Burning oil and leak down test on the Shed

[Fallout]

My SV engine was mint. Red Motul went it, I changed it far to frequently and dark red motul came out. When I do an oil change and dark black stuff comes out I feel like I've waited too long. I know changing it sooner is ****ing money down the drain though changing red oil. 2k is a good service interval, black oil or not.

Cheers for the suggestions. I'll get the plugs out tonight and see what shape they're in, then attempt to check for exhaust valve leakage. Do you mean pull off the exhaust down pipe?

[yorkie_chris]

Yes pull downpipes off head and see what they look like. They're always a bit sooty but if one is leaking you will see difference. If it looks like the powervalve off a 350LC then there's your issue.

[Fallout]

Cool. Cheers for your time mate. I'll stick some photos of what I find in this thread when I have a look tonight. Might help with diagnosis and help anyone else who may be drinking oil. If the exhaust valves are the culprit and it's not ring related, is that something that can be adjusted or a replacement part job?

[yorkie_chris]

Replacement seals, quite involved as it involves removing valves and springs from the head.

[Fallout]

Ar$e. Ok, thanks mate. Will report back with my findings.

[yorkie_chris]

No harder than rings really. They're both a c**t and it might be worth overhauling the lot while you're in there.

[Fallout]

I'd be up for as much as my pocket and patience would allow. Do you mean new rings, and new valve seals? What else would you stick in that overhaul? I suppose that includes a new head gasket. Anything else? Might browse wemoto, fleabay and various other places to see what it'd all cost me.

[Fallout]

Haven't got to the down pipes yet. I had a curry calling my name. Plugs look ok though. Obviously the flash brings up all those minor imperfections you don't normally notice. This is after 2-3k miles approx:



Airbox was clean apart from this oozy skank where the crankcase breather hose thing connects to it. There is a wire mesh wool thing in there I assume acting as a filter to stop this skank getting into the airbox. I assume this is all normal.



Only other thing is spark plugs were a bit loose. The thread for them is quite ropey. I can get them in, but there are tight spots as they go in, so I try to avoid over tightening to make things worse. They were properly seated, just not in tight. Can't imagine that causing any problems though.

I'll get to the downpipes tomorrow.

[Mark_h]

I'm almost at the point I'll have to admit the me and Spank take a bit of Fallout's oil out with a pipette each time he slopes off for a fag break on ride-outs then squirt it under Bordteas bike. But I think I can hang out just a bit longer.

[yorkie_chris]

You know you should use an anti-galling lube on the plug threads, copper slip or moly paste works well.

If the threads are a bit gritty this really helps, if they've been graunched by overtightening in the past, it won't hurt.


Are those little black flecks on the plug ceramic?

That crap in airbox is normal.