Oil Comsumption?

hirschg · Post by **hirschg** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:26 pm

Hi all. I have an 03 R1150R that had 1950 miles when I purchased it in October 06 I changed the oil when I got it and put on about 300 miles before winter. The oil level was about 3/4 of the sight glass after sitting all winter. This week the weather broke here in W Pa. I put over 300 miles on in as many days with one day being a 200+ spirited mile ride though the laurel mountans over various back roads and interstate. After putting the bike on the center stand after the ride and checking the oil, the level was no were to be found, even when on the side stand! I added just under half a quart today (which is all I had on hand) but still no level in the sight glass when on the center stand but now showing when on the side stand. should I bring it up to show in the sight glass? should I be using this much oil? is it because of the low mileage and the engine not totally broken in? should I be concerned? any input would be welcome
hirschg

Lion_Lady · Post by **Lion_Lady** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:56 pm

Okay. So you returned from your ride, and immediately put the bike on the centerstand?

Sorry, WRONG.

I know this seems kinda stupid but, you're supposed to put the bike on the side stand for 5 minutes or so, THEN put it on the centerstand before you check the oil level.

If you went straight to the centerstand, you will get an inaccuarately low oil level reading because the oil doesn't drain out of the right cylinder completely unless you use the side stand first.

I was told by a BMW certified tech that if you park your bike on the side stand and let it stay there. You're fine so long as you can see oil at the center of the glass.

P

Post by **challey** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 6:57 pm

I wouldn't add any more oil at this point. With those high mounted oil coolers and lines, oil can and does hide in lots of places. If you can see oil when you're on the side stand, you have enough to ride. Try taking a short ride 15 - 20 miles, to get everything warmed up, then do as Lion Lady suggests.

I think it's extremely unlikely that you used 20 oz (my guess at 3/4 of the sight glass plus your added 16 oz) in 300 miles. These bikes do tend to use quite a bit of oil until fully broken in but nothing like that.

hirschg · Post by **hirschg** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 3:11 pm

Thanks, for the imput what you guys are saying make sense. I knew the oil needed to drain from the oil coolers but I was not aware of the need for it to also drain from the right cylinder to get an accurate reading. I'll follow your sugestions on checking the level next time out.
thanks again .........hirschg

Ves · Post by **Ves** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:50 pm

Lion_Lady wrote:Okay. So you returned from your ride, and immediately put the bike on the centerstand?

Sorry, WRONG.

I know this seems kinda stupid but, you're supposed to put the bike on the side stand for 5 minutes or so, THEN put it on the centerstand before you check the oil level.

If you went straight to the centerstand, you will get an inaccuarately low oil level reading because the oil doesn't drain out of the right cylinder completely unless you use the side stand first.

I was told by a BMW certified tech that if you park your bike on the side stand and let it stay there. You're fine so long as you can see oil at the center of the glass.

P

Something doesn't sound right... The service manual does say to let the bike sit 5-10 minutes before checking the oil. But it doesn't say anything about side stand or center stand. My question is, if the issue is oil draining from the cylinders, then what about oil draining from the left cylinder? If the bike is leaned over to the left the whole time on the side stand, then the oil from the left cylinder isn't going to drain? I don't know, I'm just wondering.

As for the tech that said as long as you can see oil at the center of the glass when on the side stand, you're OK. Was he implying you're perfectly OK to run the bike that way all the time, or you're OK to run the bike like that until you get some oil? In general you don't want to be running on a low oil lever since that will wear the oil you do have at a faster rate.

Post by **DJ Downunder** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:27 pm

I thought that the reason for using the side stand for five minutes before putting it on the center stand is to drain the oil from the oil coolers..not the cylinders.

DJ

hirschg · Post by **hirschg** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:03 pm

After reading the advice from Lady Lion and Challey I put the bike on the side stand this morning (but I did not take it for a ride) and let it sit for about 6 hours then put it on the center stand and the oil level was 1/2 a sight glass so it seems that oil came from somewhere, it must have been the right cylinder because there was no change in the level untill I put it on the side stand for a period of time. I know some oil could still be trapped in the oil coolers. I will ride tomorrow and then let it sit on the side stand and then check it after it cools down..............hirschg

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:38 pm

There's no voodoo to this. Just put it on the center stand immediately after you shut the engine off, wait five minutes, and check...

I see absolutely no reason why you would want to put it on the sidestand other than to dismount the bike. Bear in mind that a boxer engine is more or less symmetrical - one cylinder goes to the right and one cylinder goes to the left. The side stand elevates the right cylinder bank while lowering the left cylinder bank. Whatever benefit or detriment putting the bike on the sidestand prior to putting it on the centerstand to check the oil fluid for one cylinder would apply in the opposite to the other

Lion_Lady · Post by **Lion_Lady** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 6:45 pm

Okay. I used the wrong word. I knew there was something on the right side of the bike that the oil needs to drain out of.

As far as the tech's suggestion about checking the oil level... I use that method all the time, not 'just until I can add oil.'

For garage parking, I use my sidestand, on a 3/4 inch thick piece of wood, so the bike doesn't lean so far toward the other bikes in the garage.

P

frbank6 · Post by **frbank6** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:18 pm

There is something about this topic I never quite understand when it comes up. If the sight glass is below the cylinder heads, which it is, then how can any oil be trapped in either cylinder if the bike is on the side stand? At least on my bike, the sight glass is below the lowest level of the lowest cylinder head when on the side stand. What am I missing here?

hirschg · Post by **hirschg** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:57 pm

Well there must be some voodoo to it how do you explain ther difference in the oil levels when the bike changed positions I'll find out more tomorrow when I ride it and then take it to the shop for some PM......................hirschg

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:11 pm

DJ is right, the idea behind putting it on the sidestand is to let oil trapped in the oil cooler lines drain down into the sump, sort of like a ketchup bottle --the air can't make it s way past the ketchup if the bottle is right upside down, so you tilt it. BUT this only works if the bike has gotten warm enough to open the oil cooler bypass valve that lets oil flow into the coolers when the bike is warm, otherwise, less than a quart stays trapped in the coolers and lines. AND oil expands with heat, so a cold reading is not accurate - read the level on a hot engine.

hirschg · Post by **hirschg** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:07 pm

Took my R in for some minor service today I talked to the tech and he said you don't have to go through all the side stand, center stand stuff. He said after a good ride put the bike on center stand let it sit a while and then check the oil if its in the sight glass oil level is ok he said it dose not matter side or center stand the oil will drain.......................... hirschg

Post by **dcameron** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:42 pm

my 2 cents worth - it doesn't matter what method - side or center stand - just do it the same way each time for consistency.

Lupo · Post by **Lupo** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:52 pm

I don't think its Voodoo or sidestand magic. I think it has more to do with the rings seating. Mine went thru a bunch of oil at first and now ( after 8000+ mi.) isn't using any extra. I've been running "dino" and will go to synthetic now.

chris · Post by **chris** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:14 pm

Mine's coming up to 11k miles and doesn't use any on commuting runs BUT it drank a lot on a 280 blast on Wednesday this week. Made up for it by giving me 60mpg tho! First time I ever got to 190 miles before the warning light!