I'm not using any oil????

[Expatriated]

I have read through many of the posts here related to oil. I've seen how it's necessary to top off the oil after x number of miles. The manual says oil consumption is 2 qts per 1000 miles?

As far as I can tell, in the last 1200 miles, the oil level in the sight glass has remained unchanged. It is about 1/8" from the top of the sight glass and has been since the 600 mile service approximately 2 weeks ago.

Is there a problem with this? Am I reading something wrong?

Bike info: 08 RT, bought new 3 weeks ago.

Thanks.

[airoilheadbeemerguy]

My '07RT has needed an oil top off once since new in 07/07 and that was at about 2K or so. Switched to full synthetic at 18K (km) and went on a 7500 km tour and did not need topping up. So as long as the bike is on the centre stand when you are checking, imho all is well.:ear

[Raceydog]

I have an '07 RT with 9000 miles on it. Other than the regular oil changes, I have only used about 3/4 of a quart for topping off. I'm not sure, but it sounds like that would be a typo.

[MotorradMike]

Dear Ex:

You are experiencing a common BMW problem. Your sightglass is stuck. The best way to unstick it is with a hammer but none of us like to do that. The popular solution is to install a vibrator near the sightglass. These are available from many reputable dealers. Just Google vibrator and you'll get lots of hits.

[DarrylRi]

:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

[Expatriated]

Dear Ex:

You are experiencing a common BMW problem. Your sightglass is stuck. The best way to unstick it is with a hammer but none of us like to do that. The popular solution is to install a vibrator near the sightglass. These are available from many reputable dealers. Just Google vibrator and you'll get lots of hits.

Thanks! Found some--got a couple on the way. These things are much bigger than I expected. My wife actually helped me pick them out--I'm glad she's finally taking an interest in motorcycling :blush

[Raceydog]

My wife wanted me to ask where you got yours? She also wanted to know if they came in different colors.:scratch
Just so long as it matches my bike, I don't care.:D

[sellis]

Well I have experienced pretty much the same thing with my bike. When I purchased my 2007RT, I fully expected it to use oil at least till 10,000 miles or so, my last one did. I added a little, really did not keep track of how much, in the first 3000 miles not more than a couple of ounces at the most. Then did an early oil change at 3000 (after the 600 of course) because I was going to Gillette and did not want to fool with changing oil on the trip. I took a quart of oil with me on the trip and kept checking it, expecting it to be low, never was! The bike did see some pretty long days at somewhat high speeds on the trip, it was not abused, but it was ridden. I just changed it again at 9000, and it was down just a very little below the center dot. So maybe a ounce or two in 6000, not at all what I expected. I guess some burn more than others.

Steve

[zoridog]

I attended a seminar by a lifelong BMW mechanic. His rebuilt airheads use no oil between changes and he attributes this to his careful fitting of piston rings. He buys oversized rings, machines them, freezes the piston and heats the rings and orients the split to 180 degrees. He also uses new seals all around.

It seems easier to top off the oil as needed. I wait until the oil light starts to flicker and then put in a 1/4 quart (usually less).

[vizslaowner]

I have an 07 1200rt and my bike used about 1/2 qt. between oil changes (every 3000 miles). I was concerned and was told by the dealer where I bought it that its not unusual to see some bikes go to almost 20,000 miles before they stop using. Right after that my bike hit 16000 miles and stoped using oil. I now have over 18000 miles on the bike and haven't had to add any. The dealer also told me if I switched to synthetic oil it would stop using oil because synthetic oil stops the break-in process. I wont switch to it though because I ride to work everyday and its only 5 mile to work. Therefore it wouldn't pay me to switch. I think oil consumption depends on how your breaking the bike in doesn't it?

[maxscycle]

Dear Ex:

Your sightglass is stuck. The popular solution is to install a vibrator near the sightglass.



So where does one attach the vibrator and how does that influence the oil level. I ask, because in 25,000 miles of riding my 0612gs. I had to add oil once between servicing
max

[rocketman]

I attended a seminar by a lifelong BMW mechanic. His rebuilt airheads use no oil between changes and he attributes this to his careful fitting of piston rings. He buys oversized rings, machines them, freezes the piston and heats the rings and orients the split to 180 degrees. He also uses new seals all around.

