Oil consumption less on the GS500F?

[geekonabike]

Hi folks,

I'm just wondering if the oil cooler on the new GS alleviates the oil consumption habits of the beast.  I'm beginning to understand the mechanism for the bike to consume oil, but I don't know enough to theorize about the oil cooler helping that situation.

I meant this to be in the title of my previous post, but missed it somehow.  It was buried in the body of the post and hasn't been answered though the rest was.  Thanks to all those repliers.  This site does, as they say, ROCK!

--Mike D.

PS:  Usual confession that I haven't totally figured out the "search" so sorry if this was already answered.

[JamesG]

Ok sorry, we got so focused on the oil leaking out the tail pipe that we forgot the rest bubbling in the crank case.

The oil cooler may help a bit, perhaps enough to make up for the fact that the engine is now insulated within a plastic fairing. But the primary culprit for the majority of blow by loss is in the distortion of the cylinders and piston rings, and this is still completely an air cooling efficiency issue.

[geekonabike]

No need to apologize.  Thanks so much for the explanation.  I had read many times that the bike likes to drink oil and when it does, but not really why.  And thanks for the opinion on the oil cooler too.  It's been bugging me for some reason, like if I bought new would I go for another GS500?  Hopefully I'll keep my '98 E for a couple years at least.

Mike D.

[JamesG]

The GS isn't any more oil thirsty than any other bike of its type and technology level.  
A newer and/or well broken in engine won't drink any oil at all. None of mine ever have.
But once they get up in miles (30K+) then it is inevitable that wear and tear will take its toll.

[bikenut]

I've got an F with 2,000 miles and have not needed to add any oil since the 600 mile service.  I check it every other ride

[tdan553527]

My F uses around 1/2 qt. every 3,000 miles, I don't think that's too bad or is it?

[PAC]

1,800 miles on my GS500F, and it doesn't use any oil at all.  I check it once a week or once every other week.  It used a tiny bit, maybe 1/5 quart of oil in the first 600 miles.

[maggiethecat]

my '95 was rebuilt about 2K ago. it drinks oil BAD. it smokes pretty bad until it is warm when starting, smokes ALOT! i gotta raise the cash to get some work done, but what do i need done?

[john]

My F uses around 1/2 qt. every 3,000 miles, I don't think that's too bad or is it?

No that's really good.  Ours used 1/2 qt every 400 - 600 miles.

[SPARKPLUG1977]

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU NEED NEW RINGS MAGGIE.