Oil consumption...

[Grooverider]

Hi peoples.

My bike (2002 RD07, 17000 miles) seems to have a real thirst for oil. It'll happily sup about a litre of oil every thousand miles. Is this abnormal or a common problem ?. If it is a problem, which i'm confident it is, is it serious or, more importantly, gonna cost a shed load to put right ?.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

[barryw33]

I have done 3000 miles on mine and when I check the oil it hasn't used a drop. Maybe its the way you ride yours as I ride like an old man

[dasoutham]

My 97 bike, done 20 odd thousand miles, has never needed topping up between oil changes. I'm the world's slowest biker, but most of the use has been in horrible stop-start commuting, including through 4 winters, not nice for any engine.
Check that the breather isn't blocked before going any deeper - I haven't had this problem on a bike but it can really bugger up the oil consumption on car engines. I had a car where the thermostat failed in midwinter, making the engine run cold, and after only a few days the breather was so bunged up with oil/condensation sludge that the crankcase pressure blew out the dipstick and most of the oil on a motorway. Covered the engine room with oil, a real mess!
Cheers,
Dave

[chronyx]

How do you check this?

Mine likes a drink. But only once the oil has been in for several thousand miles. (Changed every 4k)

[SteveWilko]

My RD04 has clocked 27k miles... I ride at an enjoyable pace and have never had the engine ask for more oil.... I think you have a problem somewhere... carry out the usual checks like: Pop a plug out and check for oily deposits... stuff you finger down the end of the exhaust (when cold) and see if oily residues are to be found...

1 ltr for 1k miles would be noticed if it was a leak, so its failry safe to assume the oil is being burnt through combustion....

Just a thought....
...do you always allow your engine to warm up before you ride off?
...does the performace of the engine appear to have decreased gradually?

[Whealie]

Sounds like a lot of oil. How much is in there when full - only about 3.5litres so you're losing almost a third of your oil in 1000 miles. Mine does not need topping up between changes (and a change is currently overdue as I ran out of time ahead of the national so there's an extra 800 miles done since I should have changed it).

[Xander]

I am with every one else.. not a drop of added needed, Check your plugs/ endcan and see what colour it is.. this can tell you if it is a burning oil thing (which means, maybe valves, gasket.....) or if you have a leak which you should alot be able to tell by wiping your finger on the sump.. either way oil consumption issues are never cheep to fix.. (except for the one where i Just bought the AT and gave to to a honda dealer to have a once over, and he did not do the sump plug up tight (less then finger tight. )

[DeonDj]

I've also done 3000, no problemo, not a drop of oil used and I let rip!

[Grooverider]

Hmmm, looks like I have a problem then. My mate noticed on a recent foreign jaunt that sometimes when I accelerate it smokes a bit, but not excessively ?. Other than that I cant see any leaks. I recently had the bash plate off and that was bone dry inside.

Sadly, my home mechanical skills are somewhat lacking so this may have to be a workshop job.

Thanks for your thoughts guys, much appreciated.

Paul

[SteveWilko]

Hmmm, looks like I have a problem then. My mate noticed on a recent foreign jaunt that sometimes when I accelerate it smokes a bit, but not excessively ?. Other than that I cant see any leaks. I recently had the bash plate off and that was bone dry inside.

Sadly, my home mechanical skills are somewhat lacking so this may have to be a workshop job.

Thanks for your thoughts guys, much appreciated.

Paul

Try to get somebody with motor knowledge to get a look at it before you go to a dealer..... its not uncommon for the dealers to be "creative" with their analysis..... there are plenty of guys in the Essex chapter of xrv.... try contacting one of them and meet up somewhere....