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A mystery! '81 gs550mx oil loss

  • Thread starter Thread starter Katmantoo
  • Start date Start date
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Katmantoo

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Plugs are appropriate colour, no visible smoke, no oil leaks on engine. So where's the oil going? Engine has good compression and plenty of power yet using arround 150mils per 100k under pressure. Anyone got any ideas?
 
So 5 ounces in 64 miles? Yikes! I'd guess the valve stem seals, but smoke should be visible at that rate. Out of curiosity, what kind of oil do you use?
 
That's a LOT of oil loss. I'm surprised there isn't massive smoke.
 
There is no smoke on cold start up. I have had several people follow me on rides to check for smoke and all reported no smoke.
 
...and even more surprised that there is no evidence of a leak if there is no smoke.
 
20/50 is what the manual says to use!
I live in the best motorcycling country in the world - great roads, great scenery! Come and have a look.
 
Siri says it cool weather there for highs all week
Siri knows all
so again why such a heavy oil? Try a 10-40 as suggested int he fine service manual on BC's website
 
Will try 10/40 before attempting exploretory surgery. Could you give me BC's website please, might give more than my Haynes!
 
I believe Great Motorcycle Rides did 2 episodes on riding NZ. If you can't find it let me know and I'll organise something for you.
 
Have to ask. How is the consumption being measured ?
When my bike was losing at that rate the oil was coming out the front of the headgasket like a waterfall and my boots were so wet they slipped on the ground at stop signs.
And it smoked at startup.
 
I topped the oil level to the top mark on the sight glass, took the bike for a 200km run then measured the amount of oil required to top up to the mark again. Went for a run today and the guy following me said he saw no smoke but could smell hot oil coming from the bike. Could this be caused by a too heavy a grade of oil as suggested by Cipher?
 
hmmm some guy on here suggested that oil level shoul always be midpoint on the sight glass
Maybe the oil is ending up in your airbox
 
20W-50 is a good grade for riding in hot weather. Going to a thinner oil will result in more oil loss.

Your method of measuring oil consumption is not ideal. You need to be checking the oil per the service manual's guidelines and over the course of more miles. Try topping up the oil to the top of the sight glass and then monitor the level until if falls to the bottom line of the sightglass, and then measure how much oil it takes to get back to full. You gotta keep track of the mileage too of course.

Unless you are leaking oil the consumption is not what you suspect.
 
use the OEM suggested weight. An oil that is too heavy for the ambient temps will not be properly scraped by the rings and will get past and into the combustion chamber

But its would cost you an oil change to find out.
Also quit over filling too high youll get windage issue from oil being whipped by the crank and other moving bits.
 
Check the drain hole for the starter. It's a small hole that allows water or oil to escape from the starter compartment.
I had a bad seal inside my starter that pumped a lot of oil out. I put some cotton in the hole and drove 5 miles. It was soaked.
It didn't leave any evidence on the engine really, leaked straight down. There is also a seal around the end of the starter that can leak too
 
I'd suspect the cam chain tensioner seal and gasket.

It would leak down the back of the engine and out the drain hole under the starter, as per Duane

Per Ed, only fill the oil to the top mark and see how much loss you have over 300km or so. Overfilling, as you are doing, is a guaranteed oil loss.
 
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