New RT Low on Oil

[larrycainjr]

I've searched this any other forums pretty deep. I still need some advice.

Since taking delivery, I have been checking the oil after most rides and it's held it's own (perhaps down a little). I check the oil only when the bike's hot, on the center stand and after waiting 5-15 minutes. I followed break-in as recommended by dealer - not more than 4000 rpm and avoid full acceleration and sustained highway driving.

Had it in for the 1st service last week at about 840 miles. I checked the oil after driving home from dealer and noted it read somewhere about 3/4 in site glass.

Took a nice ling ride today and the on-board computer low oil warning came on. Pulled over, put bike on center stand and pulled out the manual to see what the <!> indicator on the dash was. Got down and checked the oil and found it was about 1/4-1/2 full after sittling about 5 minutes. Got back on and headed down the road.

About 30 miles from home the indicator came back on again. I checked oil on arriving home (after waiting 10 minutes) and the oil was at the very bottom of the site glass. I went back out just now and checked again - it's about 1/8 after sitting 2 hours.

I can't see where any oil's leaked out around the engine and the garage floor is clean and dry.

Any ideas? Could the shop have done something to create a sudden use of oil? It's only been about 425 miles since the service was done.

Thanks for any advice!
_________________
Larry
Gaithersburg, MD
'06 R12RT
'05 AN650

[ranks]

I hope that you are not really using oil at that rate.
I have never had the warning light come on.
It sounds like you may have a problem.
At 600 mi service, only thing they do is change oil, check valves, torque heads.
If you have a problem from the service, I would think it could only be a pinched gasket. Without a leak, maybe the one around the spark plug ?
I would thing the head cover gasket, oil filter, oil filler cap, would produce a leak.

The R1200 series seems to be tricky on checking the oil.

My R1200GS is very finickey about how you check the oil.
The oil cooler will not open its valve unless at operating temperature.
The oil will not fully drain from the cooler when on the center stand.
The oil needs to be checked on the center stand.

Without using oil, you can have a full sightglass, go for a ride, put the bike on the centerstand, wait, and the sightglass be empty.

Repeat, and its half full, Repeat and its full, etc.

A consistant way of checking oil level is needed, and the oil needs to be drained from the oil cooler.

The following method for checking oil on the R1200GS is used by many, and seems to provide accurate, consistant result.

Drive bike and get oil at operating temperature.
Park bike on sidestand for 5 minutes.
Put bike on centerstand for 20 minutes.
Check the oil level.

More complicated than it should be, but provides consistant readings.

From what I've read on the ADVRider site oil usage varies from nill to up to a quart per 1000 miles, until broken in. Once broken in, oil usage drops dramatically, or even stops. Breakin can take up to 20,000 miles.

My R1200GS used 2.5 quarts before 4K, .5 quarts between 4K and 6K.
After 6K service, (at 6.5K now) not a drop.

Try performing the check above, filling to no more than the dot in the center of the sight glass, take it for a good 2 hour ride, check it again as per above.

Hope all is well.

[LarryR]

I sent you a PM.

[685ursus]

I make sure my bike is level by placing a small bubble level across the bottom of the centre stand. Slightly off level will affect the amount of oil showing in the sight glass.

[larrycainjr]

These replies are all helpful. Thanks!

I did the dance and the level was either right at the bottom of the glass or there was just a drop stuck there teasing me. I added about 1 cup oil and now when the engine's stone cold the level is slightly above the half way mark.

I checked the engine and can't see where there are any leaks. There is a light/thin build up of oily soot on the tail pipe but I'm not sure if that's normal or not.

I'll call the dealer this week and keep an eye on things. Thanks, everyone!

Larry
Gaithersburg, MD
'06 R12RT
'05 AN650

[tgiffel]

I had the same problem and when I asked about it at the dealership, they said the oil level had to be all the way to the top of the site glass. Even though the oil level was slightly above the half way point in the site glass, that wasn't good enough for the bike computer to read correctly.

The dealer further said the engine had to be stone cold when adding enough oil to bring the level to the top of the site glass. That was done and I've had no further problems.

Hope this helps!

[Daman858]

I believe that there have been several posts about RTs using oil during the first few thousand miles of break-in. They consider this normal.

[Tom_K]

I was just told that my dealer is waiting for the fix for the erroneus bord computer oil warnings. My '06 RT has used about 3/4 quart between the 600 & 6,000 mile services, but the computer warning randomly occurs unless the oil level is at the very top of the sight glass.

[drodg]

My bike has 4200 miles and appears to not use much oil. Unless the oil is at the very top of the sight glass the warning sign will come on periodically on my rides. I would ignore it and use the sight glass as your indicator. If you read in the owners manual you do not have to have the oil all the way to the top of the sight glass.

[Got2Greys]

My 05 R1200RT has exhibited similar behavior as yours regarding oil usage. Other posters have mentioned the need to keep the oil at or near the top of the sight glass or the oil warning indicator will come on.
My bike now has 6,300 miles on it and the oil usage has slacked off considerably. I was using about 4-5 ounces every 1,000 miles.
Apparently, BMWs take a while to break in. My previous bike was a R1200C, purchased used with 5,800 miles. I put an additional 9,000 miles on that bike before I traded it for the RT. It was still using about 1-2 ounces of oil at the 14,000 mile mark.
My advice is to watch the oil level in the sight glass and check it at each gasoline fill up. I carry a quart of oil with me in the saddlebag, just in case I need to top off the sight glass.

[lrmk1200]

I have a '05 R 1200 RT. I have been very disappointed in the oil consumption. It was using approx 1 quart each 1000 miles. Dealer said it would take possibly as long as 10,000 miles for the engine to fully seat. I had advise from a good friend who has had experience breaking in many BMWs over the years. He said to go out and ride it hard so the engine would have a better chance to break-in.
At 7000 miles on the odo, I rode from Sacramento to Boise for the BMW RA Rally. From Sparks to Winnemucca, I pushed it hard for 150 miles. Topped off the site glass with about 1/4 cup and have not had to add any oil for the next 2000 miles. I am now very happy with the engine's oil use.
Regarding the computer oil indicator, it seems to get squirrely when the oil level goes below half on the site glass. Since it stopped using oil, the computer oil indicator has been flawless.