Oilhead
Encyclopedia
An oilhead is the name used for BMW
motorcycle engine
s that advertise the use of oil cooling
to transfer some of the heat from the engine to the atmosphere.
The concept of oil-cooling engines is not revolutionary or even new, since engine oil has always had the effect of carrying away heat, usually for it to be dissipated to the atmosphere via a sheet steel or finned cast-alloy sump
or rocker box
. But modern variations (eg Suzuki's GSX-R 750
) employ an oil-radiator to cool the oil, and the forms of circulation introduced encourage the engine oil to heat up more quickly with benefits to engine life, economy and perhaps performance.
BMW motorcycles
BMW's motorcycle history began in 1921 when the company commenced manufacturing engines for other companies. Motorcycle manufacturing now operates under the BMW Motorrad brand...
motorcycle engine
Motorcycle engine
A motorcycle engine is an engine that powers a motorcycle.Motorcycle engines may be two-stroke or four-stroke, reciprocating or Wankel, single-cylinder or multicylinder , or single-rotor or twin-rotor . The engine typically drives the rear wheel, but some small bikes such as the Velosolex have a...
s that advertise the use of oil cooling
Oil cooling
Oil cooling refers to a process whereby heat is displaced from a 'hotter' object, into a cooler oil and is the principle behind oil cooler devices. The oil carrying the displaced heat usually passes through a cooling unit such as a radiator or less commonly a gas decompresser...
to transfer some of the heat from the engine to the atmosphere.
The concept of oil-cooling engines is not revolutionary or even new, since engine oil has always had the effect of carrying away heat, usually for it to be dissipated to the atmosphere via a sheet steel or finned cast-alloy sump
Sump
A sump is a low space that collects any often-undesirable liquids such as water or chemicals. A sump can also be an infiltration basin used to manage surface runoff water and recharge underground aquifers....
or rocker box
Rocker box
A rocker box is a mining implement for separating alluvial placer gold from sand and gravel. It consists of a high-sided box, which is open on one end and on top. The inside bottom of the box is lined with riffles and a usually a carpet similar to a sluice...
. But modern variations (eg Suzuki's GSX-R 750
Suzuki GSX series
The GSX Series is Suzuki's range of sport touring motorcycles with four-valved engines. The earliest GSX models were introduced in the early 1980s to complement and later replace the two-valve Suzuki GS series....
) employ an oil-radiator to cool the oil, and the forms of circulation introduced encourage the engine oil to heat up more quickly with benefits to engine life, economy and perhaps performance.