Hi Friends,
momentarily in Mexico with a strange oil leak all the way below the ABS box to the bottom, but not in the front part of the cylinder heads.
bmw 1200gs 2011, 79.600km
I can't make out if the sealing all around between the back of the motor and the gearbox etc. gave in, or its coming from a part on top. I heard of leaks more below, but how does the oil get so far up and front? To be able just to see all that well, i think I have to separate the bike in halfs.
Oil film in the air box and in those tubes inside as well, but I don't know if it is/was the cause somehow, or it happened due to overfilling with oil due to the strange changing oil level(see below). Air filter looks not oily.
The story: heavy rain for two days with several high water crossings up to the air inlet but not inside(?); two days later, hot like hell can be in Mexico, the oil came out and the level too low(don't know how much was in before!), filled up and for the next couple of days foam on top the oil behind the glas when started. The level showed DIFfERENT levels, as if the circulation of oil is blocked and released sometimes. clogged oil? does that exist at all?
Finally changed oil and filter right now and hope it stopps. Tempted to do that even twice. Radiator off and cleaning?

Any idea?

Thanks,
Thomas

Hej Thomas,

not a BMW owner, but had to work on a 1200RT, 2005

Leaking oil from top of engine, oil in airfilter as well.

Mistake by owner - overfilling engine oil after homeservice.
Engine needs to be hot so that thermo switch for oil cooler is open.
otherwise not all oil will be drained.

Engine pressed oil out by ventilation into airbox and also out of
connection ventilation hose/engine.

Check hose for damage, make sure it is not squezzed.

May be just cleaning of engine, tighten ventilation hose clamp and
adjusting to right oil level will be enough.

Good luck

Hi Bubbla,
thanks for your suggestions! I don't know if my machine has a thermo switch for the oil cooler, actually I don't think so.
I checked everything I could see and feel and changed oil and filter. i couldn't see unregularities in the old oil, but there is more foam on top of the new oil behind the glas when I start the machine.
I still think the problem might be from the water the days before, since the position of their inlet is for my taste way too low, and the oil level was low when oil came out the first time, or it is another problem which I cannot see and reach if I don't take the bike apart in two halfs.
If anyone else has more suggestions, please write. Tomorrow I have a long stretch and will see what happens.

Ride safe,

Thomas