K1200S oil level briefly too low - put my mind at ease
K1200S oil level briefly too low - put my mind at ease
Author
Discussion

Knight_Ind_2000

Original Poster:

81 posts

118 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
Hi all

I changed the oil in my BMW K1200S today.

I filled up to between the middle and max lines on the inspection tube and took it for a 20 min max spin. Got back and checked the oil again and saw that it had dropped below minimum; I guess I'd overlooked that the oil would need to be drawn through the oil pump etc.

So I topped it up and would estimate that it needed a max of 500 ml to get it up to wear it needed to be. By comparison the maximum volume of oil stated in the manual is 3.5 litres.

So my question is: by riding it for circa 20 mins max with circa 500ml too little oil, will I have done any lasting damage to the bike?

Thanks!

AceOfHearts

5,957 posts

222 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
Im sure it'll be fine as long as the pressure light didnt come on. Ive seen cars running with 25% the recommended oil in them and they have still survived hehe

Rubin215

4,201 posts

187 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
It's fked.




I'l give you £50 for it.

Knight_Ind_2000

Original Poster:

81 posts

118 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
AceOfHearts said:
Im sure it'll be fine as long as the pressure light didnt come on. Ive seen cars running with 25% the recommended oil in them and they have still survived hehe
Thanks for replying. I didn't notice the pressure light.

Knight_Ind_2000

Original Poster:

81 posts

118 months

Sunday 6th May 2018
quotequote all
Rubin215 said:
It's fked.




I'l give you £50 for it.
Lol as of a couple of hours ago it was still running well so I'm not quite that desperate just yet!

Edited by Knight_Ind_2000 on Sunday 6th May 23:29

The Moose

23,706 posts

240 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
It’ll be fine, I’m sure. Enjoy your bike! thumbup

black-k1

12,810 posts

260 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
It's a (semi) dry sump engine so all it means is that the oil in the tank will have been recirculated sooner. Absolutely no issue with new oil over a very short time.

Knight_Ind_2000

Original Poster:

81 posts

118 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
black-k1 said:
It's a (semi) dry sump engine so all it means is that the oil in the tank will have been recirculated sooner. Absolutely no issue with new oil over a very short time.
Thanks for responding; it's appreciated.

Unbusy

934 posts

128 months

Monday 7th May 2018
quotequote all
I can’t remember how to check the oil on a K since my bike went some years ago now. But on my oilheads it says to wait 5 mins after a run before checking. If you check straightaway the oil level will show low on the sight glass, leading to adding more oil which will end up as too much.
Anyway, I’m sure it will be okay as others said.