How often do you top your oil?

[sv_rider1990]

I am just after a bit of information on how often other people to pup there oils as mine is an approximate of between two weeks and a month is it normal for a curvey SV650S? Anmd i mean its all normal nothings wrong checked everything it just seems abit often to me?!

[Luckypants]

How many miles in that time? Or hours running if lots of commuting?

[Scoobs]

I check mine regularly on my CBR, but it virtually never gets topped up between services.

[G]

I check mine all the time, I have topped it up one egg cup full, thats after 3000miles since the last service.

Every bike will be different depending on how its ridden and how it was bedded in. Unless its drinking it I wouldnt be worried

[Biker Biggles]

As they get older they tend to use a bit.Not a problem as long as you never let it run so low it loses oil pressure.Thats a new engine.Check it regularly and it will be fine.

[dyzio]

every 4k miles ;)

[yorkie_chris]

Every couple of days, mine uses a bit if you're on a "spirited" run (i.e ragging the nuts out of it)
Very rarely needed to top up from commuting duty though.

[Xan173]

I check mine regularly on my CBR, but it virtually never gets topped up between services.

Same bike, same answer :cool:

[I'm_a_Newbie]

Never. I have a K3 SV650 and change the oil and filter every 4500 miles. The level never drops, even though I ride it quite hard.

Tim.

[Lissa]

Ours has always used oil. It will need topping up after a spirited 200+ mile run.

We do rag the nuts off it though:)

[Ch00]

My DL doesnt seem to use any oil, but u check all the same, just in case.

[squirrel_hunter]

Same as Lissa. Its like running a 2-Stroke.

[rob13]

Never between services as it hasnt touched a drop.

[DavieSV]

Mine has never needed it yet, just over 10,000 now
The constant loss system like Pete & lissa is probably best, they always check their levels and it always has fresh oil.
If it doesn't use any, then you tend to check less often,
This could result in catastrofic failure "cough" pedro "cough"

check your lubricant before you get your leg over!!

[Baph]

I never top my oil up. I always drain it first and put new oil in (after changing the filter).

That's done every service interval, regardless of what the book says.

[dyzio]

I never top my oil up. I always drain it first and put new oil in (after changing the filter).

That's done every service interval, regardless of what the book says.

you forgot to add, "which is every 3-4 weeks" ;)

[Baph]

you forgot to add, "which is every 3-4 weeks" ;)

That used to be the case (though to be fair it was 6-8 weeks) when I was doing silly distance commuting.

Now though, I cover a vast 40miles a week!!

Part timer, I know. :(

[Blue_SV650S]

Assuming you use the bike about the same amount every week, then why not check it once a week. Then when you get a feel for oil consumption check it at more appropriate intervals.

I tend to not worry too much as long as it is over 1/2 way.

[sv_rider1990]

Yeh i use it about the same every week back n fourth to college, work, social same every week but it is like running a two stroke as some one else put i do seem to be topping it up like i did with my 50cc.

[Blue_SV650S]

Yeh i use it about the same every week back n fourth to college, work, social same every week but it is like running a two stroke as some one else put i do seem to be topping it up like i did with my 50cc.

Put thicker oil in it then ;)

What oil are you using now?

[sv_rider1990]

Umm its Castrol something and ive just put some oil in thats ment to improve performance, reduce engine wear and stop using as much oil i'll just have to wait and see how long this castrol lasts between topping it up!

[Dave The Rave]

My Hairnet ... never topped between services. Does not like drinking oil much ;-)

[Pedro68]

This could result in catastrofic failure "cough" pedro "cough"

check your lubricant before you get your leg over!!
:oops: thanks :smt110 was hoping you'd all forgotten about that :rolleyes:

Yes, I now check my oil REGULARLY* :smt045 ... in fact I did my last oil & filter change myself, and I think it's about time it had another one - just before I go hooning around North Wales in a few weeks time ;-)

* probably every couple of hundred miles (300 - 500) *just in case* cos ... I was gonna say "ya never know" ... but unfortunately I DO! :oops:

[Ceri JC]

"Whenever it needs it" :D

Bizarrely, the rate mine needs topping up varies all the time. Sometimes it'll go two oil changes in a row without needing a top up, others, it'll want as much as an extra 0.75l between intervals.

