running on one quart of oil

[nightrider]

So I was thinking I last changed it at 14000 mi. Seeing how its coming up on 17k I thought I'd change it again...

damn oil drain plug is stripped and the damn ratchet head keeps slipping off. oh well, no going to the dealer now. just have to retighten it to minimum 18 lb, order a new one and hope the old one comes off next time.

oil and filter come out

its a mess like usual

new filter and oil goes in. 3.2 quarts or thereabouts, its weird cause last time I must have put almost 4 quarts in.

when i go to pour the oil out of the drain pan into the old oil bottles, the total amount of oil only fills 1.1 quart bottles at most. whoa.

the bike doesn't leak oil.

i sometimes see a little fluid coming from the drainage hoses, the porous one with the closed end

the oil light never comes on, it has been running and sounding like a champ. i guess at 17k maybe it burns a little oil now. the rate of burn is very low because i hardly checked it since i changed it last, which may have been up to 5k ago. :-o

im glad i changed the oil today.

[GeeP]

The moral of this story is:

It's an air-cooled engine.  Check your oil every few hundred miles.   

Remember, just because the engine has oil pressure does not mean that the transmission is being lubricated.  The transmission relies on some of the gears dipping into the oil sump and spraying oil around inside.  If the oil level is too low, the transmission will not receive lubrication.  At what point this occurs, I don't know.

[mach1]

wow you have 17k on your 04, I need to get out more I only have like 6k

[TragicImage]

I've got 19k on my 06... all mine.


and my commute is only 6 miles round trip.... and I stopped riding on the street for about 2 months.... which I think is going to last alot longer now.

[ohgood]

Air cooled = burns oil.

Obviousely you aren't checking your oil, chain, tire preasure, tires, seat, brakes or anything else before you ride each time. Goodness, hope you're still alive in the spring.

[DrtRydr23]

Air cooled = burns oil.

Obviousely you aren't checking your oil, chain, tire preasure, tires, seat, brakes or anything else before you ride each time. Goodness, hope you're still alive in the spring.

You check your oil before every ride?  Unless you've got an obvious leak, that seems unneccessary.  I usually do a quick visual of the chain and tires, and pump the brakes to make sure there is pressure.  This is usually a very quick check and not a full inspection.  I usually check the oil once every week or two, and will do a more thorough tire inspection at the same interval, or if I hit a big hole or debris in the road.  I have started to check tire pressure more often, as I inadvertantly let the pressure drop really low before, but if I am riding regularly I've noticed that my tire pressure doesn't really fluctuate.

[ralph13]

Tire pressure is the most obvious thing I notice if something's amiss. NOTHING feels right without enough air in the tires.

[bobthebiker]

I think its essential to check ALL your fluids before each ride.  nothing like that one time you dont and end up stranded somewhere.   mine doesnt burn any oil, and its got probably 25k on the clock, if not more.     

My checklist goes, 
brake fluid and pressure (front AND rear)
oil at proper level
tires properly inflated
all lights/signals functional
enough gas in tank?

its important to ensure you have all these things or you're going to have issues.

[GeeP]

I think its essential to check ALL your fluids before each ride.  nothing like that one time you dont and end up stranded somewhere.   mine doesnt burn any oil, and its got probably 25k on the clock, if not more.     

My checklist goes, 
brake fluid and pressure (front AND rear)
oil at proper level
tires properly inflated
all lights/signals functional
enough gas in tank?

its important to ensure you have all these things or you're going to have issues.

Yep, best to do a quick check before each ride.  While I don't check my oil before every trip, I have a good idea of how much oil the bike will use depending on the ride.  I might go a week without checking it if I take a few local trips.  If I'm on a long-distance trip, I check it every other gas stop.  Tires get checked before each ride, as nails can be picked up anywhere.  A basic mechanical inspection every trip and lube the chain every 600 miles.

I'll add to the checklist:

Bladder empty?
Camelbak full?   

[ivany]

It's also temperature dependent. On my 1500 mile trip from Sd to seattle we took the coast, and burned NO oil. We took the 1 so it was cool the whole way. On the way down, we spent 6+ hours at upwards of 120F. When I got back to SD I was low 1.5 quarts!! Yikes. Typically I burn about 1/4 a quart every 1000 or so.

Moral of the story: Check your oil regularly. But, in general, it will burn more with shorter trips and warmer temps.