Engine Oil Level

[youngjohn]

What's the consensus on engine oil level?
To the full mark or half way between the 2 marks?
Bike smells a bit 'hot oily' around the airbox after a run with it up to full.
Thanks.

[Barry]

I think the consensus will be half way mark. Even BMW acknowledged that although not in so many words. If you have an early model with the shallower sump then it's a must as the air space at halfway mark is the same as the later models would be if their oil was at the full mark.

I suppose those with the later model could argue that they could run at the full mark as they would be no worse off than an early model at half way. If it was me I'd go for more airspace regardless.

If you need convincing consider what BMW said in a service bulletin:

Do not add oil until the level reaches the min. mark and the add no more than 1 pint.

To me that says two things;  they knew they had a problem with crankcase compression causing high oil consumption and they saw no harm in running at the min. mark.

If you are going to run a low oil level it seems reasonable to me to reduce oil change intervals proportionally.

[nhmaf]

Yup, halfway is good.  Running at full will cause oil consumption on most airheads until it gets back down to the halfway in between mark, and then it pretty much stops, or is at least GREATLY reduced.

Both my R65 and my R100/7 behave similarly in this regard.

[donbmw]

I have keep my oil level at the upper mark or just a little more since when I do oil chanes I add 3 quarts since day one of my 82 R65. It has always stays at the full mark between 3000 mile oil changes. Have close to 100,000 miles on it.

Don

[montmil]

I go with nhMike's offering. Same same on the R65s and my R100S.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[jusgus]

I find that keeping my oil level to the full mark reduces valve noise and when it uses that, I add some more to keep it full.

[Tony Smith]

I find that keeping my oil level to the full mark reduces valve noise and when it uses that, I add some more to keep it full.

I wonder how that would work? Mind you, I was once firmly of the opinion that the engine in the plane I used to own did not like being over water, it used to make so much more noise when over water and would shut up as soon as dry land was beneath the wheels.

[Barry]

Perhaps the additional noise from the breather drowns out the valve noise.

As an opposite effect I've noticed a slight increase in valve noise since I noticeably reduced induction noise by blocking off the drilled holes at the back of the air box facing the battery.  That by the way has had no adverse effects that I can detect. My little engine can hardly be short of air although it's probably now getting warmer air than it was. I've been trying to do a mental exercise to figure out if that will only have an impact at maximum power or will it impact right across the range.  Whatever it will probably run better from a cold start in the winter.

[wilcom]

I've been trying to do a mental exercise to figure out if that will only have an impact at maximum power or will it impact right across the range

I think it would act just like a weak fuel pump...... you don't have a problem until you need more than it can give!