Oil top up

irishbiker · Post by **irishbiker** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:50 pm

Hi

Was wondering how much oil my 1150r can be expected to burn. i.e. how often should it need topped up, only 13000 miles so shouldnt be too much ring wear yet right?

The Clymer doesn't say how often the oil should be checked with the whole getting to normal running temperature then checking it, is this a daily procedure?

Also wondered what is the best brand of oil to use in the bike is and in the states is it available in most auto stores or do i need to get it online?

A lot of questions i know, appreciate any feed back i can get.

Took the wife for her first ride yesterday and she loves it.

Post by **MikeCam** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 3:47 pm

Be prepared for contradictory advice. Here's mine.

The engine might burn up to one quart for every 1000 miles until the engine fully breaks in. Most folks I know (100's) of Boxer engine owners experience about .5 quart per 1000 miles for up to 20,000 miles before it tapers. Some burns past the rings, some seeps from the plastic oil filler cover, some just disappears.

Most Boxer engine owners learn to recognize a sweet spot in the fill window - near the center circle but not always. You'll probably come to recognize overfull, underfull, oil cooler holding, and midnight oil level changes for your bike. Generally, don't panic. Some times it shows nearly empty but really has some stored up in those coolers behind the thermostatically controlled valve. It will eventually drain down into the sump. The sump, by the way, holds a good quantity of oil below the sight glass area - about 3.0 to 3.5 quarts. So it would be rare for you to really run too little oil.

As to oil quality: SG rating with the appropriate fillers and additives for an air cooled engine. Modern auto SJ/SL/SM oils lack some critical content (zinc, phosphorus, etc) and while not harmful, do not provide optimum protection. Diesel engine oils have all those additives and are recognized as very good for the Boxer. DelVac, Delo400, Rotella T (mineral oils) are all readily available and inexpensive. Among premium brands: BMW, Castrol, Spectro, RedLine, Royal Purple, Amsoil all make excellent oils.

If you change oil every 3000 miles or less, then choose your brand accordingly. If you change at 6000 (service interval) then stick to a quality brand you know and understand.

HTH

Post by **towerworker** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 3:48 pm

You could find enough threads on this board concerning oil to keep you up reading till Christmas!

Lots of opinions here and I will give you mine. I just three weeks ago totaled my 03 r with 42,000 miles. Bought it new in 0/03 and had used Castrol 20/50 since the first oil change at or around 600 miles.
I for just a few months went to a lighter weight last winter because of cold weather starting issues. It was very hard to start when it got below 10 degrees. But otherwise it always had Castrol 20/50. Quite honestly I never really closely noted the oil consumption---I know it used some probably till close to 20,000 miles but really not all that much. You can buy Castrol anywhere and for that matter most of what you find guys using here you can find at Walmart or any autoparts store. You don't need anything fancy or "motorcycle oil". Standard stuff.

I always tried to check the oil the same way each time -- on the center stand and of course on level ground. I would take the bike for a good ride and get it up to operating temp before trying to check level. I mean a good ride too----at least 30 minutes or more. Not just around the block.
I kept the oil at least at the dot in the level window. Do not overfill the crankcase! You will find oil levels will vary and I guess some of that is due to oil sometimes staying up in the oil cooler radiators on either side of the tank. (some guys here will try to tell you that is where you put the antifreeze----

-----but pay little attention to them)

Get in the habit of checking these things each time you ride---oil, tire pressure, proper light operation and brakes. Do like aircraft pilots do---do a "pre-flight" prior to each ride. You'll live longer.

There are many, many opinions here of what brand and type of oil to use, conventional vs. synthetic. I'm not an authority, so I will only tell you what I did. My intentions were to continue to use what I have for the last 5 yrs and I would be still had it not been for a wild mustang in the road. But another r is on the way!

You can do a search on the board and find much about oil here. Guys like Boxermania, CycleRob, Productuser and others like them are the real sharp ones here so like the old investment commercials on tv----when they speak------you need to listen! You can gain a veritible wealth of good information from those guys.

Good luck and welcome to this board!

Wayne

Post by **towerworker** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:27 pm

Add MikeCam to the above mentioned list of "experts"!

(just don't ask for his advice on women)

There are no experts in that field.

Post by **Boxer** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:31 pm

Since you have started giving you wife rides, the sooner you can train her to do this the better off you will be.

irishbiker · Post by **irishbiker** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:32 pm

Thats a fantastic plan Boxer, i will familiarise her soonest with that part of the riding schedule.

Post by **Biff's R** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:09 pm

If I see it in the dight glass on the center stand. then great. If I see oil in the glass on the sidestand, the OK.

Boxer is one of my heros.

Post by **boxermania** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:13 am

Boxer.....you are a bad, bad, bad boy........

