K11 Owners Group

flybd5 · Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 5:24 am Post subject: Oil Cap Temp Sensor probe length

I am going to replace the oil filler cap on my K with an RR oil temperature thermometer, but I need to know what is the correct length for the sensor probe. Anybody using one of these who can measure it?
_________________
To err once is human. To do so repeatedly is incompetence.
1995 K1100LT SE

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 9:37 am Post subject:

Has it occurred to you that right under the oil filler cap is a spinning crankshaft?

This is a K100 crankshaft but the K1100 is very similar.

_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Grunter · Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2019 10:26 am Post subject: Depth

Not only will it make contact with the crankshaft, the actual oil level is at least 4"- 5" lower than the crankshaft. The type of temp sensor you are hoping to fit isn't possible.
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1997 K1100LT
1994 R1100RS

flybd5 · Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 5:24 pm Post subject:

LOL! This product is not only possible, it has been for sale in Germany and other countries for years. This may not have occurred to you, but an oil temp probe does not have to extend below the oil level to do its job. It just has to go in far enough to have the probe be wetted by the oil that flies all over the inside.

The short probe model on the right is the one I need but I was hoping to get it for a lower price. If you don't know the answer, that's fine, I'll find it, or I'll have to spring for the â‚¬65.

https://www.louis.de/artikel/rr-oeltemperatur-direktmesser-fuer-diverse-fahrzeuge-zifferblatt-weiss-fuer-bmw-k-1100-lt/10034127?list=dcbfa04bdcd2388e1a811de605475cae&filter_bike_id=0945&filter_article_number=10034140
_________________
To err once is human. To do so repeatedly is incompetence.
1995 K1100LT SE

Grunter · Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 10:16 am Post subject: Short Probe

Yes that would probably fit but you would only get the temperature inside the crank case, not the actual oil which will probably (certainly) be a few degrees cooler.

As the K series bikes are liquid cooled, oil temperature is not so important as an air cooled engine - so why bother.

The black plastic screw cap is unobtrusive, whereas the shiny temperature gauge will attract thieves like a iron to a magnet
_________________
1997 K1100LT
1994 R1100RS

flybd5 · Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 3:32 pm Post subject:

Yeah sure. Never mind.
_________________
To err once is human. To do so repeatedly is incompetence.
1995 K1100LT SE

flybd5 · Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:22 am Post subject:

Thermometer installed, works like a champ, faster response than the water temp indicator, but once they catch up to each other they indicate the same, so accurate. And no, the probe doesn't touch anything inside. No wonder these sell so well and the Chinese have cloned these in droves. The RR model is 100% made in Germany, which explains the steeper price. But the build quality is superb.
_________________
To err once is human. To do so repeatedly is incompetence.
1995 K1100LT SE

hockeyshifter · Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2019 4:50 pm Post subject:

i have to agree with duck on this one... in heavy trucks ( turbos) and in aircraft the temp sensor sets either in the oil resivor or near the turbo oil return pipe.. ( usually feed directly to the oilfilter) .. reason is you need an accurate temp reading of how hot the enging is running .. oil is excellent at heat retention as where water is good at heat dispersions
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fix the problem not the blame ; fix what is messed up ; NO one is to blame.

flybd5 · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:01 am Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:39 am Post subject:

I'm still trying to figure out why anyone would care what the oil temperature is. Even the coolant temperature isn't a very worthwhile gauge IMO. As long as the engine isn't overheating (which shows up in the cluster) the coolant temperature doesn't really matter.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

flybd5 · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:17 am Post subject:

http://www.tuneruniversity.com/blog/2011/05/keep-your-engine-alive-the-importance-of-oil-temperature/
_________________
To err once is human. To do so repeatedly is incompetence.
1995 K1100LT SE

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2019 7:45 pm Post subject:

20 years working with Ks and have never heard of a single one failing from oil related issues.

Are you getting ready to take your LT out on the track and do laps at 7,500 RPM when it's cold?

K1100s are not high performance engines. They're detuned to only put out 100 HP.

Since Ks use oil an oil pressure gauge might be handy though. I had a beater MG in college that burned some oil and the oil pressure gauge let me know when the oil was getting low.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

flybd5 · Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 7:03 am Post subject:

So you think oil temp is only relevant when you are racing? Oil temp issues do not cause catastrophic failures, they cause issues that surface as failures in other things in the engine that have been impacted because of too high or too low oil temp, and how that affects the performance of the oil.

BTW, the detuning takes 15% of the 100. Your bike puts out only 85 hp unless you install an ECU mod chip like I did. Even so 85-100 hp is good enough to power an aircraft to over 200 mph. Nothing to sneeze at.
_________________
To err once is human. To do so repeatedly is incompetence.
1995 K1100LT SE

Jim · Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:43 pm Post subject:

How much difference did the chip make? Is it noticeable?
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

flybd5 · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:55 am Post subject:

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 5:57 pm Post subject:

You asked about issues with importing your bike to the US.
The chip mod, may be a bit of a stumbling block as the bike is now no longer stock..... not saying you can't put the old chip back in, but either way you have broken the 'seal' on the controller.....
All depends on how picky the inspectors are on an older bike.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

flybd5 · Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2019 5:24 am Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 12:16 pm Post subject:

flybd5 · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:36 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:12 pm Post subject:

US bikes aren't detuned to 85 HP. They're detuned to 100 HP.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE