Drinking oil??

[travelman]

Hi Folks,

I've noticed my 1150 GSA has started to fairly drink oil. I changed oil for example at 24k miles. At 26k the glass was empty but it only took a 1/4 litre to bring the glass back to 1/2 full. I've now done another 700 miles and the glass is empty again. I've no doubt it will only take another 1/4 litre to bring it back up. BUT is this normal or usual??? I'm using 20/50 mineral.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Are you checking it using the same method each time?

 

[travelman]

Sort of but not rigorously. More averagely. Eg. I ran it for 10 mins on the road, the oil temp bars got up then I put it up on the centre stand and 10mins later did the check. Next time I did the same but after running it for 20 mins checked after 10. Next time ran it for 30 mins did the check after 20 mins. Today its totally cold when I did the check.

 

[MattW]

Sort of but not rigorously. More averagely. Eg. I ran it for 10 mins on the road, the oil temp bars got up then I put it up on the centre stand and 10mins later did the check. Next time I did the same but after running it for 20 mins checked after 10. Next time ran it for 30 mins did the check after 20 mins. Today its totally cold when I did the check.

You need to get it up to temp (properly, by riding - never just idle it - 4 bars) and then park it on its side stand for a good 15mins or longer (I leave it while I sort my gear out and have a cup of tea etc) - then put it on its centre stand and leave it for at least an hour (I leave mine overnight). It takes ages for all the oil to drain properly.

If you don't do the sidestand bit, the oil cooler traps oil and you get a false (low) reading. Mine reads almost empty if don't let it drain on the side stand, but 3/4 full if I do.

Needless to say - always follow the same procedure if you want meaningful comparisons.

 

[argos]

normal on mine,it seems to improve as you put more miles on it (rings seating better in the bore?)

 

[John Armstrong]

When I had the bikes with the sight glass never arsed about doing 15 minutes clockwise 13 minutes 12 secondes anti-clockwise and repeat at 43.5 second intervals.

Ride it around, till it's at "normal" temperature, put the bike on the mainstand on level ground, but use of the side wasn't prohibited, leave it the time taken to refuel the bike, check the oil level. Never put more than 1/4 litre in at once. Do this every time and the oil readings will be consistent.

And I'll let Alexander the Meerkat have the final word in the last 2 seconds of:

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[sockpuppet]

Hi Folks,

I've noticed my 1150 GSA has started to fairly drink oil. I changed oil for example at 24k miles. At 26k the glass was empty but it only took a 1/4 litre to bring the glass back to 1/2 full. I've now done another 700 miles and the glass is empty again. I've no doubt it will only take another 1/4 litre to bring it back up. BUT is this normal or usual??? I'm using 20/50 mineral.

The difference between the top and bottom of the ring is 500ml so that makes sense about the 205ml being half way

Mine uses oil as well. Services at 19,000 (6,000 mile service) now at 20,000 (about a month later) and its now at just below half.

Boxer engines do you oil. Upto about 30k I've heard apparently the more you thrash them the quicker they settle.

 

[motobiker]

have you taken the bung out of the airbox? if you HAVE been overfilling it with oil then guess where some of the excess will be.

 

[travelman]

Okay thanks lads. Wow what a fiddly methodology needed to ascertain acurately. I certainly am not overfilling though. I'll bring it back to half way up the window and try the above - sidestand then centre stand - method, then I'll do that for a few thousand and see what's happening.

Cheers Boys

 

[Steptoe]

Okay thanks lads. Wow what a fiddly methodology needed to ascertain acurately.

It's very very simple - doesn't matter if the engines hot or cold, but always check it with the engine the same temp.

I check mine before starting the bike after it's stood all night, if i can see oil no worry i leave it, i only top it up when i can't see any.

I never look at the oil window when it's hot, because it'll only lead to confusion, worry and being anal about the oil level.

 

[vzzzbuxt]

i had a r1150r that was well worn in and loose at 60k, with that and being ragged absolutely everywhere even from cold would require an oil topup of anywhere upto a litre every 1k !!!!

mind you for an 1150 it was damn quick, and you cant beat an auto oil change system