I never saw this message in my screen before.

[Toadmanor]

I have a 2009 R1200RT, 1600 miles. Tonight I was out riding and this <1> appeared in the LCD screen.

Anyone know what this means?

[DrSteve]

It probably was an ! and not a 1. In your manual, it explains all the things this might mean. When mine came on, it was a warning for low oil level.

[andrewsi]

That's exactly what it is. Bend down and take a look in your sight glass. You probably need to top up your oil a bit.

First time I saw this I was three quarters of the way through a Saddlesore 1K, having just ridden somewhere around 4 hours without stopping, and pulling off for a gas stop, on it came. Freaked me out for a moment - no big deal though - just added a little oil and it was back to business. As someone else here said, though, the <!> is there to make sure you add some oil before you do any actual damage. :-)

[Toadmanor]

I am not sure if I have dino oil or synthetic. All I have is syn.

Is it OK to mix the two?

[jimfastcar]

A 2009 almost certainly has Dino. I would not mix, although doing so will not cause any damage to my knowledge.
Dino is reccomended for the first 20,000 Km , and I plan on continuing to use it as I like frequent oil changes

[Semper_Fi]

A 2009 almost certainly has Dino. I would not mix, although doing so will not cause any damage to my knowledge.
Dino is reccomended for the first 20,000 Km , and I plan on continuing to use it as I like frequent oil changes


+1 on the Dino as initial oil and also the no mix statement

[mneblett]

Is it OK to mix the two?
Big picture: Absoultely ok. There are no inherent incompatibilities (the oils all start from essentially the same feedstocks) -- and *any* oil in the crankcase is better than letting the level get too low and starving the bearings!

[TomfromMD]

My <!> comes on when the level is down to about 1/8 in the sight glass. As it only takes about 8 oz. to raise it to the 3/4 level, be careful not to overfill.

Tom

[ragtoplvr]

what is commonly called Dino oil already has some smaller amount of synthetic mixed in, to make it multigrade and meet the requirements. Most synthetics are not what we call true synthetic but could more accurately be called "enhanced dino" oil. So, adding some enhanced dino oil to an oil that already contains some smaller amount of enhanced dino oil will not hurt a thing.

I would try to avoid adding true synthetic "ester" type oil, just because but it will not hurt anything either. Most not going to have those laying around as they are more expensive and not common, like Motul etc.

If I needed oil and could not find 20W50 I would add the 10W40 too, a small amount is not going to mess up the oil, just make it like 18W48 or something, not enough to matter.

Granted it is better not to mix oils, but it is way better not to run out of oil. It is also a requirement for the S(G) or whatever grades that they be able to mix with problems.

Rod

[Greenwald]

My <!> comes on when the level is down to about 1/8 in the sight glass. As it only takes about 8 oz. to raise it to the 3/4 level, be careful not to overfill.

Tom

Agreed. Be careful not to overfill, or you'll be cracking open the drain plug a tad and letting oil weep out all over you hand to compensate.....very messy....don't ask why I know.

I use a small dixie cup when I add oil. That way, I only add a few ounces at a time.

Best method I use: Ride bike until it's well warmed up (at least 20 miles of use); then place on centerstand on level ground, and go have a soda. Come back in 5 - 10 minutes and check oil level in sight glass. Fill to 3/4 mark, and you should be good to go until the next oil change.

Ride Safe.

[Toadmanor]

Well, I poured a bit 20w50 syn I had from my Triump Speed Triple in there. So, all seems to be OK now.

This was the first time I used the "key" to take the oil filler cap off. It made me think about all the lockable filler caps that are for sale which I have seen as I learn from the internet about my new BMW. They claim that these protect from tampering and debris polluting the oil.

Is there a rash of BMW Oil Filler Cap thefts going on that I am not aware of?

[andrewsi]

No. It's just another exercise to part you with your money.

[TomfromMD]

Best method I use: Ride bike until it's well warmed up (at least 20 miles of use); then place on centerstand on level ground, and go have a soda. Come back in 5 - 10 minutes and check oil level in sight glass. Fill to 3/4 mark, and you should be good to go until the next oil change.

Ride Safe.

