Where did all my oil go!? - SV650.org

31-01-07, 12:49 PM

Hi all,

Started up the bike to leave work yesterday and thought the engine didn't sound quite right, so switched it off and started having a look around the engine (thought it was something touching something), nothing wrong there, so checked the oil, and theres was nothing in the window

had to tip the bike right over before the tiniest bit of oil appeared in the window... now, I know your supposed to check the oil level regularly but since its only approaching 4000miles thought it would be ok, as it was changed at the 1st service. Sheepishly drove to the nearest garage i could find that was still open (pole position on new kent road) and filled her up...took a litre! which filled it just below the "full" line. I asked the mechanic in there if he knew where it had gone as it was definately not leaking anywhere, his exact words "dunno, its just a sh*t engine"

I'm taking it in for its 2nd service next friday so will ask there (without saying how low it was to avoid hearing my warrenty being ripped up out the back) But just wondered if anyone on here had experience this or knows what could have caused this... i may just be being a numpty and its normal but i dont think so...

Its a K6 btw bought from new

--- sorry just love that icon lol

31-01-07, 12:56 PM

The oil fairies steal it in the night. The dirty little bastids...

31-01-07, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

The oil fairies still it in the night. The dirty little bastids...

Too true. At least the tooth fairy has the decency to leave 50p under your pillow!

31-01-07, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

The oil fairies steal it in the night. The dirty little bastids...

Can you send them round my garage please, I have about 10L of used oil to get rid of and I don't want to take it to the dump.

31-01-07, 01:31 PM

I don't believe in fairys, I DONT BELIEVE IN FAIRYS!!!!

squirrel_hunter · 31-01-07, 01:39 PM

I have the same problem, my all the engines I've had in the SV have drank oil. I know I'm not dropping any as I park in the same place I just have to remember to fill it up regularaly.

The problem is the SV only has a pressure gauge and not a level warning so be careful!

northwind · 31-01-07, 02:03 PM

What a lot of helpful answers

It's going out the bottom, past the pistons or valves, or out the top. Or possibly was never there in the first place. You relally need to know how fast it's dropping...

jambo · 31-01-07, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

The problem is the SV only has a pressure gauge and not a level warning so be careful!

As has been covered before, A pressure gauge is standard on bikes, it is exceedingly useful if you blow an oil line, a filter comes loose or you otherwise dump the contents of your sump out in 12seconds flat (No amount of morning checks will tell you this).

Check your oil at least every week, Big Ape made the very good point that if you check it when you've filled up the garage forecourt is usually flat, and they sell oil if it's low!

Some engines just burn a little oil, it's not a problem, or the most expensive thing in the world. I would probably say that if 1L took it up to "Full" then it *probably* wasn't low enough to do any major damage unless you were beating it to within an inch of it's life. Well done on checking when you did!

Jambo

31-01-07, 06:42 PM

I would've thought less than a litre (maybe 7--800 mls if your litre took it to the full line) over 3500 miles would be quite reasonable.
Personally i'd make sure it wasn't dropping rapidly by checkups after every ride, and if not i'd accept it from a twin.

Did you run it in very gently? That can cause high oil consumption.

31-01-07, 10:34 PM

my expereince is that if you keep the level in the sight glass, rate of consumption is not bad, if you let it go below the sight glass, the rate will increase

the first 40k or so, I never had to add oil but once or twice, once I had 50k on ly SV, I use more oil, but the rate was sporatic, long high speed highway stints consuming the most. this continued till 120k or so when my consumption rate became more consistent, at 130k, consumption was regular, prolly 250ml every task of gas, the only time it smoked was on startup and redline accelerations and decellerations from redline

at 135k, I had compression test done.... 210psi rear, 90psi front

teardown indicated EVERY valve guide worn well beyond service limits, one exaust valve in the front wasn't seating properly

pistons & rings were worn but not beyond service limits, cam chains were worn beyond limits
no significant wear other than that, bottom end was tight

31-01-07, 12:49 PM	#1
poisonidea Guest Posts: n/a	Where did all my oil go!? Hi all, Started up the bike to leave work yesterday and thought the engine didn't sound quite right, so switched it off and started having a look around the engine (thought it was something touching something), nothing wrong there, so checked the oil, and theres was nothing in the window had to tip the bike right over before the tiniest bit of oil appeared in the window... now, I know your supposed to check the oil level regularly but since its only approaching 4000miles thought it would be ok, as it was changed at the 1st service. Sheepishly drove to the nearest garage i could find that was still open (pole position on new kent road) and filled her up...took a litre! which filled it just below the "full" line. I asked the mechanic in there if he knew where it had gone as it was definately not leaking anywhere, his exact words "dunno, its just a sh*t engine" I'm taking it in for its 2nd service next friday so will ask there (without saying how low it was to avoid hearing my warrenty being ripped up out the back) But just wondered if anyone on here had experience this or knows what could have caused this... i may just be being a numpty and its normal but i dont think so... Its a K6 btw bought from new --- sorry just love that icon lol

31-01-07, 01:39 PM	#6
squirrel_hunter Member Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sunny Swindon Posts: 3,579	I have the same problem, my all the engines I've had in the SV have drank oil. I know I'm not dropping any as I park in the same place I just have to remember to fill it up regularaly. The problem is the SV only has a pressure gauge and not a level warning so be careful! __________________ "A little enthusiastic?" May I add here, GG is awesome and I think I am in love with Stretchie...he rocks my world! SH2 \| 2MA \| GROM \| YSR

31-01-07, 02:03 PM	#7
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	What a lot of helpful answers It's going out the bottom, past the pistons or valves, or out the top. Or possibly was never there in the first place. You relally need to know how fast it's dropping... __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

31-01-07, 12:56 PM	#2
Razor Guest Posts: n/a	The oil fairies steal it in the night. The dirty little bastids...

31-01-07, 01:31 PM	#5
poisonidea Guest Posts: n/a	I don't believe in fairys, I DONT BELIEVE IN FAIRYS!!!!

31-01-07, 06:42 PM	#9
jonboy99 Guest Posts: n/a	I would've thought less than a litre (maybe 7--800 mls if your litre took it to the full line) over 3500 miles would be quite reasonable. Personally i'd make sure it wasn't dropping rapidly by checkups after every ride, and if not i'd accept it from a twin. Did you run it in very gently? That can cause high oil consumption.

31-01-07, 10:34 PM	#10
RandyO Guest Posts: n/a	my expereince is that if you keep the level in the sight glass, rate of consumption is not bad, if you let it go below the sight glass, the rate will increase the first 40k or so, I never had to add oil but once or twice, once I had 50k on ly SV, I use more oil, but the rate was sporatic, long high speed highway stints consuming the most. this continued till 120k or so when my consumption rate became more consistent, at 130k, consumption was regular, prolly 250ml every task of gas, the only time it smoked was on startup and redline accelerations and decellerations from redline at 135k, I had compression test done.... 210psi rear, 90psi front teardown indicated EVERY valve guide worn well beyond service limits, one exaust valve in the front wasn't seating properly pistons & rings were worn but not beyond service limits, cam chains were worn beyond limits no significant wear other than that, bottom end was tight