Miracle at 30,000km: A story about oil use

[LumpyCam]

Over the years I sheepishly read these threads and admired the sparing oil use by members. "A bit now and then..." "Just take it for a ride in the hills..." or "I check regularly and add once in a while." Meanwhile, my R1200R has consistently burned 250ml to 300ml per 1,000km. I'd taken to bringing two spare quarts with me when I'd do a big–mile dash somewhere. And i assure you that lack of spirited riding was not the issue.

In August I filled up before a 6,000km jaunt to Utah and back to Vancouver. Keeping an eye on things i noticed the oil use drop off precipitously and just refilled to the top of the oil window here 10,000km later. That's about 40ml per 1,000km or what I would call 'no need to cart an oil rig behind me anymore.'

I share this story to add evidence to what we already know: These engines take a while to break in and for me the magic number came around 30,000km (19,000mi).

Happy rides.
Dan

[tinytrains]

If you mostly ride the hills, you will burn much more oil than on the open road. The high compression big bore engine will suck it through the rings during engine breaking. This is common on this bike. I use more oil on a 100 mile Sunday ride than I do all month commuting.

Of course it can some time take a long time for rings to fully break-in, so let us know how it goes when you get back on your regular riding routine.

Scott

[LumpyCam]

That's a good point and I probably do a lot of engine braking which could be part of the issue.

But I have done 4,000 of the daily grind since the road trip and the consumption has definitely improved. I normally would have used just under a litre during that amount of commuting.

[bmwk100]

I burned a quart over the first 3K. Should I fill it up to the top line or to the dot in the center of the oil window?

[deilenberger]

I burned a quart over the first 3K. Should I fill it up to the top line or to the dot in the center of the oil window?

Officially - top of fthe window. Unofficially - as long as there IS oil visible in the window you're good to go.

[Kieran R1200R]

Hay Dan, it's marverlous how these bike motors work. This is my 4th boxer motor. My first 1 was a 04 R1100S and that use to burn about 250mm per thousand km and so did the 06 modle too. The 3rd was a R1200S and that burned about the same, but this R1200R I have now does not burn any I am noticing on the oil window. I must say I am using Castrol 15w40 dino in all of them. I have found if I go to a 10w it will burn off easier. It just goes to show that they are not all put together the same, if you know what I mean. The other fellow talking about engine braking makes a lot of sence because I use to find that they use oil going up and down the box in heavy riding conditions.
Anyway it must be some relief to have it slowing down on consumption now!

[MrPMS]

I switched to synthetic oil at 13,000 miles, thinking the consumption was minimal and had stabilized. Now I find I still have some oil usage, maybe .5 quart per 1000 miles. Should I, and CAN I switch back to dino till it stops??

[vodka]

I've just hit 36000 km and now oil is very stable. Yes a blast thru the hills drops it a bit ,but minimal.

[sky_sailor]

I switched to synthetic oil at 13,000 miles, thinking the consumption was minimal and had stabilized. Now I find I still have some oil usage, maybe .5 quart per 1000 miles. Should I, and CAN I switch back to dino till it stops??

Conventional wisdom would have you stick to the synthetic oil.

[Kieran R1200R]

Personaly I would use a Mineral base oil with a weight that stopped it burning off.
My brother has a Kawasaki KLR650 and it used oil @ 300ml per 1000km with a synthetic enhanced oil 15w40 he was using. He switched to same weight 15w40 mineral base oil and the oil consumption stopped.
I put it down to the molecules between the two oils. Synthetic has round smooth molecules which glide past your rings and mineral base oil has sharp edged molecules that make it harder to pass the rings.
As far as the ware factor goes remember that two surfaces with oil between them make it impossible for the two surfaces to touch. It's the stop start of a motor where the ware factor comed into play. Cold start, that's why taxi's get huge milage out of there motors in comparison to the general public that commute to work and shops and turn the motor off. I can tell you that taxi owners use the cheapest oil going and that is even if they change there oil at manufactorers recommendations which I dought. There's nothing wrong with mineral based oils but some will disagree. I find that synthetic based oils burn off to easy.

[PhilSB]

One of my local BMW dealers said they were changing to fully synthetic oil for their servicing. The dealer where I get my bike serviced said synthetic wasn't necessary because of the low mileage between services and the benefits didn't warrant the extra cost. My BMW diesel 3series car does about 17/18,000 miles between service, the bike about 4/5,000 miles.
Phil

[sky_sailor]

I've never understood the reason people change their oil as often as they do. I know guys who change it ever 2-3000 kilometres. Total waste of money to me. I use a full synthetic, and change it every fall before I put it to bed for the winter. My average summer is about 8K. The oil comes out as clean as the stuff going in.

[LumpyCam]

I've never understood the reason people change their oil as often as they do.

Weight to match the seasons per BMW's factory recommendations (check your manual)?

[sky_sailor]

I use full synthetic 10W40, across the board, regardless of weather. Amsoil or Mobile 1. Never a problem.
Do everything your manual, or for that matter, your dealer tells you, you won't be able to afford food!
Lyle