2002 R1150R Oil Usage.

[JohnnyLunchBox]

Here's a loaded question. What is the normal rate of consumption on an R1150R. It's got about 10k miles, and I notice that we top it off quite often. Been using Mobil1 red cap 15W50. It's not unheard of that we are adding about 1/2 quart every thousand miles or so. I am familiar with the fact that an air/oil cooled motor is more likely to have some consumption than a water cooled motor due to looser tolerances and running temps, but I am curious to know what others are experiencing.

I see no leaks and no smoke from the tailpipe. I've been told from another oilhead owner that the consumption will lessen with mileage, and that it should minimize when the engine reaches 20-25k or so.

Thoughts?

[Sit]

How many miles do you have on your bike? My R did use less and less oil as time went by and the miles increased. It also used less oil when the RPM's were kept up, lugging the engine was not good. When I first got it, I was shifting prior to 4K. Told the dealer of the oil use and was told to rev higher, not to shift until closer to 5K and that would help. It did help and the motor was running stronger and faster with each passing mile. By the time I sold it, I was using about a quart between oil changes.

[MikeCam]

BMW's manual states that 1 liter per 1000 km is normal. Most consume much less. As the break in continues for up to 24000 km or more, the consumption goes down as well. Not common, but acceptable.

[geothepencil]

The usage may very well decrease, but the safest attitude to have is that it will always use that much. We have all seen engines whose consumption never decreases no matter what you do to them.

Its best to learn what yours does in city or road usage, because I would bet it varies.

geo

[JohnnyLunchBox]

Thanks for the assurances and advice. We always travel with extra oil, and I've trained my wife to check the oil at least every other fuel stop. My Buells seem to like oil as well, and the consenus is that they decrease or level off their usage in time too.

[towerworker]

Trying to not overuse a common phrase you will often see around here but the truth is the truth.

"They all do that"

Almost all anyway.

Wayne

[Sunbeemer]

My oil consumption has decreased at 21000 miles to ~ 8 oz per 3000 mile oil change from a previous high of ~ 24 oz per 3000 mile oil change. this has varied with type of riding (highway uses less than in town) and temperatures (higher useage in warmer months).

Hang in there, it gets better as the engine finally breaks in!

[mnnden]

JLB I have an "02"purchased new, I now have a little over 30k on it and it uses about 1qt per 1000 mi, it has since new, has never changed, I may have broke it in too easy, but after about 2000 mi I did run it in the "Happy zone" quite a bit and on a trip from Mn to Colorado I hit the triple digits a few times. I am happy with the MC but disappointed with the use of oil. I have several friends with BMW's and they use no oil at all between changes. I am not sure I would buy another because of this. Den

[JohnnyLunchBox]

I can live with 8oz/1000miles, and hopefully it will decrease in time. At least it's gotten my wife in the habit of checking the oil. Her previous bike, an EX500 used no oil between changes. Fill it and forget it.

So far she's really liked the R1150R, but has her eye on a Wee-Strom. I think she'll miss the torque of the 1150. We're doing an Edelweiss trip in June and she's requested a V-Strom, so the jury is out until then.

[Sunbeemer]

Please post pics of that trip... please! I have Edelweiss Envy!

[OU812]

Both my R's (02&04) used about 20oz per 3000 miles. I lived with it quite well.

[JohnnyLunchBox]

Please post pics of that trip... please! I have Edelweiss Envy!

I can't wait. We're doing the ultimate Alps tour. It's a once in a lifetime thing. I've been to that region of Europe a number of times, since most of my family still lives there, but never on a motorcycle. Well there was that one time when I almost killed myself riding a moto morini 3.5 which had the rear brake and shifter reversed.

[paithorn]

my 02 R1150R has 60000km on the clocks and still consuming lots of engine oil... i need more than 1 litres of top up for every 5000km oil change interval

[rockstercliff]

I must have gotten lucky in this way, mine used about 2 qts. between changes, 3k miles, somewhere around 9-10k it slowed down usage considerably. Now at about 12.5k barely uses any, and I went to Mobil 1, dont know if that had anything to do with it? And, my bike was a demo, so it probably was run a little hard from the start.