It seems easier to top off the oil as needed. I wait until the oil light starts to flicker and then put in a 1/4 quart (usually less).

Yikes! Isn't the oil light an indication of low oil pressure, not low oil level??? Allowing it to run even with it flickering seems a bit risky since that means its not maintaining full oil pressure (which can be from low oil, but is not the only cause). My airhead won't even flicker untill a quart low, which only happened once on a long ride of 2K and I stopped and filled it back up right away, it was a quart low so it was sucking air when I did a hard stop. That was my first airhead back in 76 and I have learned to keep a much closer eye on it now, I check it after any ride(s) of 200 or more since last check.

RM

[deilenberger]

I attended a seminar by a lifelong BMW mechanic. His rebuilt airheads use no oil between changes and he attributes this to his careful fitting of piston rings. He buys oversized rings, machines them, freezes the piston and heats the rings and orients the split to 180 degrees. He also uses new seals all around. Correctly fitted rings (end-gaps mostly - which is what it sounds like this mechanic was doing) will help limit oil use. That's not something anyone with a hexhead is too likely to be concerned with yet. Most of us haven't gotten to the rebuilding the engine stage yet, and we hope BMW did an accurate ring fitting at the factory.It seems easier to top off the oil as needed. I wait until the oil light starts to flicker and then put in a 1/4 quart (usually less).Ummm.. neither of the bikes you list in your sig have an oil level warning light. They have oil pressure warning lights. Letting those flicker isn't a very good thing to do.

[deilenberger]

Yikes! Isn't the oil light an indication of low oil pressure, not low oil level??? Allowing it to run even with it flickering seems a bit risky since that means its not maintaining full oil pressure (which can be from low oil, but is not the only cause). My airhead won't even flicker untill a quart low, which only happened once on a long ride of 2K and I stopped and filled it back up right away, it was a quart low so it was sucking air when I did a hard stop. That was my first airhead back in 76 and I have learned to keep a much closer eye on it now, I check it after any ride(s) of 200 or more since last check.

RMThe hexhead RT and GS (and perhaps ST.. dunno) have an oil-level warning light. The Roadster doesn't. Apparently the oil level warning light is quite sensitive and will indicate low oil early enough that no loss of oil pressure occurs.

I do agree that if he's doing this on the bikes in his sig - he's risking engine damage since they don't have an oil level warning system - just oil pressure.

[Greenwald]

I have read through many of the posts here related to oil. I've seen how it's necessary to top off the oil after x number of miles. The manual says oil consumption is 2 qts per 1000 miles?

As far as I can tell, in the last 1200 miles, the oil level in the sight glass has remained unchanged. It is about 1/8" from the top of the sight glass and has been since the 600 mile service approximately 2 weeks ago.

Is there a problem with this? Am I reading something wrong?

Bike info: 08 RT, bought new 3 weeks ago.

Thanks.

Be patient. Your bike is too new for it to have a 'history of it's own' yet.

My new R1200RT only 'used' oil once, after some hard riding in the mountains south of Gatlinburg one year. Had about 10,000 miles on it at the time.

Switched to synthetic Amsoil after 12,000 miles and nothing used up since.

Would recommend the switch after about 12,000 miles - better heat management means less oil burning.

Oil consumption has a lot to do with HOW you ride that BMW as much as how far, so like I said....your history is yet to be written.

Enjoy!

[rocketman]

The hexhead RT and GS (and perhaps ST.. dunno) have an oil-level warning light. The Roadster doesn't. Apparently the oil level warning light is quite sensitive and will indicate low oil early enough that no loss of oil pressure occurs.
I do agree that if he's doing this on the bikes in his sig - he's risking engine damage since they don't have an oil level warning system - just oil pressure.

Well just shows you what I know about them new-fangled machines! Ha Ha!

But yeah, I was going by his bikes listed as well...:doh

RM