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How much oil does yours burn?

 
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k11pfc
Mad Brick Rider


Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Posts: 104
Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:16 pm    Post subject: How much oil does yours burn? Reply with quote

My 1997 K1100rs(47k) seems to burn quite a bit of engine oil, there's no smoke, I run semi synthetic and it's not cheap, aint actually measured what it burns (it's not that serious) but it's more than any of my previous bikes and it means I have to check regularly. Do they all burn oil?
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Riding a 1995 Marakesh red K1100rs
Formerly owned:-
1 k1100rs
2 k100rs's
2 K1200rs's
2 F650's
2 R1200gs's
1 K1200s's

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mnb
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 660
Location: San Jose, CA

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

About a quart every 1500 miles. Has for years if not from day one.
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1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition
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SugarHillCTD
Site Admin


Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 4238
Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's my experience...

My previous '93 RS burned about 1L in about 1500km. During the summer months I would replace the lost oil with 50w. That slowed the consumption down slightly.

Our current '92 RS will go close to 5000+km before using 1L.


Other owner's experiences will show that oil consumption varies greatly.
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John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.
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Jim
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Joined: 17 May 2003
Posts: 3841
Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The K (97LT) has burned as much as 1 quart in less than 1,000 miles.

I switched to Castrol semi - synth Actevo. That seemed to cut back on consumption a bit.

Then I did NZ Max's crankcase breather mod - that helped a lot. Got vacuum in the crankcase now instead of pressure.
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."
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whyoldbill
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 440
Location: in the boonies, northwest of Columbus, Ohio

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 9:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've found that by parking it on the center stand 100% of the time, the oil consumption dropped to about a quart every 3000 mile.
It's questionable, though,which is cheaper, the oil or the chiropractor..
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The desired effect is what you get when you improve your interplanetary funksmanship - George Clinton
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mnb
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 660
Location: San Jose, CA

PostPosted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

whyoldbill wrote:
I've found that by parking it on the center stand 100% of the time, the oil consumption dropped to about a quart every 3000 mile.
It's questionable, though,which is cheaper, the oil or the chiropractor..



There's a trick to using the center stand.

First. Make sure your tires aren't under inflated. If the sidewall says something like max 42 psi when cold, that IS the max, so you want to go below that, but don't run 28 like most sport bikers do. It negatively affects your handling (at least with radials on the K11LT) and lowers your mileage. Not only that, the bike will sit a little lower, which can make it more difficult to use the center stand.

If your suspension sag is too low or the bike has been lowered, it will be considerably more difficult to use the center stand.

To deploy the center stand, put it in neutral and on the sidestand. You may leave it in gear and pull in the clutch when putting it on the stand if you prefer.

Use your foot to push the center stand until it just barely contacts the ground.

Then, rock the bike away from you until you feel the other foot on the center stand make contact with the ground.

Grab the lifting handle while you push down on the stand. Start by pushing lightly and kind of rock it up and down a couple times. As is rocks back upwards, give it a good push with the foot while pulling up on the handle and it should pop right up on the stand.
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1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition
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SugarHillCTD
Site Admin


Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 4238
Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania

PostPosted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 5:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

whyoldbill wrote:
It's questionable, though,which is cheaper, the oil or the chiropractor..


HEY! I resemble that remark. (the oil is definitely cheaper Laughing )


Actually I find it very easy to use the centerstand and do so probably 98% of the time. In fact my present '92 K-RS has that swing out "LT" handle but I hardly ever use it. All my weight on the centerstand lever then easy pull back on the left handlebar grip and very light pull back/ balancing with my right hand on the tail section handle.

