Camheads use oil? 2012 R1200RT

[mpmarty]

My new 04 RT bought from dealer in August of 04 was ridden like I stole it from day one and never used any oil. My 06 RT bought used never used any either but I don't know how it was broken in.

[ja1800]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'll keep an eye on it and talk to the dealer at next service.

[ClassicVW]

If you park it all the time on the sidestand, I bet you regularly see a puff or more of smoke on startup. Maybe sometimes much more than a puff- like a minute's worth of smoking. It also depends how long it was parked like that too. That is using up some oil, but it's not 'consuming' oil while riding.

[DROOT153718]

The mechanic at the dealer told me to tilt the bike to the right for a few (5 seconds). It became a habit with the airhead and I still do it with the oilhead.

It stopped the random smoking upon start up on the airhead. I have only seen my Oilhead do it a few times in 3 years. I still tip the bike to the right and will with my next bike an R1200R in Red.

David

[R1200RClassic]

If you park it all the time on the sidestand, I bet you regularly see a puff or more of smoke on startup. Maybe sometimes much more than a puff- like a minute's worth of smoking. It also depends how long it was parked like that too. That is using up some oil, but it's not 'consuming' oil while riding.

is that from oil seeping past the piston rings while it's angled that way?

[RideTN]

2012 here, used 2 quarts of oil so far over 6k miles.

[mpmarty]

My 06 RT lives most of its live on the side stand. I never have seen any oil consumption. In looking closely at the sump I notice that the bottom of the cylinders are above the oil level in a properly filled crankcase.

[Norms 427]

2012 here, used 2 quarts of oil so far over 6k miles.

That's a bit much. Maybe yours is one of those more traditional BMWs that will get much better oil consumption by around 15000 miles or so on the odometer.

[ClassicVW]

is that from oil seeping past the piston rings while it's angled that way?

Yes. It also depends on just where the ring gap is, and it does stop in different position from ride to ride, so sometimes you may barely see a puff on startup, and another time your neighbors will think you're spraying for mosquito control. Of course, length of time left in that position is also important. Ride every day you may never see smoke. Park it for two weeks while away on vacation and when you return home and start it up you may think something broke while you were away.

[05Train]

2012 GS/A with 12,000 miles. The bike consumed nearly 2 quarts between the 6k and 12k services, close to 3 quarts between the 600 and 6k services.

So I guess it's getting better.

[galaxie]

all this talk about 20W50,I thinks my manual says to use 10W40,I think the idea is to get oil to the heads,

[Norms 427]

2012 GS/A with 12,000 miles. The bike consumed nearly 2 quarts between the 6k and 12k services, close to 3 quarts between the 600 and 6k services.

So I guess it's getting better.

It's puzzling to me why some new camheads consume very little oil and yet others appear to guzzle it like they're on a college drinking binge. ? ?

[R1200RClassic]

It's puzzling to me why some new camheads consume very little oil and yet others appear to guzzle it like they're on a college drinking binge. ? ?

maybe a random combination of poor break in techniques and slightly better fitting rings on some bikes than others? who knows?

[roamingbeemer]

Riding like you stole it or slow and easy. No one has mentioned the other variable of quick vs slow throttle chops. I would say I accelerate like I stole it but I am more gentle with the throttle when decreasing to slow down. I maybe wrong but I believe the rings are better suited for the forces of accelerating vs. engine braking. Since 600 miles service on my 2011 GSA I am not burning any oil to speak of with over 7000 miles now.

[Norms 427]

The wide variance of oil consumption makes me suspicious that it's something more than just a difference in break-in technique, but I may be wrong ... not sure what it is, but something isn't right. I'm thinking of creating a poll of camheads and their oil consumption.