brownie0486
Well-known member
My manual says max oil capacity is 4L (1.1gal)
As did 3 of my beemer manuals
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
My manual says max oil capacity is 4L (1.1gal)
This would be far from the first time that BMW has mixed up specifications when attempting to convert from metric to US measurements. I recall several such snafus with conversion of Newton Meters to Foot Pounds of torque. And a few with measurements of fork oil from CCs to ounces.
As usual, when it doesn't seem right it probably isn't.
You're right; that's the published procedure. My experience is that the level doesn't change between hot and cold. I check it when it's warm, leave the bike on the centerstand overnight, and find it's at exactly the same level the next morning when it's stone cold. You're experience may vary.
Looks right to me.
4 liters is 1.06 gallons. 1.1 gallons is close enough for me.
Oh, the conversion is correct. But the physical space might mean they meant 4 quarts instead of 4 liters. That was my suspicion. Or not.
Back as far as 07 [ on the GT pdf manual ] it states
Engine oil capacity, total 3.5 l, with filter change
0.5 l, Difference between MIN / MAX marks
Has bmw been getting it wrong since 07 in their manual? 3.5L equals 3.69841 qts.
As usual, when it doesn't seem right it probably isn't.
Oh, the conversion is correct. But the physical space might mean they meant 4 quarts instead of 4 liters. That was my suspicion. Or not.
That's because the owners manual calls for four quarts not four liters which will over fill the oil sump.
I guess I'm too old to get used to anything that doesn't have a dip-stick.
OM
I guess I'm too old to get used to anything that doesn't have a dip-stick.
OM
And those vehicles are definitely meant for three-piece suit types or people that hate to get their hands dirty. One of my cars is like that.
Because it's so easy, I tend to check it more often, but I can only speak for myself.
I wear suits. I have no problem getting my hands dirty.
Dave, you know exactly what I mean.
If you open the hood, you cannot take a oil level reading for a while. If the oil is cold, you cannot take an oil level reading. Who the eff programmed that into the ECU. Some non-car guy that spent far too much time in university.
Give me a dip-stick or at least an oil sight window that does not pop out . No electronics required and I ran my section of an electrical standards lab.
Is 4L the same as "4 l" and the same as 4 liter? And I had no idea that BMW made a R1200GT.
With this thread in mind, I changed the oil on my R1250RS today. When I was putting in the 4th liter, I watched the sight glass and stopped filling when the oil reached the top of the red circle (MAX). Remembering to put the fill plug back in - I've forgotten to do that at least once before on other bikes - I started the bike and didn't see any warnings.
Side note: I'm used to there being an oil light on the dash that stays on for a second or two after start up, then goes out. That always gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling that I'd gotten things right. Not so with this cold, German machine.
I let the bike sit for well over 5 minutes and checked the sight glass again. The oil level was about half way. Pouring in what was left of the 4th liter brought the level back up to just below MAX. I started it again, and it has now been sitting for a couple hours and the oil level is about 1/8" below MAX. However, it is sitting in a Baxley chock, which raises the front wheel a bit, instead of the back wheel being up a bit on the center stand. No matter; I'd rather have a bit too little oil than too much. I'm going to call it good.
Also, I love a sight glass. My Street Triple uses a dip stick and it's a PITA to read and launched a thousand dip stick threads on the Triumph forums.
If the manual says 4L and you have drained the oil on an oil/filter change and added 4L, why would one worry about where the oil sits in the sight glass?
4L is what's called for and you added 4L after an oil drain, why are people worrying about what the sight glass shows? What am I missing here that people have to question oil level when the proper amount has been added.