Ok, the oil level is starting to frustrate me

[Expatriated]

I have read the threads about the appropriate oil level but I'm still not sure I get it.

When my bike is completely cold, oil level is near the top of the sight glass.

When it's hot, there is virtually no oil showing in the sight glass.

As a matter of fact, I started it and watched all the oil level sink to nothing in the sight glass. I understand the oil being up in the engine parts and having to settle.

The manual states:

"To ensure that the display of the engine oil level is correct, only check the oil level after a longer trip. Wait five minutes after switching off the engine and check oil level."

When I do this, the oil is almost at the bottom of the glass. Later, when it's completely cool, it's back up to more than 2/3.

My concern is that if the oil level is down when the engine is still warm and I fill it up to the appropriate level, won't it be overfilled once the rest of the oil settles back down?? i.e, over the top of the glass?

Sorry if I'm dense but this is new to me and I'm trying to get it all down. Thanks in advance for the help.

(by the way, all comparisons were made on the centerstand).

[baja65]

BMW wants the oil at least warm, a good short ride is OK as long as you get the oil up to operating temp. If it is low when the oil is warm then you do need to add some oil. make sure you have the bike on the center stand. My bike at cold fills the sight glass al the way up. If it was my bike I would add oil.

[129654]

Good info in following link for checking correct level after changing oil but same applies anytime.

http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/oil-change.html

[deilenberger]

You're not dense at all. You're getting bad readings due to oil staying up in the oil cooler (I assume you don't have an R1200R - they don't do that - the oil cooler is down low) when hot, and then leaking down as it cools off.

Check it in the morning before taking off. If you can see oil in the window you're good to go. Then forgeddaboutit for the rest of the day.

And knowing the year/model sometimes helps answer these sort of things.

[MotorradMike]

Boxers 'hide' oil more-so than other designs due to the unique engine geometry. If oil shows in the sightglass outer circle cold, on the centerstand, then you are OK.

When I get home I always leave the bike on the sidestand to cool before putting it in the garage on the centerstand overnight. I then check the sightglass in the morning. This ensures I check it the same way every time and the level actually is quite consistant.

Imagine you had a dipstick and the level varied as much as the sightglass outer circle! BMW had reasons for giving a wide range and showing it in this manner.

One last thing. With the bike running I doubt you would ever see oil in the sightglass. It's all being circulated and the sump level is too low to show.

It's a good thing that you check your oil! Lots of people don't. My girlfriend has the only Camry on the planet that burns oil 'cause before I got her she ran it for 2 weeks on a quart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can't believe it still works.

[revkev]

FWIW when I was done with my 6,000 service at the dealer the mechanic came to talk to me a little to see if I had any questions about the bike. He specifically said that the biggest mistake BMW owners make is filling the oil TOO full, especially the R. Mine is a 2008GS. I have added a touch of oil when synthetic is in and the miles add up between changes, but not much was added. He noted that the oil stays in the cooler and fools owners into adding more and then more and causing problems. He was instructed in his BMW technician classes that the R is designed and tested to run 1,000 hours straight at red line, one quart low on oil. His point was...don't worry about it.

There is also the oil check gauge as part of the computer. I think that would start to make some noise and flashes if the level got critically low. I think the first think it does is suggest a check of the oil level at the next stop.

Not telling anyone what to do...just sharing what was told to me by someone who is supposed to know.

[marchyman]

When my bike is completely cold, oil level is near the top of the sight glass.

When it's hot, there is virtually no oil showing in the sight glass.

No oil in the sight glass or above the top of the sight glass so it looks like there is no oil? It happens. A friend had to pull an extra quart out of his bike because he thought is was low when it was actually very clean oil that was above the sight glass. If that is the case leaning the bike to the right (assuming the sight glass is on the left) will let you see the oil/air junction.

