oiling pressure normally is higher and when you over fill, after the oil warms to temperature and expands it has nowhere to go except the weakest spot, a seal, rings, etc!! I believe the manual has a warning about over filling. I am not saying this is happening in all cases but it could be in a few. I normally run my oil level at 1/2 to 3/4 on the stick and have drained out excess after a dealer top off.. My 5 cents worth.

 

Bootworks, you are checking the oil in the dry sump, not the crankcase. You also have an electronic dipstick that will show you if the oil level is low. It too requires the engine to be at operating temp before it will work. When your oil level drops down to somewhere near the bottom third of the dipstick the electronic oil level sensor will tell you to check your oil on the lower right of your TFT display. If the oil is checked according to the procedure in the manual then you will get a proper oil level reading. If not, then you'll most likely go berserk adding oil and over filling the sump and crankcase. The choice is yours.

 

Bomberos, my bike also used a lot of oil when new. During the first couple of thousand miles the oil level would drop from near the top mark of the dipstick to the bottom in as little as around 600 miles. I was quite concerned. My experience with BMW Boxer engines suggested that oil consumption might diminish as milage accumulated, so I kept riding (keeping an eye on the oil). By the time the bike had 18000 miles, I was able to ride cross country and back without adding any oil. In fact, the oil level didn't budge for the entire 7500 mile trip.

One thing I learned during the time the bike was consuming a lot of oil is that the oil level warning light works very well. It lights just about when the oil reaches the lower dipstick mark.

 

Oil consumption

I bought my 2012 K1600 with 4,300 miles on it two weeks ago in LA and rode it back to Nashville, TN - a distance of 2,133 miles using the southern route - and used 1 qt of oil which is causing me some anxiety. From what I am reading here it is my understanding that this is normal consumption for a bike with this many miles? Not like any of my other BMWs to be sure.

 

I bought my 2012 K1600 with 4,300 miles on it two weeks ago in LA and rode it back to Nashville, TN - a distance of 2,133 miles using the southern route - and used 1 qt of oil which is causing me some anxiety. From what I am reading here it is my understanding that this is normal consumption for a bike with this many miles? Not like any of my other BMWs to be sure.

I have also been concerned with the oil consumption of mine which now has about 11,000km (about 7,000 miles). My dealer advised that 1L/1000km was within BMW's "reasonable" consumption for the model and would not be investigated further by them. You traveled over 2,000 miles (over 3,000km) so 1 qt (< 1L) is within the reasonable range by this standard at least

Amazingly the R1200's and Triumphs have this same magic number so I'm not sure how much I trust it

 

hi all, Roame, you state when checking oil you wait till fan cycle's off then wait 1 minute then turn off, but the manual says,

Allow engine to idle until fan
starts up, then allow to con-
tinue running for an additional
minute.
Switch off the engine and wait
for about one minute to allow
the oil to drain into the sump.

 

A quart every 2,000 miles may be consider normal, although, my quick math says that is the equivalent of an additional 15 cents per gallon of gas That said, if it isn't smoking or running poorly, it's not doing any damage. It's likely just a matter of how the rings initially seated in the cylinders and unrecoverable now. Drop oil in her and enjoy. Think of it as dosing fresh anti-corrosion additives each 2k.

 

Oil consumption

Thanks much for your inputs. Although heavier than any bike I've owned in the past, this is a terrific ride and I look forward to spring and many more miles (although I think my GS is pissed)