oil consumption

[victor silva]

my africa twin has 50.000 km and is using one liter of oil every 1000 km in the summer but nearly nothing in the winter. what is going on?

[chronyx]

What oil are you using?

[victor silva]

I use Mobil semi synthetic. It's a 1993 model. I used Mobil One for the first 40.000 km but after a run from the Faro Rally in the Algarve a few years ago she started using oil. Its been like this for a while. My local Honda mechanic scared me to death, said he had to open the motor or sale the bike etc. It keeps going strong. I can´t figure out where the oil is going. Thanks for any help.

Victor

[chronyx]

What is Mobil One's thickness? Such as 10w40 or 10w30 etc.

If it was run in for the first miles on an oil that is too good, it might not have run in properly and sealed between the cylinder and the piston. A certain amount of wear needs to occur in the first thousand (approx) miles.

Of course the engine might be fine and you might just be using an oil that is too thin for summer temperatures.

[Steve C]

my africa twin has 50.000 km and is using one liter of oil every 1000 km in the summer but nearly nothing in the winter. what is going on?

Coooey... Your story about the run and then starting to use oil seems important, mine doesn't usually need a top up between service intervals - is it burning it or leaking it?

Your plugs and your garage floor clean? What's coming out of your exhaust in summer - is it thick, blue and nasty smelling? What about the barrels? Anything leaking down the sides or over the crankcase sides?
In summer, I guess it gets hot in Portugal? But that hot? Where's your temp gauge sit in the two seasons? Is it running too hot in summer? Are you running standard plugs?

[victor silva]

I can't remember exacty but I think it's a 15w -50 blend.

Victor

[victor silva]

Steve C, It isn't burning or leaking oil. My garage floor is clean. I fitted a custom exaust at the time, it sounds like the hounds of Baskerville on the loose. It´s almost a free flowing exhaust. The temp gauge sits about middle getting to 3/4 in the summer if I have to run around the city. I'm using standard plugs. I'm sure the bik will last forever but I'm worried anyway.

[chronyx]

Hmmmm...sounds like a good viscosity.

[Steve C]

Steve C, It isn't burning or leaking oil. My garage floor is clean. I fitted a custom exaust at the time, it sounds like the hounds of Baskerville on the loose. It´s almost a free flowing exhaust. The temp gauge sits about middle getting to 3/4 in the summer if I have to run around the city. I'm using standard plugs. I'm sure the bik will last forever but I'm worried anyway.

Puzzling. Not leaking it and not burning it... sounds like someone is nicking it

Portugal is hotter than the UK, but not so very different in winter? I've been there this time of year and I was cold My temp gauge sits at about three mm off the bottom unless I'm off road or crawling in traffic after a motorway run, then the fan comes on and it drops again. Can't see running a bit hot sucking up a litre of oil in 1,000km though.
An open exhaust will change pressure and the way gas is pulled out of the chamber won't it? I know, I'm clutching at straws here

[victor silva]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I´ll try putting the original exaust back on and see how the oil level goes. I just read another thread about a bike with a similar problem. I don´t want to bore people to death. Anyway Portugal is a beautiful country to ride around and the weather is inviting almost all year round. I´ll be checking in.