// marc

[AKBeemer]

Wow, we are an anal bunch aren't we? I have to admit to fretting about oil levels when I first got my RT, but I have learned to live by the advice below. We buy BMWs in part because of their reputation for good engineering and workmanship and then act like they need more attention than a Yugo with 100K miles on it. :german

Check it in the morning before taking off. If you can see oil in the window you're good to go. Then forgeddaboutit for the rest of the day.

[Greenwald]

BMW wants the oil at least warm, a good short ride is OK as long as you get the oil up to operating temp. If it is low when the oil is warm then you do need to add some oil. make sure you have the bike on the center stand. My bike at cold fills the sight glass al the way up. If it was my bike I would add oil.

Agreed. The author of this thread is doing things correctly, as per the Owner's Manual.

Warm up the bike.

Place on centerstand, and wait 5-10 minutes.

Add oil if needed to have 2/3 of the sight glass filled.

Put away in garage and enjoy your next ride.

The end.

[Expatriated]

Agreed. The author of this thread is doing things correctly, as per the Owner's Manual.

Warm up the bike.

Place on centerstand, and wait 5-10 minutes.

Add oil if needed to have 2/3 of the sight glass filled.

Put away in garage and enjoy your next ride.

The end.


Ok. When warm, the oil will be near the bottom of the sight glass. If I fill it up enough to be 2/3 of the sight glass when warm, the next morning (when completely cold), it will be MORE than over the MAX line. Is this a problem?


I guess it boils down to this: The oil should be between MIN and MAX when? When the engine is warm or cold? It seems like it can't be between MIN and MAX for both since it varies so much.


And thanks for all the input. I'll try not to stress about it. More than anything, it's just me trying to learn, not really stressing. This is my third bike in 10 years, but the first time I've taken a determined approach to really learning about the bike, the mechanics of it all and working on it myself, so I'm enjoying the learning curve. My goal is to become very proficient in the maintenance and minor repairs.

BTW-- It's a 2008 R1200RT

[Greenwald]

Ok. When warm, the oil will be near the bottom of the sight glass. If I fill it up enough to be 2/3 of the sight glass when warm, the next morning (when completely cold), it will be MORE than over the MAX line. Is this a problem?


I guess it boils down to this: The oil should be between MIN and MAX when? When the engine is warm or cold? It seems like it can't be between MIN and MAX for both since it varies so much.


And thanks for all the input. I'll try not to stress about it. More than anything, it's just me trying to learn, not really stressing. This is my third bike in 10 years, but the first time I've taken a determined approach to really learning about the bike, the mechanics of it all and working on it myself, so I'm enjoying the learning curve. My goal is to become very proficient in the maintenance and minor repairs.

BTW-- It's a 2008 R1200RT

Oil should view as being between 'MIN' and "MAX' when the oil is hot.

Ergo, check oil only after the bike has been ridden long enough to reach normal operating temps.

When adding oil, use a small dixie cup...easy does it. Just add a few onces at a time if needed, and give the oil a chance to seep down and be reflected in what you see in the sight glass. Shoot for 2/3....then put the bike away.

NO NEED to recheck in the morining....of course it will show a sight glass completly covered in oil. Once you start the bike, the oil goes places, so don't think you have an 'over-filled' issue. I too have an R1200RT and this SOP (as outlined in the Owner's Manual) has worked perfectly for 30,000 miles.

Remember.....BMW oil only read when HOT, and on centerstand (on level ground).

[kgadley01]

when I first got my 99RT the first thing I did was over fill the oil. then from this forum I learned how to check the oil on a RT. when I return from a ride I place the bike on the side stand for 10 minutes. I then place it on the center stand. this gives the oil time to drain out of the oil cooler and lines for an accrate reading. :eat

[deilenberger]

Here's the problem I have with reading it when "hot" or even "warm"..

When you change your oil - and put in the specified amount - where in the window does it come up to, and at what temperature?

Unless you're pre-heating your fresh oil - it's cold. And putting the specified amount in on my R1200R puts the oil right at the top of the window. Cold.

So - I want it to keep THAT amount in the engine - and I'll check it COLD in the morning and then forgeddaboutit.

