maintenance questions

[jameson71]

I apologize if this has been covered before, but I have a few questions. the first is how do you guys check the oil? I believe the manual says to check it after a short stop after a long ride. Could they be any more vague? When I check it this way, there usually does not seem to be any oil in the window. If I let it sit a considerable amount of time however, the oil seems to pool up and get to exactly where it should be.

My second question is what is the maintenance schedule? It seems like 6k miles? Are oil changes in between at 3 recommended by BMW? Or where can I find this information? In my manual there is just a bunch of empty slots for the dealer to affix stickers?

Thanks!

[deilenberger]

I apologize if this has been covered before, but I have a few questions. the first is how do you guys check the oil? I believe the manual says to check it after a short stop after a long ride. Could they be any more vague? When I check it this way, there usually does not seem to be any oil in the window. If I let it sit a considerable amount of time however, the oil seems to pool up and get to exactly where it should be.

My second question is what is the maintenance schedule? It seems like 6k miles? Are oil changes in between at 3 recommended by BMW? Or where can I find this information? In my manual there is just a bunch of empty slots for the dealer to affix stickers?

Thanks!

I check mine in the AM before I start the bike, while it's on the centerstand in the garage. That's it.. unless I get a hole in my oil filter - it stopped using oil a long long time ago. The level is - any oil in the window = OK. Actual fill level is supposed to be to the top of the window, but many people like to center the level on the dot in the middle of the window. To each their own..

The schedule is 6K miles. It should be outlined in your manual. And 3k oil changes are a waste of oil, even with non-synthetic. I've had an oil analysis run at the normal 6k change interval that indicated the oil was still just about perfect at 6k.. and it probably would be fine at 10k, but since I do a service every 6k, that's the schedule I'm keeping on.

We now open the floor to the synthetic vs dino debate..

[jameson71]

Thanks Don!

[famousperson]

The schedule is 6K miles. It should be outlined in your manual. And 3k oil changes are a waste of oil, even with non-synthetic. I've had an oil analysis run at the normal 6k change interval that indicated the oil was still just about perfect at 6k.. and it probably would be fine at 10k, but since I do a service every 6k, that's the schedule I'm keeping on.

We now open the floor to the synthetic vs dino debate..

I'll bite. My 6k change is overdue (I'm at 7.2k). Is it time to go to synthetic or should I wait until 12k. Or is it worth the expense to even switch?

[deilenberger]

We now open the floor to the synthetic vs dino debate..

I'll bite. My 6k change is overdue (I'm at 7.2k). Is it time to go to synthetic or should I wait until 12k. Or is it worth the expense to even switch?

The time to change to synthetic is when it stops consuming oil. I feel it IS worth the extra expense since I'm fairly certain the synthetic will protect the engine better under extreme circumstances (like having a hole in an oil filter.. not that THAT ever happens..)

[crazyhorse]

don, isn't that 'hole in the oil filter' thing an urban legend?


wes

[bobw]

Don, open invite to an oil thread, OMG

1K over is like one day over on a long ride, Buy a filter change kit and change it with dino. Monitor the use and go to synthetic at 12K if it's not using oil. Now let's move on to helium in your tires......................................

These are seriously tough engines and the oil is fine unless overheated, etc. Use the recommended intervals and proper spec'd supplies and ride the crap out them. That's all there is to making them and you happy.

Cheers and safe travels.