| Author | Message | ||
     984gasm |
I've been realizing the last two months or so my bike always seems to be very low on oil after long rides. I seem to fill it up, then will go on another ride, and again it will be almost empty. Anyone have any incite on this issue? | ||
| Davo |
How many miles ? What kind of oil ? Any past pinging problems ? Low or empty? /Where on the stick? Is the air box oiled down? Won't even ask about the plugs yet! | ||
| 984gasm |
Just got the 10k service. so new plugs/ 12k miles/ I use mobil1, NO pinging problems, and the level is very low, but not empty. I have the drummer exhaust, with race filter and ecm, and haven't checked to see if there is oil in the air box, if that is what you were referring to. Thanks | ||
| Whodom |
984gasm, Seems like the main common factor in excessive oil usage is trying to keep the oil level too high. From what's been posted here, the best way to determine the proper oil level for your bike is to check it the next time you change your oil. Drain it, change the filter, put in EXACTLY 2.5 quarts of oil. Ride the bike until it's good and hot, stop and immediately check the oil level. Where ever it is on the dipstick, THAT should be your reference point for "full". After that, as long as your oil level is between that mark and the "low" mark on the dipstick, you should be OK. Don't add more oil until it gets down to or below the "low" mark. If you try to keep the level too high, the engine will get rid of the excess, usually by spitting it into the airbox. If you find a lot of oil in your airbox, that's probably the reason. When you say the level on your bike after a long ride is "very low, but not empty", do mean it's just touching the bottom of the dipstick, or almost down to the "low" mark on the dipstick? If you mean almost down to the low mark on the dipstick" , you may not have anything to worry about. | ||
| 984gasm |
Yeah, that's my next step as soon as I get my bike back to my garage (im on a trip with it right now). I meant at the bottom of the dipstick, but thanks for that info. I remember someone (probably you) saying this before to someone, and that's exactly what I will do, and check from there. | ||
| Rigman |
Mine does the exact same thing. A couple hundred miles after filling the oil is near the bottom of the stick. Once it is there you will see it will stay there. I thought it was a problem too until I read a very long thread on it in here somewhere. At least a dozen people chimed in and said the same thing. | ||
| Ted |
whats pinging got to do with it? I have similar issues, but its a gradual oil usage and takes about 250 miles to use the 4oz that is the diff from the max to min levels on the dipstick. I let go a bit further once to see if the level would maintain at the lower side but it didnt. I wasnt willing to go below the minimum. | ||
| Starter |
I think it depends how warped your dipstick is as to what full is. Dunno why but the 5 or 6 I've ever seen all have a bend in them. Taking the bend into account mine runs 1/2 way full/low when checked via the Service Manual procedure. It uses a little oil but no more than 250ml in 5000km. |