After that display if I were Miss Jenny, the next time you asked me to check the oil I would kick the bike over on the right side and report to you that there is no oil to be seen on the sight glass......

Post by **OU812** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:46 am

Boxer, if there is more to be had, well, I am waiting.

FordPrefect · Post by **FordPrefect** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:28 am

I had the same problem when I got my bike this summer, it had 3500 original miles I checked the window and no oil what so ever, but was told by a dealer to chill all is well, the difference between low and high or mid is about few table spoons of oil. I also had a after market oil cap that leaked, so I changed it and no more leaks. The oil indication window is one very bad design on the new boxers, I prefer the old models with a dipstick much easier to add and maintain oil level, hot or cold. As for the oil I use what I can afford, since BMW recommends their oil, I use it, but in the older models I use Golden Spectro. I really do not think that the newer boxers should burn much oil when ridden in cold weather (which I believe all boxers prefer), during the summer months is a different story (but I doubt that you will burn more then 250ml/1000 miles).

KeithC · Post by **KeithC** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:48 am

I think the manual says that the difference between max and min in the sight glass is about 0.5 quart.

FWIW, there's a BMW motorcycle mechanic not too far from my home. He's been working on BMWs for 30 years, until recently at BMW dealerships. He highly recommends synthetic oil once the engine is broken-in, which he says is generally not until roughly the 24,000 mile mark. He cites personal experience and lab test data, the details of which I can't recall, but they were generally lubrication properties as a function of oil temperature.

One of the great things about this site is the civility. From what I can tell, there are many opinions on the oil issue. And the posters just politely provide theirs. A lot of forums (other hobbies/interests) immediately turn into flame wars as soon as there's any controversy. My compliments, guys.

Keith

Post by **Biff's R** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:54 am

I have been using Castrol 5w50 Syntec. It is nice when it is less than 30 F outside. The bike turns over easy, and warms up much faster than it did with the dino 20w50.

My bike goes through phases when it comes to burning oil(or leaking through the fill plug). It may not burn any for a couple of thousand miles, and then it does for a thousand.

irishbiker · Post by **irishbiker** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 4:18 pm

The other problem i have is i know there is synthetic oil in the bike (supposedly from the 12000 service) but dont know what kind, i checked the A&S website and they have 15w30 for sale so am going to top up with that. Is it wothwhile just changing the oil so i know exactly whats in there? or will i be ok topping up with what i have.

Post by **iowabeakster** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 5:24 pm

Irish,

Mixing oil should not be a problem. Most people, most of the time, use 20W50. If riding in colder temps, 10W40, makes for easier starting.

As Biff's R says, there are some 5W50 synthetics out there which are great. This is a great choice once the bike is "broken in".

Keith says:

One of the great things about this site is the civility. From what I can tell, there are many opinions on the oil issue. And the posters just politely provide theirs. A lot of forums (other hobbies/interests) immediately turn into flame wars as soon as there's any controversy. My compliments, guys.

You should have been around in the old days!

Post by **challey** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:08 pm

I'm with Iowa Beakster - modern oils are all compatible and mixing should not be an issue.

FWIW, I switched to synthetic at about 12,000 miles. I change my oil twice a year using 5W40 in the fall then when the weather gets hot, usually May or June, switching to 15W50. I usually completely empty a 5 gallon container between changes (6,000 miles) which works out to consumption of about 2-1/2 oz per 1,000 miles.

Charlie

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:01 am

Irish - I seem to recall that there are two types of synthetic oil bases that are incompatible with each other, but don't remember what they are - ester and olefin bases? Anyway, you may be better off just adding some regular (non-synth) oil which will mix with either kind of synth oil rather than risk mixing incompatible synth oils since you don't know what's in the crankcase now. My $0.02

Max Continuous · Post by **Max Continuous** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:19 pm

I have to say, I am not at all impressed with BMWs' method of checking oil levels. Every other bike I have ever had, would take me about 30 seconds to get an accurate check of the oil quantity level, hot or cold.

After all the business of getting the bike warmed up, on level ground with a center stand under a plumb bob and laser level, trying to figure out if the oil cooler thermostat is open or closed, we look into a glass sight which could be full or empty, either side of which could be only half a quart!

So really, unless you drain everything into a jar and measure what came out, you have no freakin idea how much oil is your bike.

Or is there something that I am missing? Please tell me there is.

Post by **boxermania** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:09 pm

Max....

You are missing the oil in the filter and that trapped in the oil cooler circuit.....just consider all the convolutions required to check the oil on the BMW boxers as your aerobic exercise for the day.

ROBOX · Post by **ROBOX** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:22 pm

I run mine with 5w/40 and seems to be fine all year round. Mixing oils should not be a problem but I prefer to know what exactly I have in my engine.