Forums > Maintenance > 2004 1150RT Burning Oil?

---------------------------------

I will not make motorcycle sounds at work... I will not make motorcycle sounds at work...

The 1150's seem to consume between 1/2 to 1 quart about every 5,000 miles, so it sounds like your bike is in the range of normal.  Mine stopped consuming oil at about 20K miles.

I tell you though, it really makes a big difference if you park on the side stand or the center stand.  You'll burn a lot more oil setting the bike on the sidestand.

C

---------------------------------

Another sunrise, These bright and crystal moments, Crow flies overhead.

I've used about a quart prior to my first 6k mile service. You're consumption seems a tad high but I was told to expect oil loss until 20k miles or so when everything seats properly.

My prior experience is the same as yours - never had a bike that lost oil like this. But I checked the motorcycle registries before I purchased and was aware that most owners reported the same early oil loss that disappeared after a specific number of miles (generally around 20k). So this does seem to be in-line with expectations.

I'll be interested to see whether our bikes continue on current oil usage or not. I now have 7k miles with no oil loss yet since the 6k service.

I have an 04 1150 RT. I too add about 1/2 to 1 qt per 3,000 mile oil change. On long trips I carry a quart bottle with me. I have noticed that on cooler days less oil is consumed whereas on hotter days more will be lost. Always check oil when the bike is on center stand on level ground and don't over fill. Make sure the engine has been off about 10 minutes before you check the site glass or you will overfill. Park your bike as often as possible on the center stand. If the oil temp has really cooled down (one bar or less showing) don't blast down the highway when you take off, be easy until you get about 3 bars or more. In hot weather and slow traffic, if you get above 6 bars, pull over, shut 'er down and cool 'er off.  Do NOT use synthetic oil until Well after the engine is "broken in". I was told this is well after 24,000 miles Be sure to use 20-50 in summer.

---------------------------------

If you're not leanin', you're learning

Smokyrt said:

  Do NOT use synthetic oil until Well after the engine is "broken in". I was told this is well after 24,000 miles Be sure to use 20-50 in summer.

  Not trying to start a synthetic vs. dead dino's, but: 

 Considering my own experience, I'm not sure I totally agree.  My 03 R1150RT has had Mobile 1 (5W50) since the 12,000 mile mark.  Now with a bit over 30,000 (all kinds of year-round riding from city stop and go through 900+ mile Interstate days), it continues to use just under a quart between 6,000 mile changes.   

  But to answer your question, "They All Do That" (a phrase you will soon get tired of with BMW ownership) and "Your Mileage May Very" 

Don  

BMWs use a special cylinderplating which is proprietary from Mahle, the manufacturer of the BMWcylinders and pistons. The plating process deposits Nikasil, a mix ofnickel and silicon carbide onto cylinder walls. This eliminates the needfor steel liners in alloy cylinders, provides better cylinder coolingand eliminates the cylinders as wear items. Nikasil is extremely hardand as such, it takes a long time to bed in.

Smokyrt said:

  Do NOT use synthetic oil until Well after the engine is "broken in". I was told this is well after 24,000 miles Be sure to use 20-50 in summer.[/quote]

  Not trying to start a synthetic vs. dead dino's, but: 

 Considering my own experience, I'm not sure I totally agree.  My 03 R1150RT has had Mobile 1 (5W50) since the 12,000 mile mark.  Now with a bit over 30,000 (all kinds of year-round riding from city stop and go through 900+ mile Interstate days), it continues to use just under a quart between 6,000 mile changes.   

  But to answer your question, "They All Do That" (a phrase you will soon get tired of with BMW ownership) and "Your Mileage May Very" 

Don  

The only reason NOT to use synthetic motor oil is cost and your oil change interval.

If you want to enjoy extended oil change intervals, synthetic oils afford 8000-10,000 mile drain intervals.

I recommend that you use dino oil at the 600-mile service. You can switch to synthetic at say 7000-8000 miles (your next oil change).

If you routinely change your oil at 6000 miles or less, then use dino oils of proper grade and viscosity. Synthetics will offer you little extra protection over dino oils at this oil change interval.

Synthetic oils are not slipperier and do not lubricate better……but they do last longer, stay in grade longer, resist shear down and tolerate heat better than dino oils. Also, most synthetics have higher TBNs which keeps the additive package in good condition for more miles than dino oils. The additive package is what your are paying for when you buy a quality, brand name oil…the base stock is merely the carrier of the critical additives needed by the engine. But, if the base stock does not stay in grade due to heat, viscosity will change. Synthetics generally do not suffer appreciable viscosity change over 8000-10,000 miles in service.

Synthetics also resist oxidation and neutralize acids longer than dino oils, hence the reason they can stay in your engine for more miles.

Many riders change their synthetic oil once annually if they ride less than 10,000 miles per year. Synthetics in a BMW boxer easily last this long in service without degrading.

---------------------------------

Dennis