I have overfilled my oil sump a little, also. However if you had completely drained your oil by tilting the bike back and forth to get all of the oil out, 2.7 liters should not have been too much oil. Since the sump is a "semi-dry" design, I don't think that a slightly higher oil level will cause a problem. I might add that I never warm up my engine until the fan comes on. On my F650GS I don't think the fan would ever come on. I just check my oil level when the engine is cold, or you can do so after a ride when the oil is hot, which would likely provide a more accurate reading than my method.

 

I'm assuming you are checking the engine oil with the bike on the centerstand, right? And you're not screwing the dipstick in when you check the oil level, right? Just placing the dipstick in the opening.

For some reason, I almost always end up with my oil level "overfilled". I think it is because I put oil in, and it hasn't completely drained into the bottom when I check the level. In any case, where my oil level is usually, is where the red mark and arrow are. It hasn't caused me any issues yet. I'm not saying it is right...only that it appears there's some leeway on how full is overfull.

You are right to be concerned though. If overfilled, the oil can become full of air bubbles and not liquid like it needs to be in order to properly lubricate.

Chris

 

I'm assuming you are checking the engine oil with the bike on the centerstand, right? And you're not screwing the dipstick in when you check the oil level, right? Just placing the dipstick in the opening.

For some reason, I almost always end up with my oil level "overfilled". I think it is because I put oil in, and it hasn't completely drained into the bottom when I check the level. In any case, where my oil level is usually, is where the red mark and arrow are. It hasn't caused me any issues yet. I'm not saying it is right...only that it appears there's some leeway on how full is overfull.

You are right to be concerned though. If overfilled, the oil can become full of air bubbles and not liquid like it needs to be in order to properly lubricate.

View attachment 365143

Chris

That's exactly where my oil level was that caused my panic. Maybe I've overblown the entire situation.

 

Thanks for your replies. The change was done with the bike on the centre stand which sets the sump at an angle so that oil will flow towards the drain plug. I would have thought that would be enough to get the oil out. Dipstick was not screwed in.
The level was a bit higher than yours Chris. I have used a syringe and a straw to remove about 280ml and after running until the fan cut in as the handbook the level is just above the max line and just touching the M. Close enough for me.
Next time I will make more efforts to drain and start with less oil in the first place!

 

One thing to watch for on your oil changes - BMW specifies 3 litres / 3.2 quarts in the F800GT. Some oils come packaged in quart bottles (32oz) and some in litre bottles (= 33.6oz I think). These bottles look pretty much alike. Bel-Ray, Motul, Shell, and Silkolene that I know of come in litre bottles, and there are probably others. So if you refill to the quart spec but fail to note your oil is in fact a litre bottle you are automatically going to overfill the sump by about 5 ounces. Not sure if 5 ounces can make that much of a difference on the dip stick, but it's a consideration.

 

I use a product that comes in quarts. After draining the oil (30 min after shutdown, putting on center stand, rocking left/right a couple of times till no dripping) I just add 3 quarts. Then after running for a minute or two, I check the oil per spec. The dip stick shows at the M (in Max).

 

It is about time you guys joined the rest of the world with a standard system for volume. Not only are you different to the UK pint, quart etc. you often miscalculate the conversion because you use UK instead of USA conversions.

 

Hi Guys
I did a oil filter and oil change -
Drained oil with bike on side stand because it is a factory lowered bike it does not have a center stand
Drained until no oil coming out and changed the filter . Replaced with 3 liters of oil and warmed up the bike
Checked oil level with the dip stick not screwed in. Held the bike level removed the dipstick - cleaned it and checked the level
The level on the stick was well above max
I sucked out 200ml and checked again and level was still well above max
Should I remove more oil until I get it just below max
Thanks guys

 

Not having the bike on a center stand might slightly change your measurement. When on the center stand the rear wheel is off the ground (3/4"), which tilts the motor forward. If you have a hot engine, have made efforts to drain all old oil and sure you have replaced with correct amount. I wouldn't remove oil. I see similar reading on my f800 and my Buell.

 

I should clarify. I see similar reading to what Chris posted on the F800.

 

I don't know if the GS is different then the GT,,. It calls for 3 liters with the filter and so far I use the Advantech 1 liter containers sold by BMW,,. I drain on the center stand and then on the side stand and let it drip for an hour,,. When I put the 3 liters in and warm the engine and check with the dip stick sitting on top of the threads my oil level is at the center line between min and max?
I know I can save 10 bucks on oil by buying by the gallon a cheaper oil however its worth 10 bucks to get it right on that line so I will be able to see if there is any oil usage between changes, so far its always on that center line so no oil usage,,.

 

In my experience, checking the oil level whether hot or cold seems hardly noticeable on the dip stick, despite what BMW says. As the F800 motors don't use a conventional wet sump system, over filling slightly shouldn't cause any problems. There are a number of other threads on this topic, and the consensus of opinion is to do as ccramerusc suggests. I've never had to put in more than 3l, even with a filter change.

 

F WI W...I did my 12k miles service this week, I puled the drain plug & left the bike on the side stand to drain overnight after warming the engine to the point when the fan cut in, I also pulled the filter too. When I re filled I added 2.7 ltr & checked the oil level as specified by BMW, including the 1 minute after the fan cut in. The oil level was just on or over the min mark, so I chucked the remainding 0.3 ltr in & checked again whn I went a test ride. The level was bang on the upper mark after 1 minute of running AFTER the fan cut in, so I assume the trick is to start the oil change the day before & let it drain over night on the side stand.

 

Plus, I am not sure if there is much in the way of adverse consequences if the oil tank is overfilled a bit, considering the F800-series engine's "semi-dry sump" design. I don't think that overfilling the internal oil tank would result in the crankshaft spinning around and hitting a too high oil level and causing the oil to foam, like might happen if you overfilled a typical engine sump which is located directly under the spinning crankshaft in most engine designs. Check out the engine's crankshaft design in the attachment and you will be able to see why BMW needed a separate oil tank, which they located within the engine cases.