Oil Usage?

[LuckyEddie]

Greetings,

Since I put this refurbished monster back on the road, I have put about 1,000 miles on it. I was checking battery and other fluid levels this past weekend and discovered that I was low on oil. I started pouring oil in, It took 1.5 quarts. There is no cloud of smoke behind this bike nor are there any drips under it. I will check it more often in the future.
My question is: Do these bikes tend to normaly use this much oil?
Being that it doesen't smoke or leak, where might it have gone?

Thanks,

[TADracer]

I can't answer your question exactly but it could be your break-in period. Oil can disappear in large quantity during break-in. Also, if you have had your motor apart then a quantity of oil will migrate into the clearances between parts, little crevices, ledges and pockets of the motor and stay there. this could be seveal ounces.

If everything is right it should not burn a bunch of oil between changes but alittle bit is normal. Also, it can be using oil and not leave a cloud behind you because a small volume, normal steady useage might not even be visible when moving.

If you have 1000 miles, your motor has past the break-in mark and you can change your oil out now and that might solve your oil dilema.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Greetings,

Since I put this refurbished monster back on the road, I have put about 1,000 miles on it. I was checking battery and other fluid levels this past weekend and discovered that I was low on oil. I started pouring oil in, It took 1.5 quarts. There is no cloud of smoke behind this bike nor are there any drips under it. I will check it more often in the future.
My question is: Do these bikes tend to normaly use this much oil?
Being that it doesen't smoke or leak, where might it have gone?

Thanks,

Not sure if you've just done a complete engine rebuild, or just got other things fixed, and your engine is like most around here...

I can tell you on mine, it's not too bad on oil consumption as long as I ride conservatively... (keeping the speed below 65, and the rpm's down.
But, if I ride it hard, or at turnpike speeds (80 +), it'll use a quart around every 600 miles or so.

Not all do it, but most of these 11's seem to have that rep. Even the great, late Guru, Bob Jones had commented on this before.
Your's sounds kinda like mine. Mine has around 40,000 miles. ('82 XJ)

As to the "where'd it go?" I have the same mystery! It has to be burning it.
You'd think they'd smoke like a freight train to burn that much oil... but I've been told the same thing.... "don't see no smoke." I have -0- leaks.

[crazy steve]

Yeah, I'll second the last post. Mine would use a bit between changes (but not enough to add) when it was still pretty new, but once it had some miles (after 10K) on it it started needing oil added. I got a small puff of blue smoke on starting if it sat a few days, but that was all. Checking the oil should be on your pre-ride checklist...

'78E original owner

[justme1100]

I was told that when I really open her up and exceed the suggested speed limits I will blow smoke as my nephew said, "I looks like jet exhaust." So I need a valve job and probably new rings as well. That is a project for winter.

[XS1100 Newbie]

I only have 17000 mile on mine, but it uses about a quart also if i ride it hard. I have to check it about every 200 miles if i am really pushing the RPM's. I do remember Bob Jones talking about the oil usage when run hard.

[Rickrod3]

my 2 cents

Mine seems to be simular to what you guys are describing.
I will be changing my oil soon and am going to try 20/50 motorcycle oil from castrol. am curently running roetella 15/40.
I'll post results if I get any improvement.

Rick

[ManitoulinLad]

Hey RickRod3: I am doing the exact same thing as you. I have 15w40 Rotella & about 5000 kms on new bore out build. Going to 20W50 Quaker State in a few days (just bought some today) due to a little oil usage after 2000 kms on a new oil change & filter. Already on 3rd oil change since re-build. Will see if any change. Curious about what goes on with you too. - Dan

[motoman]

Maybe a rant......but ditch the Rotella and your oil consumption will be dissapear too. First hand experience is all I'm gonna say bout that.

[LuckyEddie]

Oil usage?

Thanks for the responses guys. I do run it kinda hard. I use it all right up to redline. The head and jugs have been off and the cases split. I put different good used tranny gears in it (5th gear was nonexistant when I got it) and buttoned it back up. I did shave 10 thousands off the head and replace the valve seals while it was apart. If it matters It has a 4 into 1 and pods.
I will keep a closer eye on the oil from here on out.

Thanks again,

[Rickrod3]

20/50 follow up

Changed my oil last week Castrol 4T 20/50.
So far I've put 227 miles on it and oil is 1/8" below the full mark.
Seems like a big improvement over Rotella 15/30 @ 180 miles I would have to add oil to keep it within the marks.

[oldyam80sg]

I have yet to burn any oil since i have owned this bike.

[Crazcnuk]

Try getting it up to temp, in the dark, and then point your car headlights near, not at the bike, and look for exhaust.

I've had a couple, including the XS where I couldn't see any blue smoke during the day, but I could see it in headlights, or when accelerating away from stop lights, at night, with cars behind me.

[Rstyduck]

Try getting it up to temp, in the dark, and then point your car headlights near, not at the bike, and look for exhaust.

I've had a couple, including the XS where I couldn't see any blue smoke during the day, but I could see it in headlights, or when accelerating away from stop lights, at night, with cars behind me.

Ill agree to that. Seen many blue clouds at night you dont see during the day.

[XJOK2PLAY]

I have yet to burn any oil since i have owned this bike.

Man, oldyam... that's great! Congrats!

So far, I've only known one other guy that told me that about his. Bohn.

But, Bohn has had extensive engine rebuilding work done, IIRC... and the guy that did it was a major racing legend.

When I first got mine, we had to tear it down and rework the gears...
all the cylinders looked good, not a lot of land wear around the top, and we put all new valve seals in it. (Old ones were hard as a rock.)

I run 20-w50. but still she loses a quart around 600... no leaks either.
Gotta be rings, I guess. Makes sense... ride it hard, increase the cylinder pressures and the stress... make it burn more.

Maybe one day I can save enough pennies and be able to afford a bigbore...

Just seems like mine's pretty average, though... oil usage wise.