[Grinch]

Its a rather how longs a bit of string kind of questions as I can depend on the bike, age, how much its been riden, and how hard. But I probably add about half a litre ontop of a normal change over the 4k miles.

[dirtydog]

probably every couple of hundred miles (300 - 500) *just in case* cos ... I was gonna say "ya never know" ... but unfortunately I DO! :oops:


That's the sort of mistake you only make once (i did that as well)

I don't do masses amounts of miles now so maybe once a month, but it rarely needs topping up between oil changes which get done every year

[northwind]

Mine uses practically none, except when it springs a leak :rolleyes: But at the moment it seems pretty oiltight, I reckon I could probably get from service to service without having to top up but I tend to just top it off maybe every 1000 miles or so.

[Stig]

Every time it's low normally. Especially if I've drained it.

[Pedro68]

That's the sort of mistake you only make once (i did that as well)

I don't do masses amounts of miles now so maybe once a month, but it rarely needs topping up between oil changes which get done every year
Yayyyy ... so its not just me then :)
Dare say I wasn't the first and probably won't be the last :confused:

I wasn't checking it frequently enough ... riding 500 miles a week (commuting) and not checking oil for "a couple of weeks" wasn't a wise choice ... nor was carrying a handy-sized bottle of oil, that I only thought to put in it, AFTER the engine had blown :oops:

[Stig]

My Hairnet ... never topped between services. Does not like drinking oil much ;-)

An engine that does not use ANY oil is not necessarily a good thing you know.

[Steve_God]

I have to top it up about every 2/3k miles.

[Dave The Rave]

An engine that does not use ANY oil is not necessarily a good thing you know.

Why is that?

[dirtydog]

Yayyyy ... so its not just me then :)
Dare say I wasn't the first and probably won't be the last :confused:

I wasn't checking it frequently enough ... riding 500 miles a week (commuting) and not checking oil for "a couple of weeks" wasn't a wise choice ... nor was carrying a handy-sized bottle of oil, that I only thought to put in it, AFTER the engine had blown :oops:


No definitely not the first, i did mine about 3/4 years ago now had a leaky clutch cover didn't check it often enough

bye bye crankshaft and bearings :oops:

[Pedro68]

bye bye crankshaft and bearings :oops:
Just out of interest (sorry for slight derail, but then I guess this does have some relation to the thread anyway) ... what did you do? I mean, did you just replace the whole engine, or did you (or someone else) rebuild it?

[yorkie_chris]

It's far cheaper IMO to replace the engine with a 2nd hand lump.

If the crank gets scored then AFAIK you can't get undersize shells, so can't regrind the crank.

[dirtydog]

Indeed it is cheaper to put a second hand lump in
I had 3 options
rebuild the engine dealer quoted ?1500
replace it with a new engine was quoted ?1000 for the engine
replace with a 2nd had engine which is what i did the engine set me back ?450 from a breakers then about a day to do the swap over

all in all a costly mistake!

[northwind]

I bought a crank off EBay for £40, which seems to be in good nick, it's sat on the garage shelf Just In Case 8-[

[sv_rider1990]

Would putting a K n N oil filter help it at all to make the oil last longer?

[northwind]

Nope. Though it will cost you more money, and corrode like a b*******. I took mine off after 4000 miles and it was seriously rusted, I reckon there's a chance that if I'd left it 2 services it might have actually been weakened. Don't know for sure though.

[BillyC]

My oil only needs topping up after I've emptied it out. That gets done every 3000 miles at the absolute maximum - London riding.

[glade]

Mine barely uses a drop.

I've topped it up once and it didn't need much. That was just before the 7500 service, its now on 11000+.

[Luckypants]

If Pete/Lissa's bike is like a 2 stroke and others use none - where does the oil go? Their bike is not smokey nor leaky, so wondering what happens to it all?

[Baph]

Every now & then I get some blown up into the air box. Nothing too much, and the "sponge" is never saturated, but now & again I take it out & give it a cleaning.

There's never been enough blown up the air box to warrant a top up between oil changes though.

[Stu]

An engine that does not use ANY oil is not necessarily a good thing you know.
Why is that?
Bump

[yorkie_chris]

ever seen a cylinder?

Look at one if you get chance, they aren't a smooth finish, they have a cross hatched pattern made by the honing process, these small grooves are used to hold a small surface of oil. Without these marks and the oil film the rings and bore would get scuffed very quickly, obviously some of this oil is burnt.

