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Is it normal for our bikes to use some oil?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
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Anonymous

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....after the last 300 mile ride I noticed the next day that my oil level on the 77gs550 was not visable through the view hole on the side. I had changed the oil/filter last month and have probably put about 1,000 miles on it since. I added a quart which brought it up to about 1/2 way in the window and ran it then let it cool. Stayed at 1/2 in the window. I need to add a little bit more. The bike has no leaks at all and runs strong. No blue smoke I can think of. Fires right up. Many people have posted that this is very common and our bikes use a little oil. Others also said that they have to add oil every ?? miles no matter how well it runs. Should I be concerned or is this normal? Does your GS use some oil even if it runs good?
 
Re: Is it normal for our bikes to use some oil?

The oil filter accounts for quite a bit and the window only shows about 1/2 to 1 litre not sure which. So most of it was probably taken up by the oil filter and other stuff* that had drained out during the oil change.

* this is a technical term
 
oil usage

oil usage

My '78 GS 750, with just over 10,000 miles on it, will use a little oil (about what you describe) when run at continous highway speeds (65-85 MPH) for hours at a time. I usually check oil whenever I stop for gas, about every 140 miles.
 
ALL internal combustion engines use oil - the quantity is the only variable.
 
I just added 8 fluid ounces of oil to my GK after a 1,000 mile run. It's normal. For a bike with 72,000 miles and no engine work, that's not too bad...

Nick
 
Mine used some oil but only when the valve cover gasket was leaking. But then the motor has less than 10,000 miles and it does not seem to use any oil now
 
Good to hear that I am not alone. My bike has just 20,000 miles and runs great, its due for an oil change soon anyways. It's now at that 1/2 way mark in the window, I need to add little more. The oil looks really clean still.

Oil change every 1,500 miles right? Or is that overkill. Do you change the oil filter every time? I plan on giving it a new filter every time but is that overkill?
 
But then the motor has less than 10,000 miles and it does not seem to use any oil now
Click to expand...
Good to hear that. It uses oil - only not much. By default - ALL internal combustion engines use oil. The only way to get around this statement is to not add oil to the engine at all. Of couse, this would doom the engine to a short life. But then it would not use any oil either.
 
77gs550 said:
Oil change every 1,500 miles right? Or is that overkill. Do you change the oil filter every time? I plan on giving it a new filter every time but is that overkill?
Click to expand...
It's a little early, every year or 4,000 miles is spec. on my '84, and with an older bike, it's good to err on the cautious side. I wouldn't call it OVERKILL... 8) But, always change the filter. There's contaminants left in, even if you drain the filter cover. Why add bad oil to good? Filters aren't that expensive...

I change my oil twice a year, or 2,500 miles. Plus a new filter each time.

Robben
 
77gs550 said:
Good to hear that I am not alone. My bike has just 20,000 miles and runs great, its due for an oil change soon anyways. It's now at that 1/2 way mark in the window, I need to add little more. The oil looks really clean still.

Oil change every 1,500 miles right? Or is that overkill. Do you change the oil filter every time? I plan on giving it a new filter every time but is that overkill?
Click to expand...
no,it's not overkill, it depends on how the bike is ridden, heat has alot to do with it.
 
I use a good quality Dino oil and change it every 2000 miles, with filter...Oil and Filters are cheap. No reason to skimp there at all. :twisted:
 
my 78 used to use some oil...then it started leaking some. the 79 (blue bike) is running on Mobil 1 synthetic now. i filled it up last oil change and didn't have to touch it. :)

you could try running synthetic in it Domino...i had 11,500 miles when i switched...up to over 13,500 now.

~Adam
 
I change my oil every 2500 and I have only changed the filter twice....Each time it looked brand new I think I will start changing the filter every other time
 
I'll give it 2,000 miles and a new filter every time. I may try synthetic but that stuff isn't cheap considering I would rather change it every 2K even though the specs say it will go further. I run it hard once in a while but usually I am pretty respectful of the machine. I put in one of those magnetic drain plugs, not sure if they actually do anything (couldn't get anything to stick/magnetize to it before I put it on......didn't try metal shavings/filings though) but I'll know in about another 500 miles.
 
Just went on another 400 mile ride and about a block from the house my red oil pressure light began to flicker......pulled in and shut it down. Bike ran great, no blue smoke. Came outside after about 20 minutes to check the oil level and none was visable in the window!!! About 10 hours earlier before I left it was at the 1/2 to 3/4 way mark. Added almost a quart of oil but not too alarmed since I know that our bikes use a little oil after reading on here and on this previous post specifically. Ran it and checked again, level is solid at full. Need to remember to check it as I ride on longer trips.

Joe, Adam, Ryan...any of you guys loose any oil on our ride Sunday?
 
I change my oil AND filter about every 1000-1500 miles.
Yes it uses a little,in between the fill marks on the site class.
Also depends on how hard it's been ridden. Sustained highway speeds or high rpm in a lower gear.

Seem to be normal, no damage.

I usually use Castrol 10W-40 and Fram filters.
 
KGB said:
I change my oil AND filter about every 1000-1500 miles.
Yes it uses a little,in between the fill marks on the site class.
Also depends on how hard it's been ridden. Sustained highway speeds or high rpm in a lower gear.

Seem to be normal, no damage.

I usually use Castrol 10W-40 and Fram filters.
Click to expand...

haha, lots of high revs...low gears.....climbing hills....and sustained highway speeds over the weekend. Thanks for the info, feel better about the whole thing now.
 
Domino,

No, I did not lose any significant amount of oil Sunday. But then, I wasn't twisting the throttle so hard that the handlebar bent either! When you have a Big-Bore and you're riding with 550's, full throttle is not necessary!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Joe
 
I am a convert to Mobil 1 synthetic. Using Mobil 1 religiously, my best friend put well over 100,000 miles on his 91 Chevy Cavelier before his mechanic pulled the engine open to due some routine maintenance -- he found no sign of engine wear ... none at all! The car continued on and finally died at around 214,000 miles.

I've run it in all my vehicles since the early nineties, and have never had an oil related failure. It may be more expensive than regular oil, but it's dirt cheap compared to an expensive engine repair! Why take the chance?

Oh by the way, my 550 also uses oil as the miles roll by, but nothing to raise my eyebrows.
 
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