A variant of K.M.'s method is to first park the bike on the sidestand (level ground only) for 5 minutes; put it on the centerstand for 5 minutes, and then inspect the sight glass. This is officially known as the "BMW Oil Checking Dance" - hopefully executed with more finesse than the "Fish Slapping Dance".

Tom

[Greenwald]

A variant of K.M.'s method is to first park the bike on the sidestand (level ground only) for 5 minutes; put it on the centerstand for 5 minutes, and then inspect the sight glass. This is officially known as the "BMW Oil Checking Dance" - hopefully executed with more finesse than the "Fish Slapping Dance".

Tom

Hey....I'll gladly incorporate this 'dance' into my oil checking routine, if you can explain the advantage of it?

Always willing to learn a new trick that has merit. :thumb

[Greenwald]

Well, I poured a bit 20w50 syn I had from my Triump Speed Triple in there. So, all seems to be OK now.

This was the first time I used the "key" to take the oil filler cap off. It made me think about all the lockable filler caps that are for sale which I have seen as I learn from the internet about my new BMW. They claim that these protect from tampering and debris polluting the oil.

Is there a rash of BMW Oil Filler Cap thefts going on that I am not aware of?

Nah. It's just a reasonable precaution, given the fact that with opposed cylinders exposed to the airflow, comes an oil filler location also conspicously exposed.

Not so on all brands. Just try finding the oil filler cap on my son's ST1300!

Part of being safe is being smart about it, and that often translates into removing or discouraging temptation.

Locking down the oil filler cap makes mischief in that area one less worry.

Enjoy the ride.

[TomfromMD]

Hey....I'll gladly incorporate this 'dance' into my oil checking routine, if you can explain the advantage of it?

Always willing to learn a new trick that has merit. :thumb

Supposedly, it allows all the oil to drain from the cooler. As it did seem to show a slightly higher level in the sight glass, I've gotten into habit of checking it this way after a long ride. (IIRC I read about it either here or on the BMW Sport Touring forum.)

Tom

[Greenwald]

Supposedly, it allows all the oil to drain from the cooler. As it did seem to show a slightly higher level in the sight glass, I've gotten into habit of checking it this way after a long ride. (IIRC I read about it either here or on the BMW Sport Touring forum.)

Tom

OK. Makes sense.

Will use it.

Thanks.

[marcopolo]

I really think we over analyze the whole business of checking the oil level. If it were necessary to put the bike on the side stand first, don't you think it would be in the owner's manual?

[Funride]

I have a new 2009 R1200RT and have tried all the different ways to read oil level.

On my bike it reads just about the same no matter how I do it.

Run till hot
put on side stand a few minutes
put on center stand
wait 5 minutes then check it.

NOW I JUST:

I CHECK MY OIL LEVEL WHEN THE BIKE IS COLD IN THE MORNING BEFORE I RIDE OFF. Bike sits on center stand all night.

On my bike I found no matter which of the above methods I use the level reads the same plus/minus a 1/16 of an inch. CLOSE ENOUGH FOR ME.

Oh, on my new RT the oil warning icon "!" comes on when the level is about a quarter inch above the bottom of the sight glass.

I only fill my oil level up to about 2/3 up the sight glass. My bike seems to use very little oil. About a half quart in 6000 miles.

[marchyman]

Hey....I'll gladly incorporate this 'dance' into my oil checking routine, if you can explain the advantage of it?

Always willing to learn a new trick that has merit. :thumb

Some folks feel that it gives them more consistent readings, something to do with making it easier for the oil to drain out of the oil cooler. :dunno

I've not found inconsistent readings to be a problem on my GS (or on the oilhead RT that preceeded it). I look at the sight glass before starting the bike for the first ride of the day. The oil is pretty much always at the same level, less the 4-8 oz used over a service interval.

[TomfromMD]

If it were necessary to put the bike on the side stand first, don't you think it would be in the owner's manual?

The same 2006 manual which specs the engine type (p.136) as "a twelve cylinder opposed twin"?

At least it doesn't include the warning I found in an early '80s Honda manual: "Avoid locking the front forks while riding the bike"!

Tom