BMW R1200GS ADV 2012, overheating
 

Anyone got any ideas on what can be going on with my moto?
I changed the oil at 48,000 and during the first ride the temp gage was one mark higher than normal. It continued to get hotter, full bars on the temp gage, oil can flashing and red warning triangle flashing. Weather was 65F with light rain. Took the bike back to the mechanic the next day and everything checked out fine. However now the bike heats up every once in awhile for no apparent reason, easy roads, cool weather. If I shut the bike down and restart it, everything goes back to normal. Any riding in first gear for 20-30 min will cause it to heat up. With that said, I'm in Peru and have been on some rugged mountain roads and everything stayed fine. ?? Two BMW mechanics have said it's "low oil". It's not low oil.
I rode the Lethem to Linden, Guyana road in 100F temps, first and second gear for 270 miles and the bike stayed within normal temp range. At one point I got a low warning symbol and added a quart, the temp was still in normal range.
Thanks,
Rigby

Air cooled or water cooled ???

And how hot is it getting ??

Oil showing up in the sight glass when engine stopped on centre stand ??

Touring Ted,

It's air cooled

It varies from one bar higher than normal (normal is four bars) to full bars. If
I keep running on full bars it will show the oil can symbol and the flashing red triangle will appear.

Oil is showing in the sight glass and is circulating while running. When the engine is stopped and on center stand the sight glass shows full of oil.

What's real strange is I got all the warnings once when it was 48F. I was running in first gear climbing but I wasn't running hard.

I did change the oil and filter again during the 54k service but still have issues.

Thanks,

It sounds like the sensor is faulty...

If you're happy that you have enough oil and you can see the pump is turning then I wouldn't worry. Just make sure you change it regularly with the filter and keep an eye on the level.

You could drain the oil while hot and see how much is in there. Should be around 3.7-3.9 litres. It's not too fussy.
Pulled from another forum... :

For oil temperature LCD readout, there are 10 BARS, with no bars showing to be taken as zero bars:

0 33.5° C ..... 92° F
1 40° C..... 104° F
2 65° C..... 149° F
3 80° C..... 176° F
4 90° C..... 194° F
5 105° C..... 221° F
6 130° C..... 266° F
7 150° C..... 302° F
8 160° C..... 320° F
9 170° C..... 338° F
10 175° C..... 347° F


Modern oils are designed to work best in the range of 110° C...130° C (230° F-266° F).
This means about 5 or 6 BARS. Above 150° C (302° F), oil breakdown increases exponentially,
and by about 160° C (320° F), degradation is quite rapid. Petroleum oils will cease to lubricate
with any effect, at about 170° C (338° F)...synthetics at about 190 C (374° F).
A reading of 8 BARS would be the absolute maximum normal operating temperature.