Running it 1/2 quart low OR high isn't going to hurt anything. It's a deep sump, and it's well below the spinning bits (like the crankshaft or balance shaft) so "windage" isn't a big issue. There were stories on the R11 forums about feeling a difference in how the engine runs with the oil at the top of the window vs the bottom of the window - claims being it ran smoother at the bottom. Since I chased a nasty vibration in my R1150RS for 6 months, I tried both, and could detect no difference at all.

Folks - it's NOT THAT CRITICAL. If you have oil in the window on the centerstand at any time you're good to go. Warm or cold. Or wet or dry. Night or day. Go ride it.

[Motorwerk]

Don has it right. There's less than a third of a quart in the space of that window.

If you see any oil whatsoever you're fine.

Easiest way, and I've done this for 7 years now;

- After a ride, park on sidestand. (If you want to dance; wait 10-15 min., place on centerstand, wait 5 min.)

- Before next ride place on centerstand, wait one minute, read oil.


Overfilling is not a good thing. The 1100's will blow it into the airbox and also cause a rough running engine. For the 1200's try to keep the level about 2/3 to satisfy the RID. I've even gone under that without a problem.

It's quirky I know but once you get used to it it's no big deal. Remember, these are oil cooled engines, that oil has to come from somewere and be allowed to drain. Even having a dipstick would be inaccurate without waiting for it to drain.

[Greenwald]

Ok. When warm, the oil will be near the bottom of the sight glass. If I fill it up enough to be 2/3 of the sight glass when warm, the next morning (when completely cold), it will be MORE than over the MAX line. Is this a problem?


I guess it boils down to this: The oil should be between MIN and MAX when? When the engine is warm or cold? It seems like it can't be between MIN and MAX for both since it varies so much.


And thanks for all the input. I'll try not to stress about it. More than anything, it's just me trying to learn, not really stressing. This is my third bike in 10 years, but the first time I've taken a determined approach to really learning about the bike, the mechanics of it all and working on it myself, so I'm enjoying the learning curve. My goal is to become very proficient in the maintenance and minor repairs.

BTW-- It's a 2008 R1200RT

My fellow R1200RT owner. Consider this for a moment.

You have received a cornacopia of anecdotal advice on this issue, as each BMW owner settles into his or her own 'routine' for monitoring and managing oil in their bike, as is their right.

But remember - the Owner's Manual for your ride wasn't just written by some guy named Ludwig on the fifth floor of a coporate office, having never even seen a motorcycle.

I know someone who writes the technical manuals for the Kohler Company (a plumbing fixtures, generators and small engine manufacturer of international repute), and learned that after an owner's manual is drafted, it is reviewed by the engineers responsible for the product itself.

BMW engineers who designed / refined that boxer of ours had more than a little thought and input into how and when you check your oil level. Trust them.

They didn't pull "on the centerstand and when 'hot'" out of a hat. They have their reasons, and so far, following their advice has had no negative consequences.

In fact, I invest some time each winter re-reading my Owner's Manual, to refresh my memory about this machine and the recommended way to maintain it.

Good Luck and enjoy the R1200RT.

I'm heading off with my son (Honda ST1300) for a day-ride to the 38th Annual WI BMW Rally in WI Dells in a few hours. Tire pressures I checked this morning (and adjusted), but my oil?

Checked it several days ago after a ride, when HOT, and level was still stable at 2/3 in the sight glass. I'm good to go!

[Expatriated]

Thanks to all for the information. I seriously do appreciate everyone's input.

[rinty]

Expatriated:

I used to remind myself that the bike has as much oil capacity as an Audi, so I'm not going to worry, so long as there's oil in the glass.

Rinty

[rmeisen]

I went out last night, put the bike on the center stand cold, waited five minutes and looked at the oil level. Went for a 10 min ride, put the bike on the side stand for 5 mins, put on center stand for 5 mins, then looked at the oil level. My 07 RT wasn't even a MM different. Now that was in Fl at 85 degrees, maybe it's different in 65 degree Bavaria?