| Author | Message | ||
     Darksaber15 |
Ever since I bought my 04 12R it has been using a lot of oil. I have to check the levels after every gas stop and usually go from the top of the 'full' mark to at or below the 'fill' line within 300 miles. This basically means I cannot go for more than an few hour ride without taking oil with me. When speaking with a few Uly riders (one of which used to have an 04 12R as well) they told me that they don't use any oil at all! This led me to find the following thread. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/457815.html?1254276905 After reading this I checked my airbox, and sure enough there was oil on the inside of my airbox cover! Not only that, it was even still wet after sitting for 3-4 months (winter...sigh) which I would figure would mean that it is the source of my problem. So I have several questions. First, have any of you had this problem? Second, were the breather tubes the source of the problem? Finally, does anyone have any instructions on how to go about fixing it? I'm planning a 2,000+ mile trip this summer (Buell Homecoming) and would rather not have to take up precious luggage space with cans of oil. | ||
| Ulynut |
On my bike, "full" is at about the bottom of the dipstick. I found this out by checking the dipstick right after an oil change and running the motor for a few minutes. This, of course, after adding the recommended 2.5 quarts of oil. Before that, I would try to keep the level up to the "full" mark, and it always ended up puking out of the breather until it got to the bottom of the dipstick, then it would stay at that level. Maybe this is the same as your bike.  | ||
| Froggy |
Your problem is that you are obsessed with your oil level, and most likely over filling it every time you check. I go 5000 miles between checks, the way I check is to drain it and put fresh stuff in. I recommend you do the same, the oil light will come on if your really low. | ||
| Darksaber15 |
Thanks for your quick responses! I guess I should've mentioned that in the first thousand miles the bike actually used enough oil to have the low oil light come on and stay on. If I remember correctly it took a quart and a half to refill it back to full. This is how I first found out about the issue. So it is really using it up somewhere. I am at 7500 miles now and haven't let it fall that far since. I have seen it well below the fill line a few times however. | ||
| Ourdee |
I change the oil every 2500 miles. Looks like 2.5 qts. come out. I put 2.5 qts. back in. If the oil pressure light comes on I'll drain it to see how much is in there. Using that dip stick is just another way to get dirt in the oil. Keep in mind that this is just one dummies opinion. | ||
| Swordsman |
If I'm reading this correctly, your bike would be smoking like a forest fire if it was burning that much off. You didn't mention any other signs of leakage, so it wouldn't be that. Oil in the airbox is pretty normal, but if you were losing that much in 300 miles, it'd be overflowing the airbox! It sounds like you're checking your oil correctly, but just to be on the safe side, I'll say this anyway. When you fill it up from empty, it should only hold 2.5 quarts. This amount won't even show up on the dipstick when the oil is cold. You'll need to button it all back up and run it till it's hot before the oil will be visible on the stick. If you just add oil until it registers without allowing the oil to get good and hot, you will definitely be overfilling. ~SM | ||
| Darksaber15 |
The way I've been checking the oil is after every other gas fill up I check when I get home from work. At that point I usually have to add around 4oz to get it back up to full. I have a 25 mile commute home from work and I check the oil right after I shut off the motor with the bike on it's side stand. It's been a complete mystery as to where that much oil has been going. The bike doesn't smoke, and I keep it clean and haven't seen any other evidence of leaking on the bike or the floor where I park it. I suppose when the weather gets warm enough to ride again I'll take it 5-600 miles then drain the oil and see how much comes out. I'll also clean the airbox and see if it re-accumulates. Is there anything else I can check or try? | ||
| Its_a_buell |
man, im not tryin to crack a joke...but if you're losing that much oil, you may want to park it in a secure lot. someone could be stealing it. dang, there would be obvious signs if it was really losing that much | ||
| Darksaber15 |
Ha! The whole situation is a joke! Just not the funny kind. I wish it were that simple, because I'm at a loss. It doesn't smoke, doesn't leak, and from what people are saying here a little oil in the airbox is normal. Sooo WTF! I know you were kidding but I keep her in a locked garage. | ||
| Its_a_buell |
is your dip-stick stock? has it ever been replaced or modified that you know of? im not sure if some models use different increments to measure the level or if some are of different lengths but it could be work looking at. however, it seems like youre confident that its not a problem with reading the level or related. seems to me like youre confident that youre putting the oil in...and its going out somewhere. correct? | ||
| Bartimus |
check your sparkplugs, look to see if they are very black. If alot of oil is going out your breather, or your rings/ valve guides are worn, you will see carbon on your plugs. This will allow you to cross off burning the oil from your list of possible reasons. The only other reason would be a leak somewhere, possibly from the engine into the primary? Have you checked your primary oil level lately? It sux riding 2000 miles and having to top your oil off every other gas stop! You shouldn't have to do that, are you the original owner of the bike? Good luck, I hope you find the problem! | ||
| Darksaber15 |
@It's a Buell: yup the stick is stock. @Bartimus: yup I'm the original owner. If I have the right tools, I'll attempt to pull the plugs this weekend and see if they have any black crap coating them. Other than that I plan to drain the oil, refill it with exactly 2.5 quarts, run it for 500-1000 miles then drain and measure what comes out. This way I'll know for sure if there is a problem or if I am just being crazy. I cleaned the airbox so that I can tell if the breathers are the problem. I'll update as I progress, let me know if there is anything else I can look at. | ||
| Firemanjim |
You will always find oil in the airbox on Buells,that is why Al sells the nice billet puke can. Get those hoses outa there. Route them somewhere--anywhere else. And your bike will like it! Plus one on all the others in overfilling as well,Buells will just eat the excess until the proper level is attained. | ||
| Ulynut |
Keep us posted. I'm curious whats going on. | ||
| Nobuell |
I alway check the oil hot with the motor idling. I have found this to provide the most consistent level indication. A 2.5 quart oil change will put the level 2X from the bottom of the dip stick. Without the motor idling, the level is all over the place. I filled to the top X once when I first purchased the bike. The oil went somewhere until 2X from the bottom where it stayed. |
