Oil level check.

[beemer]

I have 04 rt and I check oil on regular basis. Problem is the level varries from day to day. For example, I check it at night after riding, level is up to the middle of the sight glass, in the morning when I check, it is a little lower, what gives?

[paithorn]

I realsied that too... I take the lowest reading as my guage, not sure if it is correct

[Beemeridian]

55

[Beemeridian]

546

[chris]

I'm going to go make some popcorn and watch this one unroll.

I'll join you...

[Boxer]

Ride bike for 20 minutes or in 2 gear @5K rpms for 2 minutes. (critical step)
Stop and leave on sidestand for 3 1/2 minutes.
Lift left leg slightly and tap with toe 4 times on pavement just beneath the sight level glass.
Place on center stand and let stand for 24 3/4 minutes.
Kneel down on both knees facing the rear of bike just beside oil sight level glass.
Turn head to left and cough while holding....well, you know. Then without turning head back, close left eye and read sight glass level.
If the oil shows anywhere in sight glass, you are okay to go. Preferably near the center dot.
If you have vertigo, stop holding yourself at this point and slowly rise.
Go inside and drink a cold beverage.

[MikeCam]

Phil,

I must respectfully and reluctantly disagree.

20 mile ride; 7 minutes on side stand; overnight on center stand; bend at the knees not at the waist; good quality motor oil shows anywhere in glass; poor quality oil burns away quickly and leaves an empty window.

With my most humble and adoring manner, sir.

I remain,

Camfarm

[Martyn]

I have 04 rt and I check oil on regular basis. Problem is the level varries from day to day. For example, I check it at night after riding, level is up to the middle of the sight glass, in the morning when I check, it is a little lower, what gives?

Your bike doesn't surge, does it ?

Oh, & do you only use genuine pure Bavarian air to top up your tyres ?

[boxermania]

I see that the scapees have been allowed their computer time. I must say they lost their marbles answering the very same question posed here.

You don't want to go there.....just keep in mind that there is an oil cooler that is thermostatically controlled. Sometimes the ride is not long enough or the weather is too cool to open the thermostat, therefore traping some oil in the oil cooler.......which will not flow to the crankcase.

Upon inspection the oil level is low, so you add oil accordingly prior to the ride, then when you return it is above the center......what gives? Well during the outing the cooler came into play and added additional volume.....don't worry, by design the boxer engine will burn it off, although this is not a desirable happening since it will put to test the oil scrapper (bottom ring) and eventually allow the formation of carbon on the piston top/combustion chamber.

We can go for days on end with this discussion, however I have just grown terribly tired and I want to quit now.......

[telliott]

I think as his post says his oil level is going down not up after sitting. Not the normal question. If it is just going down a small amount, I'd guess it is just cooling off.

Hot oil higher level, cold oil lower. Sounds normal to me.

[beemer]

Boxer,
I rode the bike for 21 min. , stoped and left it on a side stand for 3 3/4 min, lift my leg and tapped it 5 times on the payvment and than left it on the center stand for 24 1/2 min. Than I kneeled down on one knee facing opposite side of the sight glass and could not see oil level at all, YOU ARE A SMART MAN.

Boxermania,
Thanks for explaining it to me. It does make sence. I've owned many other bikes and checking the oil in beemer was the first one for me.

[iowabeakster]

scratch behind the mirror stalks, when it rolls over, rub belly furiously.

[OU812]

I thought you just pour the oil in 'til it overflows out the......................

[def38]

I thought you just pour the oil in 'til it overflows out the......................

.....that would be out the tailpipe...'nuff oil.

[geothepencil]

Some dealers just fill them up to about the alternator level on oil changes. Ya gotta watch em all the time or do it yourself. To be fair, BMW delivered a lot of new Roadsters overfilled under the theory that they would use the oil up quickly and needed the extra. Not needed as much with the newer hexheads but they still put too much oil in them sometimes.

geo

[phing]

Hey guys. I'm new here. I bought an '02 RT two days ago. I rode it 200 mi home ( a fantastic luxury compared to my loud rigid 75 XLH chopper I've had the last eight years), although something isn't quite right about the seat.
The next day I checked the oil sight-glass. No decernable level. It's got 26k on the odometer. I don't want to pour any in if it's overlevel. Should the level be obvious? How many kazzillion-watt candle-power should the light be I use to check it with ?
I would appreciate any help.

By the way, I already ordered a 2-litre jar of Bavarian Alpine air off ebay to keep the tires full with for 42 Euros. Is that a good price ?

thanks

[def38]

Some dealers just fill them up to about the alternator level on oil changes. Ya gotta watch em all the time or do it yourself. To be fair, BMW delivered a lot of new Roadsters overfilled under the theory that they would use the oil up quickly and needed the extra. Not needed as much with the newer hexheads but they still put too much oil in them sometimes.

geo

See? What do the dealers know...that is just silly. The customer should have been instructed thusly, "Watch your oil level for the first 5000 miles. Check it frequently and add oil only when needed" or something similar. Overfilling causes more problems than underfilling...

[boxermania]

def38

Just a point of clarification.....underfiling, where the oil is not visible in the sight glass, will increase your mechanical knowledge by an order of magnitude......just about the same amount of $ that wiil promptly leave your right pocket.....

[def38]

def38

Just a point of clarification.....underfiling, where the oil is not visible in the sight glass, will increase your mechanical knowledge by an order of magnitude......just about the same amount of $ that wiil promptly leave your right pocket.....

I would agree that no oil in the sight glass means ad oil until you see oil in the sight glass. But severe underfilling may have no impact on mechanical skills rather only decrease the mass of your wallet.

I would rather ride with low oil than too much oil. I do not ad oil until the sight glass shows barely perceptable oil in the window, cold, on the center stand...and then, I ad only about 1 cupfull.

[chris]

By the way, I already ordered a 2-litre jar of Bavarian Alpine air off ebay to keep the tires full with for 42 Euros. Is that a good price ?

thanks

42 euros is a little high, 41.50 tops for 2 litres....

if there's oil splashing around there's enough. Small top ups now and then will keep it happy. Candlepower....no light is bright enough to help sort the oil levels on an RR...