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Author Topic: How much Oil are you running in the Motor  (Read 1869 times)

Offline mrclubike

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How much Oil are you running in the Motor
« on: September 05, 2017, 10:32:18 PM »
I was wondering how much oil  other people have been running in their  motor
The full 2.5qts  ( 2.5L)
or 2.0qts (2.0)

I did notice when I first got the bike that the oil level seemed to drop a 1/2 qt quickly  and then slowed down   
But I still ran the 2.5qts as specified
I just could not bring myself to purposely run it low on oil

I have read about this elsewhere but I think it was more problematic with the older shallow pans
BMW realized this and deepened the pans and I think even put out a service bulletin about running the oil lower than specified  in the shallow pans
1982 R65 running tubeless Snowflakes
2004 R1150R

Offline Justin B.

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Re: How much Oil are you running in the Motor
« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2017, 10:42:10 PM »
I fill mine until I'm at the half-way mark and the bike is plenty happy.  But, I've been riding Beemers since 1976 so old habits die hard!
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline Barry

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Re: How much Oil are you running in the Motor
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2017, 02:41:17 AM »
I run at the half way mark which is not much oil on the early models, only a little over 1.8 Litres.

It burns no measurable amount between changes at 2000 miles

I once worked out that if you run an 81-84 model at the full mark you have the same air space as a 78-80 model at half way. Not suggesting for a minute that anyone should run at the full mark but it illustrates that it's even more important to run no more than half way on the early models with the shallower pan. 

Running at half way was actually sanctioned by BMW.  In response to excessive oil consumption, an Aug 1990 BMW service bulletin citing oil churning and breather loss, specifically advised not to add oil until the level reached the minimum mark and then add no more than 1 pint.

 That was a round about way of BMW saying don't fill above the halfway mark.
« Last Edit: September 06, 2017, 02:48:56 AM by bhodgson »
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

Offline Tony Smith

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Re: How much Oil are you running in the Motor
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2017, 06:09:50 AM »
I fill about 2/3rds of the way between the marks. More than that it just blows it out the breather and makes a mess. doesn't use enough oil to require a top up between changes which are 6 monthly as the bike doesn't do enough work for miles to be a problem.
1978 R100RS| 1981 R100RS (JPS) | 1984 R65 | 1992 KLE500 | 2002 R1150GSA |

Offline mrclubike

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Re: How much Oil are you running in the Motor
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2017, 08:58:50 PM »
 
This was the main reason I installed the spacer
I thought it was   recommended to run 1/2 way down   with the  shallow  pans  but I guess it included the deeper pans also

I am running 5000 miles between oil changes (change filter every oil change also)
When I dropped the pan to install the spacer the engine was extremely  clean
I do run Mobile One 20W50 full synthetic
And I ride about 15000 miles per year 
« Last Edit: September 06, 2017, 09:02:27 PM by Mrclubike »
1982 R65 running tubeless Snowflakes
2004 R1150R

Offline Motu

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Re: How much Oil are you running in the Motor
« Reply #5 on: September 07, 2017, 02:53:08 AM »
I use 2.5 litres in my '87 mono, the level never changes.

Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: How much Oil are you running in the Motor
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2017, 08:17:52 PM »
Duane Ausherman said that it is better to run too low, than too full.

Just make sure there is something in there for the pick-up and pump to work with.

1/2 way was my goal.