Bike consuming Oil

Hi guys, I have an 2003 SV 650s. In the past 2 months, I've found out that I have to top the oil almost every week. Didn't really think much about it, But yesterday, so buddies and I went for a day ride...about 350 km and I had to use a full liter of oil. At the end of the day, the oil level was still low. It doesn't leak oil when I leave it to stand so I'm worried what could be the cause.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

[andrewsmith]

When was the oil last changed

Sent from my D2303 using Tapatalk

I last changed the oil in the first week of April.

[Crawling Finn]

Here is few tips that might help you to get an idea what is happening.
If you don't have any external oil leaks then the oil must be going either to your coolant or being combusted.
Using that much oil would have filled up your cooling system pretty prompt so it must be coming out of your exhaust one way or another.
My first suggestion would be to check the spark plugs. If one of the cylinders have blacker or oily spark plug then that is where the oil is going. Then let the bike to idle for couple of minutes while holding it upright, then rev the engine and if you get cloud of smoke it is likely to be intake valve guide seal on the cylinder with black spark plug. If it doesn't smoke then any more than normal, then you are likely to have a stuck piston ring on that cylinder. You don't mention what kind of mileage your bike has done, but if properly services cylinder bore wear should not be a problem anywhere below 100 000 miles if the bike has been properly serviced. Log period of laydown is often reason for stuck rings or failed valve guide seals.


If there is no significant difference in colour of the plugs, then I'd suggest that you check the air filter. Having lots of oil there would indicate that the case is being pressurised by stuck piston ring or blown exhaust valve guide seal, or your oil is not suitable for the engine. Andrewsmith made a good point about the oil. It could be either worn of unsuitable. Oil can also wear prematurely if it is getting contaminated with petrol. This can be caused by fault in fuel system or choke being left on - causing unburned fuel to be leaked pass piston rings to the crank case. You would see this as greater than normal fuel consumption and you would smell petrol in your oil if you sniff the oil filler hole.
Hope this helps. Next step naturally is then figure out how to fix it...
Sami

[DJ123]

What grade oil did you use? 10W 40 semi synthetic or full?

[Viney]

Mine changes its own oli about every 4000 miles It has had 78k of hard in town riding.

Thanks Sami…

A quick clarification, I meant that I had to buy a full liter of oil and added it twice, when I noticed that the oil was low at 2 different points along the ride. I use a non synthetic 20W-50 oil.

I checked the 2 plugs and there is no oil on them. Checked the air filter too and saw a little oil in the case, but not much to be worried about I think (a tiny piece of foam could wipe it all away). Reving the bike doesn’t bring out any smoke until the tach gets to about 9 or 10. (shoots some sparks too).

I did notice a lot of muck around the gear lever so I decided to give the bike a proper wash. I rode around during the day and parked at home. By the following morning though, I did notice some drops of oil on the floor. So, there is some oil leakage. But would that be enough to warrant adding a liter of oil in a 300km ride and still have oil low?

My bike is a 2003 model so its injected. I do have a light F1 light on though and the error code is C-28 which I think is the Secondary Throttle valve Actuator, though I don’t know if that should avoid oil consumption. We don’t really have competent mechanics here though that’s why I haven’t attempted to fix the STVA.

Bike had 21k on the odo when I got it. I’ve had it for about a year now and even though my clock face is bad, I did some calculations and I reckon I’ve done another 2k.

I’m really worried. Is it time to sell off my beloved Suzie?

Thanks for all your help

[Bibio]

sounds like you have a weeping output shaft or clutch push rod oil seal. does your chain always look oily?

for the C28 i suggest you look at setting the STV which is an easy job and there is a how to on the forum.

Is 20w/50 oil sutiable? I always thought that you should only use 10w/40?

[Bibio]

20/50 is perfectly fine. especially if you dont ride in the winter.