As I udnerstand it the amount used is dependant on the tolerances and on how the engine has been run in.

I'll try get a pic of one later if the camera will pick it up if anyones interested?

[Speedy Claire]

Yorkie Chris topped mine up just before we set off for NW3...... have done about 500 miles and mine was empty today.

*Mental Note* must check oil before each ride... bad girl :-dd

[yorkie_chris]

Horror story on what will happen to your engine without oil to follow when I get home...

[petevtwin650]

If Pete/Lissa's bike is like a 2 stroke and others use none - where does the oil go? Their bike is not smokey nor leaky, so wondering what happens to it all?

So do we. Thought it might be the front sprocket drive seal leaking but it would be well oily around there by now. Only suggestion is that it's blowing up into the airbox and it's burning it very effectively.

Yorkie Chris topped mine up just before we set off for NW3...... have done about 500 miles and mine was empty today.

*Mental Note* must check oil before each ride... bad girl :-dd

Naughty Claire, or should that be Pedro.;)

[SoulKiss]

Horror story on what will happen to your engine without oil to follow when I get home...

Ooooh someone's in for a virtual spanking :)

[yorkie_chris]

Nah it's far worse than that .... :p

[Luckypants]

Only suggestion is that it's blowing up into the airbox and it's burning it very effectively.

Does this make your bike a diesel? :smt077

[yorkie_chris]

Does this make your bike a diesel? :smt077

Nah, makes it a 2 stroke with a REALLY powerful injector pump lol

[yorkie_chris]

So do we. Thought it might be the front sprocket drive seal leaking but it would be well oily around there by now. Only suggestion is that it's blowing up into the airbox and it's burning it very effectively.

This is a definite possibility, blowby from piston would cause this, which is probably why oil use is dependant on run in...

Could check this one out by rigging the breathers to catch can and seeing what the pressure inside is.

[Speedy Claire]

Nah it's far worse than that .... :p


But I thought i`d get a lot more than 500 miles out of it before needing to top up my oil and erm erm :-dd

Ok... no excuse, will go sit on the naughty step and await my virtual spanking :(

[northwind]

Their bike is not smokey nor leaky, so wondering what happens to it all?

George Bush invades their engine and steals it

[Lissa]

George Bush invades their engine and steals it

PMSL.

You know what, I could believe that!:D

[Luckypants]

George Bush invades their engine and steals it

PMSL.

You know what, I could believe that!:D

He wouldn't dare. Lissa-istan is too tough a proposition. :spiderman:

[markmoto]

Speedy just make sure its totaly level and upright before you check it i,e get someone or you sit on it (the bike) holding the bike upright and then check it, off to one side will make a hell of a difference. Its probs done what 2000mls since its last had the oil changed and its hasnt used alot has it.

[Lissa]

He wouldn't dare. Lissa-istan is too tough a proposition. :spiderman:

Damn right! I'd kneecap him..............................just for starters:p

[Speedy Claire]

Speedy just make sure its totaly level and upright before you check it i,e get someone or you sit on it (the bike) holding the bike upright and then check it, off to one side will make a hell of a difference. Its probs done what 2000mls since its last had the oil changed and its hasnt used alot has it.


It`s been topped up once since I bought it. Oh and it needs that valve clearance thingymajig when you`ve time hun

[Luckypants]

Speedy just make sure its totaly level and upright before you check it i,e get someone or you sit on it (the bike) holding the bike upright and then check it, off to one side will make a hell of a difference. Its probs done what 2000mls since its last had the oil changed and its hasnt used alot has it.

It`s been topped up once since I bought it. Oh and it needs that valve clearance thingymajig when you`ve time hun

Twice - it used all the oil put in on NW3 (from just below L to full) in 500-600 miles. I topped it up yesterday from below minimum to full (just over it seems :roll: ). We reset a trip meter to get some idea of the rate it's being used.

[petevtwin650]

Twice - it used all the oil put in on NW3 (from just below L to full) in 500-600 miles. I topped it up yesterday from below minimum to full (just over it seems :roll: ). We reset a trip meter to get some idea of the rate it's being used.

Was liddle ol Claire thrashing her bike I wonder. Tsk tsk.;)

That's pretty much the rate of oil we use LP. Used about 250ml that weekend.:(

No worries then. :smt120