It has always been best practice to drain oil at operating temperature.
It has also always been best practice to check your oil level before you start your engine.
Not with a BMW R1200RT it seems.
The riders manual makes the statement that oil should be checked when at op-temp. Obviously it doesn't mention thermostatic valves on oil coolers that retain oil if not at operating temperature nor does it state the level to fill the sump to with new oil after draining oil and new filter fitted. Do you measure 3.8litres minus what went in the filter on fitment and just tip it in? Do I take it for a ride with the oil (cold) in the window shown in the picture below? Am I overthinking this oil refill issue. It seems more convoluted than I am used to and certainly more involved than any Japanese bike I have ever owned.
As a separate point of interest: It has always been best practice in warm/hot climates to keep coolant and oil as cool as possible. Wouldn't it therefore be better (in theory) to remove any thermostatic valve from the oil cooling system when the bike is always operating in ambient atmospheric temperatures exceeding (say) 15 degrees celcius and increasing oil cooler capacity/efficiency?
This would seem to solve the oil cooler retention problem and perhaps as an added bonus would....
1. Cause the oil supply temperature to fluctuate to a lesser degree?
2. Lessen the likelihood of oil cooling ceasing when the oil cooler thermostatic valve ceases to function?
Just some musings given the oddity of BMW's oil system as I understand it so far... Have I completely misunderstood the operation of the oiling system?
Does anyone get into modifying their bikes?
Here's the level after filling while cold with the filter full of oil... is this the level you should have after 3.8litres of oil is added? How much higher should the oil get at operating temperature?
- Oil-window.jpg (217.36 KiB) Viewed 1264 times
