• Welcome to the BMW R18 Forums. Member registration disables ads and allows you to post and share. Register Here.

Quick Oil Level Check

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1758297946#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Shawn Bedser
  • Start date Start date
Shawn Bedser

Shawn Bedser

New member
Joined
Sep 29, 2025
Messages
18
Location
Johannesburg
Visit site
Bike
R18 1st Edition
Hello all, this may just be a re hash of a topic that is somewhere to be found on the forum but what I want to know is, is there a quick way to check the engine oil level? Can one do it in the morning before starting the engine, mine showed at the bottom of the ring last night, started engine let it warm up a bit and check again - no oil showing in the glass. Decided to leave it be and check when I get home tonight, if back at the bottom ring I am going to assume that is the level in the engine and slowly add oil to reach the upper edge of the ring. Bike has 300km on the clock, actually contemplating draining the oil and filling with new 4L and then I know oil level is correct, oil filter change can wait for a while. Anyone out there with the same questions?
 
Cold in the morning upright you want the oil to be at the top of the red ring.
It will then hot under way be at about half.
Would only ´worry´ about cold in the morning though.

To check the oil I sit on the bike, more or less vertical and take a photo with flash.

When to change is up to you. Does not harm to change at 500. Any running in ´wear´ should be in the oil by then.
 
This is what I do. With the bike upright, as long as the oil is anywhere inside the red circle then you are good to go. I use the mobile phone to take a video in case the camera does not take an accurate picture because I don’t have a bike stand.
Overfilling the engine with oil is not a good thing, she will also puke excess via the air filter and you will have a little mess around it. If you measure the oil whilst the engine is hot, wait 5 minutes to ensure all the oil has drained to the sump.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3616.jpeg
    IMG_3616.jpeg
    163.4 KB · Views: 19
On most engines the oil level will increase as the engine heats due to the expansion of the oil. I always check the oil when the engine is hot as the oil has circulated and the oil viscosity has thinned as the oil is warm. This makes the oil settle (drain) better and gives you a more accurate reading. As others have said - using your phone camera works pretty well - some take video others just a picture.
 
Make a spacer by getting a 1 foot of 2 by 4 from Home depot ( waste section).

Place spacer under the stand.

Turn handle bars right.

Warm up engine.

The readings will be better but not perfect.

If you are looking for better readings then screw another piece on it.

The idea is to make the bike close to 90 degrees to ground..
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0236.jpeg
    IMG_0236.jpeg
    1.5 MB · Views: 10
Last edited:
There is some overthinking it.
The read out is as clear cut as it comes. No mistake possible.
There is quite a margin. A bit left/right lean is hanging matter.
There is 4, foúr!, liters in there.
Warm or cold makes no difference worth mentioning. The crankcase expands too = level the same. Just let the oil settle.

Sit on it, cold or hot settled. Put it upright. Take a photo. Done.
Below is mine this morning, Took a photo myself, leaning a wee bit to the right so purrrrfect 👌

Don´t worry, ride it and have fun.

image_2025-10-30_094534453.png
 
I'm sorted, put the bike on a makeshift spacer under the sidestand. With the bike almost upright could check oil level visually. Added some oil, about 500ml to lift level from bottom to top of circle so I am pretty sure that engine is not overfilled. Engine oil level seems to remain constant now, hot or cold. Thanks for the feedback.
 
I put a 2x4 under the kickstand and then hold the bike upright and check the glass. Cold or hot you go as directed. Too much oil is much worse than a little low. I have not heard any issues with the R18s burning oil like my Harley did.

Meanwhile I have another question: Has anyone experimented with different oil other than the factory blend. My bike is coming up on 1900 miles. I have always used Redline 20/50 synthetic in all my other bikes. I'm wondering if it will quiet this motor down a bit.....
 
Randy Kahn said:
I put a 2x4 under the kickstand and then hold the bike upright and check the glass. Cold or hot you go as directed. Too much oil is much worse than a little low. I have not heard any issues with the R18s burning oil like my Harley did.

Meanwhile I have another question: Has anyone experimented with different oil other than the factory blend. My bike is coming up on 1900 miles. I have always used Redline 20/50 synthetic in all my other bikes. I'm wondering if it will quiet this motor down a bit.....
Click to expand...
They are noisy, by design. It's a German feature of all boxer engines. Alternately, try Roll Mode or Rain Mode, a lot smoother, possibly quieter. Rock Mode is in the programming to run rough, to entertain the folks coming from Harley Davidson's, that BMW's are just as bad ass at idle. The motor has plenty of flywheel and a compression ratio down at 9.5 : 1, not enough to really slow it down. I also think BMW puts dual mass flywheels in some of their bikes, not sure if its this model or not, but it is a dry clutch model.
 
Petrus said:
If it were it would not pass Euro5 and 5+ is even tighter yet it still passes, so no it is not.

The extra valve cover serves to muffle the valve play. By design.
Click to expand...
I am referring to mechanical noises, not exhaust noise/tampered with exhaust systems or pollution standards. If you want a quiet bike that ticks like a sewing machine at idle, buy a newer 4 cylinder Japanese bike, or a BMW K1600, not a boxer twin design.
 
Pork Rind said:
Yeah, well if BMW wasn't so cheap, they would have installed hydraulic valve followers/lifters. Then after a few seconds, valve play would be a non issue.
Click to expand...

Nice baiting while side stepping.

Anyway, me, I lóve the manual tappets. Was one of the ´imperfect´ retro things which sold the bike to me.
 
Pork Rind said:
They are noisy, by design. It's a German feature of all boxer engines. Alternately, try Roll Mode or Rain Mode, a lot smoother, possibly quieter. Rock Mode is in the programming to run rough, to entertain the folks coming from Harley Davidson's, that BMW's are just as bad ass at idle. The motor has plenty of flywheel and a compression ratio down at 9.5 : 1, not enough to really slow it down. I also think BMW puts dual mass flywheels in some of their bikes, not sure if its this model or not, but it is a dry clutch model.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I always ride in Rock mode, never even tried roll or rain. The racket isn't that bad, especially compared to my Harley.
 
Doesn't anyone ride with earplugs over here? Me personally, I use the Loop earplugs. Valve clatter is never an issue and the sound from my Freedom pipes comes through as a nice background rumble.

Whenever I leave the earplugs off for a short ride across a parking lot or something similar when I need to move the bike, the sound is awful without them (on all my bikes) ... would never ride without them in, just SO much more pleasant.
 
I've decided that in my "senior" years, that a helmet is now standard gear. ( The Cardo packtalk, and large JBL speakers in helmet, help here)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top