09 manual.... page 6-10....

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ENGINE OIL LEVEL CHECK

Check the engine oil level with the engine oil dipstick. The dipstick comes out together with the oil filler cap as shown. The level on the dipstick should be between the "L" (Low) and "F" (Full) lines.

The oil level inspection should be performed under the following conditions:
1. Hold the motorcycle vertically without the center stand.
2. The oil filler cap threads are not run in but touching the filler hole upper edge.

CAUTION
The engine oil level must be between the "L" (Low) line and "F" (Full) line, or engine damage may occur.

Check the oil level with the dipstick, with the motorcycle held vertically on level ground before each use of the motorcycle.
===

Michael
[/quote]

I'm pretty sure the owner's manuals are quite different countries!!

I have 09 manual for USA  Doesn't even have a page 6-10....AND two more steps in the process!!!

Oil level check is on page 7-11..
ENGINE OIL LEVEL CHECK

Check the engine oil level with the engine oil dipstick. The dipstick comes out together with the oil filler cap as shown. The level on the dipstick should be between the "L" (Low) and "F" (Full) lines.

The oil level inspection should be performed under the following conditions:

1. Hold the motorcycle vertically without the center stand.

2. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a few minutes.

3 Stop the engine and wait three minutes.

4. Check the oil level.  The oil filler cap threads should not be run in but just touching the filler hole upper edge.


CAUTION
The engine oil level must be between the "L" (Low) line and "F" (Full) line, or engine damage may occur.

Check the oil level with the dipstick, with the motorcycle held vertically on level ground before each use of the motorcycle

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on November 27, 2011, 11:36:03 AM
You've got an amazing sense of smell if you can smell burning oil coming out of your exhaust (way behind you) on the freeway going 70+ MPH. You're probably thinking you smell it because you're looking for it. Have someone follow you. They'll DEFINITELY be able to smell it.

My dad was riding the GS, and I was following behind him.  I think I said that in the post...

This is interesting.

My '02 is almost burning oil as fast as yours is.

Going to do compression test, adjust valves, clean carbs, and check spark plugs soon.

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 12:18:53 AM
This is interesting.

My '02 is almost burning oil as fast as yours is.

Going to do compression test, adjust valves, clean carbs, and check spark plugs soon.

By all means do the valves, carbs, and plugs...but don't expect any less oil consumption due to these.

Compression test is simply a diagnostic tool, to help determine the cause of high oil consumption.

Unfortunately the cure for high oil consumption is engine rebuilding.  (valves, rings, cylinders etc..)

Cookie

Quote from: twocool on December 01, 2011, 06:38:04 AM

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 12:18:53 AM
This is interesting.

My '02 is almost burning oil as fast as yours is.

Going to do compression test, adjust valves, clean carbs, and check spark plugs soon.

By all means do the valves, carbs, and plugs...but don't expect any less oil consumption due to these.

Compression test is simply a diagnostic tool, to help determine the cause of high oil consumption.

Unfortunately the cure for high oil consumption is engine rebuilding.  (valves, rings, cylinders etc..)

Cookie

Or in the case of the GS500, buying a new bike.

Just checked my oil level again today... it hit the "low" marker. This time I made it 2300km  It's a thirsty machine

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on December 01, 2011, 09:46:36 PM

Quote from: twocool on December 01, 2011, 06:38:04 AM

Quote from: xtelevisionset on December 01, 2011, 12:18:53 AM
This is interesting.

My '02 is almost burning oil as fast as yours is.

Going to do compression test, adjust valves, clean carbs, and check spark plugs soon.

By all means do the valves, carbs, and plugs...but don't expect any less oil consumption due to these.

Compression test is simply a diagnostic tool, to help determine the cause of high oil consumption.

Unfortunately the cure for high oil consumption is engine rebuilding.  (valves, rings, cylinders etc..)

Cookie

Or in the case of the GS500, buying a new bike.

LOL......Yep.....doesn't make sense to put $1200 or more into a $2500 bike!  Car insurance has some sort of "magic number", where they "total" the car.  I think it is when damages go to 80% of the "value"....

Cookie

Quote from: tricky on December 01, 2011, 09:52:29 PM
Just checked my oil level again today... it hit the "low" marker. This time I made it 2300km  It's a thirsty machine

If all else is running well...

At this point it probably makes the most $$$ sense to keep feeding it oil......But I'd only let it go half way down the dipstick before topping off....

Only costing an additional 1/3 of a cent per mile!

Time to think about selling bike to buy a new or different one....or maybe trade in to dealer (this is what I did with a Oil hog Honda) ...

Then just try to decide how "honest" you're gonna be to the prospective buyer.  Someone who rides just 10 or 20 miles on weekends wouldn't even notice the oil useage.  Someone who commutes every day would really notice and be pissed at you if you failed to mention the problem.

Cookie

your spark plugs must look like coal with all that oil .What grade of spark plugs you running in that oil burner?

Quote from: twinrat on December 03, 2011, 12:36:19 AM
your spark plugs must look like coal with all that oil .What grade of spark plugs you running in that oil burner?

I assume the stock OEM ones  ... The bike is a 2008, I got it in June with only 3700km on it, so it hadn't been used much at all. The odometer is nearing 9200km now. I got a list of things to do this winter.. included in that is changing the spark plugs. I'll be sure to post picks when I do, so we can see what's what

Am I looking at any sort of long-term engine damage if I'm burning this much oil? Or is it harmless?

Yeah, I just bought my bike, and I'm afraid there may be some engine damage.

At around 2000 rpm I get a sort of knocking from the bottom end and the RPM's drop a bit and then pick back up.

This is not rhythmic, but seems to happen randomly.

Just gotta put in at least 33,000 miles before I label it as junk.
Everything else about it runs fine, except sometimes I get a power loss.

Like, say I'm in 6th gear and trying to pass a car going about 70mph. I go full throttle and it just hangs sometimes and won't accelerate, putting you in a dangerous situation in the other lane.

Other times it's completely healthy and will climb quickly all the way up to 110.

Quote from: tricky on December 03, 2011, 01:00:35 PM
Am I looking at any sort of long-term engine damage if I'm burning this much oil? Or is it harmless?

As long as it is not starving for oil (keeping it topped off) you shouldn't have any sudden catastrophic engine damage.  Depending on how bad the blow by is, you could develop oil leaks and the oil can become degraded by gasoline.

-Jessie

I think phendric has moved on and is playing with his new toy...

Later.