G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile

Buell Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through July 01, 2008 » Burning some oil « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Boltrider
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 06:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

How much oil do the XB's burn between oil changes? Mine is an '08 with 600 miles on it, and now I need to add some. Is this typical?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ted
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 07:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

ya i'd say its typical for a xb12. keep it at or above the fill mark and see how it goes after break in.
Alot of owners say its better after break in and up to 2-3k miles.
You could check your air box to see if oil is dumping into there. if so you may be adding to much oil
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Boltrider
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 07:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Much appreciated.
I'll keep an eye on it.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Teeps
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 08:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My Ulysses will cast off oil until the level is about 4 x's from the add oil line.

I typically have to add no more than 8oz between oil changes (2500-3000 miles.)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cringblast
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 08:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Have been adding about 4oz between changes. Stays around the 1/4 full mark. Would like to keep more but think it dumps into the intake and settles back down to 1/4.
C
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Deks69
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 11:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

They are known to sip a little oil. I read somewhere on the buell website that it's normal for days of hard riding 1k or more to drink a half a pint. Mine wasnt that bad, but I would have to add about a half of quart to about every 2500k. But now that it's passed the 5k mark it doesnt seem to use much at all.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Wantxbr
Posted on Friday, June 27, 2008 - 11:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

At 600 miles your gonna burn some oil so check it every 200 to 300 miles until you get a good gauge on the oil usage of your bike. Its normal to burn some oil in these type of bikes.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Rpm4x4
Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2008 - 12:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Not to mention that it has to break in. After a few thousand I would guess that the oil consumption will be less.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tmall
Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2008 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I put 3/4 of a jug (pint?) in at 5000kms. I didn't think it would go through so much, but it's really not that bad. Now that I know about it at least...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Akbuell
Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2008 - 11:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'd say that was not at all out of the ordinary. My '08TT was delivered w/the oil level about 1/2 way between the add and full marks. By 700-800 miles, it was down to the add mark. An oz or two brought it back to the 1/2 mark. FWIW, my X-1 uses a little oil when cruising 4-500 mi a day at 60ish mph. Just something to check after each tank of gas.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ft_bstrd
Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2008 - 12:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine uses oil. Some through the vent hoses into the intake track. Some inside the engine past the rings. I use a lot of engine braking. This creates a vacuum in the combustion chamber that can suck oil past the rings.

It doesn't use a lot, but it does us some. It uses much less than did my old veedub.

Because it's air cooled, the materials have to be able to accommodate a much larger range of temperatures. That means that parts must be able to expand and contract. Cylinders expand and contract at a different rate than do pistons and rings. Water cooled engines have a much narrower heat range and so therefore can have much closer tolerances than our engines. This results in slightly more oil loss than water cooled engines.

Add to that the slightly higher viscosity break down that occurs in our oil compared to water cooled engines. The higher temperatures can result in a lightly higher breakdown allowing the oil to slip past the rings. The higher temperatures also allow higher vaporization increasing the potential for more oil to be sucked into the intake.

A little oil loss is really not a big deal. Oil is cheap. Nothing is wrong.

Now if it starts blowing copious amounts of smoke or leaving puddles, you have a problem.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Reepicheep
Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2008 - 07:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine varies dramatically depending on the oil I use. Castrol 5w50 was the worst, I could rip through a third of a quart in a single hard day of riding.

Switching back to a true 20w50 solved the problem, and I have to top off about 1/3 of a quart every 1000 to 1500 miles.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Boltrider
Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2008 - 03:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ft_bstrd, funny that you mention the engine braking. I do that all the time too. I also bought 4 quarts of Harley oil today, and I read on the back of the bottle that synthetic oil isn't detrimental to use on the motor during the break-in stage. I always was told differently regarding this, so I thought that was interesting.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cringblast
Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2008 - 04:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ft
esplain the engine brake thing. I tend to do that more. Guess I tend to use about 100ml between oil change. I also agree about the loose tolerance's for air cooled. Not bad with 19k on the Buell.
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Password:
E-mail:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration