GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: bigcheese107 on November 04, 2008, 03:52:35 PM

Title: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: bigcheese107 on November 04, 2008, 03:52:35 PM
Hi,

I own a 2006 gs500e and Im using a little too much oil. I run a thin oil but ive just noticed it is using a little too much oil since the weather has warmed up, is it because its air cooled and the oil burns hotter in summer.

Thanks
Dave
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: Jackstand Johnny on November 04, 2008, 05:42:17 PM
How much is to much oil? These engines are known to burn oil.
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: bigcheese107 on November 04, 2008, 05:45:18 PM
Hi,

Well the other day i went to go for a ride up mount Mee and thought iid check the oil and found it was down about 500ml. I topped it up and it seems fine now, but ive noticed it seems to chew through it when im riding hard or when im stuck in traffic alot.....

dAVE
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: Berowra on November 04, 2008, 06:28:03 PM
Dave,

What oil are you using?  How long and how hard was the run?  Over what period of time?
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: ohgood on November 04, 2008, 07:01:52 PM
Quote from: bigcheese107 on November 04, 2008, 05:45:18 PM
Hi,

Well the other day i went to go for a ride up mount Mee and thought iid check the oil and found it was down about 500ml. I topped it up and it seems fine now, but ive noticed it seems to chew through it when im riding hard or when im stuck in traffic alot.....

dAVE

not knowing how much 500ml is personally...

mine will burn/use a 1/4 quart on a spirited ride. take the spirited part out of the ride, and it uses very little if any.

you're air cooled, so is yer bike. it happens :)
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: fred on November 04, 2008, 07:18:07 PM
Yeah, these bikes burn oil, especially when ridden hard... You could also check around for leaks... I've been slowly replacing leaking gaskets on my '94 as I have time... I'm doing the valve cover gasket next. It currently leaks about 1 quart every 1000 miles...
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: spc on November 05, 2008, 02:22:08 AM
Quote from: ohgood on November 04, 2008, 07:01:52 PM
Quote from: bigcheese107 on November 04, 2008, 05:45:18 PM
Hi,

Well the other day i went to go for a ride up mount Mee and thought iid check the oil and found it was down about 500ml. I topped it up and it seems fine now, but ive noticed it seems to chew through it when im riding hard or when im stuck in traffic alot.....

dAVE

not knowing how much 500ml is personally...

mine will burn/use a 1/4 quart on a spirited ride. take the spirited part out of the ride, and it uses very little if any.

you're air cooled, so is yer bike. it happens :)

The prefix milli denotes 1/1000,  he's using 1/2 liter also known as slightly more than 1/2 quart.
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: shiznizbiz on November 05, 2008, 02:45:13 AM
OH crabapples son! I just realized i gotta check my oil.......Ive been a bad owner the last 2 weeks.  :dunno_white: :sad: :sad: :sad:
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: ohgood on November 05, 2008, 04:28:34 AM
Quote from: shiznizbiz on November 05, 2008, 02:45:13 AM
OH crabapples son! I just realized i gotta check my oil.......Ive been a bad owner the last 2 weeks.  :dunno_white: :sad: :sad: :sad:

GTO-

gas, tires, oil. you'll never forget again. and you'll live a hella lot longer too :)
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: bigcheese107 on November 05, 2008, 06:43:25 AM
Yeah thanks for the replies guys, I will keep an eye on it. There are definately no leaks so i guess its just from riding hard and the hot weather too.
Maybe next oil change I will use a thicker grade oil, that might help. But yeah, I have heard the GS500's use a bit of oil. My Old GSX750 used to do the same thing.

Thanks
Dave
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: ivany on November 05, 2008, 09:38:15 AM
Our bikes burn oil under two conditions:

(1) On startup, since our engines are air-cooled, there is quite a bit of clearance between the piston (rings) and cylinders. Oil gets through here and gets burned up until the engine warms up and the clearance seals.

(2) When running very hot, oil thins out and gets past the rings. Once again, burned away.

I commute with trips of 5-10 miles. Riding this way, I go through about 300-500ml every 1000 miles. On my trip from San Diego to Seattle (1100 miles?) with ambient temps around 60-80 I burned almost no oil. On my trip back down, where I was riding through ambient temp of 120-130 I burned well over a quart (scared me!) If you are burning lots of oil with low ambient I think you should run a thicker oil.

You never mentioned - what do you run?
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: Y2K6GS500F on November 06, 2008, 06:59:37 AM
Try running Synthentic oil to see if that helps. Synthetic is less likely to burn off in high temps.
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: natedawg120 on November 06, 2008, 12:01:05 PM
what viscosity oil are you using, It could be your oil is to thin and that is why it is burning so much.
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: psyber_0ptix on November 06, 2008, 02:29:43 PM
Quote from: Y2K6GS500F on November 06, 2008, 06:59:37 AM
Try running Synthentic oil to see if that helps. Synthetic is less likely to burn off in high temps.

will this mess up your clutch?
Title: Re: Using A Little Too Much Oil
Post by: ivany on November 06, 2008, 02:46:58 PM
Quote from: psyber_0ptix on November 06, 2008, 02:29:43 PM
Quote from: Y2K6GS500F on November 06, 2008, 06:59:37 AM
Try running Synthentic oil to see if that helps. Synthetic is less likely to burn off in high temps.

will this mess up your clutch?

Not if you run oil without friction modifiers.

Synthetic Rotella-T works great! Although I'm switching to regular Rotella T...cheaper.