| Author | Message | ||
     Scottsts |
OK, seriously. I know this is a stupid question but I never owned a vehicle in my life that used oil the way this XB9SX does. No leaks anywhere, yet i'm constantly topping off the oil tank. It will use a quart of oil in .25 increments between 4500 mile oil changes. Coming off of jap bikes, i'm not used to this! LOL Where does the oil go? | ||
| Xb12randy |
VERY hot running air cooled v-twins will drink a little from time to time. Air cooled Ducati's do the same thing as well as air cooled aircraft engines. You don't want to oil bill for my Continental GPU220 LOL I have a solution for you though. Do like me and change your oil every 2000 miles and it won't have a chance to drink as much. | ||
| Fmaxwell |
To elaborate on Xb12randy's answer, because the engine has such a wide operating temperature range, the pistons and cylinders don't fit together as tightly as they do in a water-cooled engine. The loose fit is dictated by the differing coefficients of expansion of the steel and aluminum used in the cylinders and pistons. That looser fit allows more oil to get into the combustion chamber where it is burned through the combustion process. In addition, the engine vents into the airbox, blowing some oil into the airbox as the pistons pump air in and out of the crankcase. That's why you will find threads about oil in the airbox. The short answer: It will burn oil. Check the oil usage with a frequency dictated by how much oil your engine is using. Oil usage will vary between engines due to manufacturing tolerances, how hard the bikes are ridden, how they were broken in, distances the bikes are ridden, type and weight of oil used, etc. Don't get too annoyed at having to check it: You don't have to lube you chain, adjust your valves, replace sprockets, or service your bike's cooling system. | ||
| Jaimec |
Strange. My XB12Ss under normal use doesn't use any oil at all (or hardly). I change my oil at 5,000 mile intervals and find myself RARELY having to top off inbetween. All of that goes out the window, however, when I've got her on the track. On the track it's typical to add about a half a quart of oil sometime after the lunch break, and another half quart before the ride home. Oh my tuber, it was easy to see where this oil was going (usually all over my right leg out of the Buell Oval Race Air Cleaner). No idea where it's going with the XB12Ss, though. I don't see any leaking anywhere. | ||
| Nuerburgringer |
Also, if you're overdoing it on the "topping", the excess oil'll go straight out the breather, to be burned in your combustion chamber. These XBs HATE being too full. Keep the oil level between the lines, and you'll be fine. | ||
| Mdm |
+1 | ||
| Etennuly |
Scotts, What weight of oil are you using? I had an '05 City-X that would make 20-50 disappear fast in hot weather. I went to the recommended oils in the service manual and no more problem at all. Average temps below 60F use 20-50. Average temps above 60F use straight 50W. Average temps above 80F use straight 60W. These are HD non synthetic oils. I have seen several people switch to the synthetics and have problems, but everyone has a different opinion on oil brands and types. I'm just stating that if you are having that same issue that I did go back to the basics in the book and work it out from there. | ||
| Scottsts |
Thanks, this is good info. I've been riding motorcycles for 20 years and learned something today. I'm using genuine HD synthetic oil. It's cheap and plentiful. I don't worry myself too much about consumption because having owned an Aprilia, I understand the concept behind a dry sump motor and oil tank. I keep the oil between the lines and sleep well at night. LOL | ||
| Diablobrian |
I've always been told that if you don't learn something new every day you aren't paying attention  | ||
| Scottsts |
Yeah well, the 9 hour work day lends itself to hanging around with people who strive for mediocrity at best. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Oil consumption on a 4-stroke motor is natural, healthy and expected. Believe it or not, most car manufacturers won't warranty an engine for oil usage unless they consider it excessive - generally 1 qt per 1000 or 1500 miles is considered normal still! I haven't checked the oil in my Buell in a while (probably should), but my Sportster with basically the same engine would use about 1/2 qt over 2500 miles. |
