Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

Have had a search and couldn't find any related threads so i thought I'd have an ask about.

How much oil does your bike use?

I have a 99 curvy that I'm commuting on at the moment (over 700 miles a week) and the oil level is dropping from full on a Monday to empty (on the sightglass lines) by Friday.

I know that Yamaha regard a litre every 1000 miles as within nromal boundaries but what about Suzuki?

Did the valve clearances at 27,000 miles and the bike now has 31,000 miles on the clock and rsiing every day.

There are no signs of leaks and I'm jsut looking for a bit of reassurance that this sort of oil use is normal before I start thinking about whipping the head off and putting new rings in

Cheers

Pete

Re: Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

Does sound like a lot - mine burns hardly any and I do up to 550 miles a week - although its a bit newer, and a pointy.

If you can't find any leaks, is there any evidence that the oil is being burned?

Re: Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

Mine is a 2000 curvy and doesn't use anywhere near that amount. Is there any smoke when starting or accelerating?

Re: Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

Nope

Re: Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

Some use oil, some don't. My curvy never used any, but Speedy Claire's pointy can go from full to needing oil in 200 miles, then not use any for 1000 miles (really not figured this out!). I know folks that would need to top up the oil regularly on their SVs as well.

Re: Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

Thanks, that has reassured me.

I know from my time as a moderator on the TRX850 forum (had 6 of them and still got a very special one as a toy) that some bikes don't burn any and some use a litre every 1000 miles despite rebuilds (I had one that despite new pistons and rings and having the valve seats recut still used a litre every 1500 miles)

I'll just keep an eye on it and top up as necessary then?

Re: Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

None for me. Just on 10k and although it's had the oil changes at the service intervals, it's never seemed to need topping up.

Re: Oil consumption - what's normal?
 

That's a fairly extreme example, but this sort of thing is quite common. Lots of people's (my own 50K SV included) have had periods where they've not perceptibly used any oil between services, then needed lots of topping up, then gone back to not burning any. Seems to be little rhyme, or reason to it, although seeing as it's mechanicals rather than witchcraft, I'm sure there's some science behind it. ;)

Main thing is to ensure you check your oil regularly, regardless of how little it has used in the past. Don't fall into the trap of "well, its not burned any the past 3,000 miles, it's probably fine" as the first you'll known about it is when this happens...
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