The sidestand on these bikes scares the crap outta' me- looks like the bike leans so much weight over on to it. (even with the thicker foot that the P.O. bolted to it)
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John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.
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granth
Mad Brick Rider


Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Posts: 78
Location: Birmingham,England

PostPosted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a '93 k1100rs,WITH 35,000 Miles on it.
It uses less than 1 litre per two thousand miles.I almost never use the side stand and never for prolonged periods,if I do use it the bike always smokes on start up. Very Happy
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1993(94 MODEL) K1100RS IN ASTRAL BLUE
2006 URAL 750CC DALESMAN SIDECAR OUTFIT,
RED AND CREAM.
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granth
Mad Brick Rider


Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Posts: 78
Location: Birmingham,England

PostPosted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a '93 k1100rs,WITH 38,000 Miles on it.
It uses less than 1 litre per two thousand miles.I almost never use the side stand and never for prolonged periods,if I do use it the bike always smokes on start up. Very Happy
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1993(94 MODEL) K1100RS IN ASTRAL BLUE
2006 URAL 750CC DALESMAN SIDECAR OUTFIT,
RED AND CREAM.
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Ernie-NH
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 14 Oct 2009
Posts: 982
Location: Bristol, New Hampshire

PostPosted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

Hello all...

On the "oil useage" question: I have a '95 K1100LT with 80k on the odometer, and it is the stingiest "oil use" bike I have, or have ever had! I seldom if ever add oil between 8k changes, and when I do it has always been less that 1/2 qt.. Granted I do not use the bike every day, but rather reserve it for the long rides, 5k, 10k or more, and it is always garaged and on the center stand. The number of times it has been on the 'side stand' in it's life with me, could be counted on the fingers of one hand ! My "R" bike on the other hand will use a good qt. every 2 to 3 thousand miles, and it too is never on the side stand ! All the Japanese bikes that I currently have or have had, usually consume a qt. or more every 1k to 1.5k irrespective of the manufacturer.. All my bikes are meticulously maintained and lubricated religiously as required at stated intervals...

At first I could not believe what the 'sight glass' was telling me, but after measuring in a graduated container and allowing for 'residual cling'... the "K" continues to be an absolute Oil Miser !! ( knock on wood !)

Best regards all.....// Ernie in NH
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slyderx
Brick Rider


Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 36
Location: Tipperary Ireland

PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 6:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

gave up worrying about oil consumption years ago....i just keep feeding the beast....horrifying of course compared to my non oil usage kawasaki but i find castrol car oil gpx keeps it happy...used to get 20w 50 now its 15w 40,,,112000miles on the clock so who cares.
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slyderx

K1100LT (1992)
ZRX1200R ( yummy)
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SugarHillCTD
Site Admin


Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 4238
Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania

PostPosted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 8:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Then of course there is the "hidden oil" phenomenon first described by Flying Duck.

So how much oil is in a brick engine could always be questioned....
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John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.
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merlin geikie
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 26 Dec 2008
Posts: 343
Location: Lismore far north coast nsw australia

PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ah yes the oil consumption.

As far as I can remember, bmw say the a quart per thousand miles or a litre per fifteen hundred km is OK but a MAX figure.

Apparently the whole oil consumption thing comes down to how hard the engine was run-in.

A robust run-in beds the rings in very nicely and the motor will hardly use oil and a gentle run-in will give incorrectly bedded rings and the motor can use plenty of oil for its lifetime thereafter.

My brick motor was run-in by a cop on highway patrol and seems to have been done properly and the motor only just sips oil and fuel.
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geovar
Brick Rider


Joined: 10 Jul 2010
Posts: 47
Location: Athens-Greece

PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In the BMW Users Manual K1100RS/LT they say Max.oil consumption:
0,15l/100Km
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Don Sproule
Flying Brick Rider


Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 261
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My (old) 94 LT and 95 LT used to use a fair bit of oil.
I found that when I switched to Mobil 1 15W40 that it dropped significantly.
Last 2200 Km trip used about 8 oz. or less. I use the sidestand a lot.

Don
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Thedodge
Brick Rider


Joined: 28 Apr 2011
Posts: 33
Location: Old Isleworth, middx, West london, England.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:27 pm    Post subject: "NZ Max's crankcase breather mod" Reply with quote

Can anybody out there please provide a link to the crankcase breather modification referred to by Jim earlier on this page? Thanks.
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