Oil consumption

[PhilJet09]

My '09 has 122,000 miles on it now and I'm noticing some oil usage. It's been gradual, but now I sometimes have to add a bit to keep the light from coming on. Interestingly, when the oil light does come on, it's only for a short time. This has been reported by others as well. If I keep the oil around the mid point in the sight glass or higher it doesn't happen, but when it gets down to the low dot, I'll get the light briefly. Anyway, the last couple of changes I've been paying attention to how much it's using, which is roughly half a quart in 5,000 miles. I know, I know, this is well within limits. I'm just curious how much oil other bikes use with 100,000+ miles.

[bseelbach]

My 13 has 89K and I have had the low oil like a couple of times this season after multiple days of running it hard.
Like you stated it is usually just for a short time and goes away once the oil is warmed up and can flow back to the sump.
At EOM the light came on and I topped off with 1/2 a quart. This was after 7 days of hard riding in the twistes so I expect some losses.

My Oil change interval is approx 5K.

To further complicate things, I had been short changing myself every oil change. Normally I would dump a one gallon jug of oil in and call it a day. Technically the bike takes a bit more than 4 quarts but then again, I don't rock the bike back and forth while draining so I figure I never really get ALL of it out. Adding 1 gallon always worked...until it didn't.

After the 2nd time the light came on I started paying more attention. My 4 quarts was enough to get it between the dots on the site glass but it was a bit low. Now I keep partial bottle to add to the gallon jug for every oil change

[0face]

Wait... you're supposed the change the oil?



I don't really notice it.... I'm changing at about 5K anyway 110K on my '08

[wheatonFJR]

My second FJR came with a weeping seal by the left middle engine shaft...seemed to use up more oil when I was running higher revs (6-8k)...noticed it on my Kali trip at about 65K I'm sure you know it's a level indicator and not a pressure indicator...

[Geezer]

My '05 started using oil as the mileage got high. I don't remember the exact mileage but it was probably over 100k when it started. For me it uses more oil when I ride hard with a lot of compression braking, so I suspect the valve seals but it isn't bad enough to try to fix it. I change my oil every 5k miles and sometimes I go the full 5k without adding, other times I have to add a pint.

[PhilJet09]

My second FJR came with a weeping seal by the left middle engine shaft...seemed to use up more oil when I was running higher revs (6-8k)...noticed it on my Kali trip at about 65K I'm sure you know it's a level indicator and not a pressure indicator...

Yep. The light doesn't really bother me...except that in my profession, red lights on a display tend to trigger a critical response. I'm mostly hoping that the oil consumption isn't going to get much worse. I'd hate to have to tear into this thing before I get to 200k miles.

[PhilJet09]

My '05 started using oil as the mileage got high. I don't remember the exact mileage but it was probably over 100k when it started. For me it uses more oil when I ride hard with a lot of compression braking, so I suspect the valve seals but it isn't bad enough to try to fix it. I change my oil every 5k miles and sometimes I go the full 5k without adding, other times I have to add a pint.

That's what I've been noticing as well.

[huron52]

No loss of oil between changes.(leaking or useage) 286,000 klicks

[wheatonFJR]

My second FJR came with a weeping seal by the left middle engine shaft...seemed to use up more oil when I was running higher revs (6-8k)...noticed it on my Kali trip at about 65K I'm sure you know it's a level indicator and not a pressure indicator...

Yep. The light doesn't really bother me...except that in my profession, red lights on a display tend to trigger a critical response. I'm mostly hoping that the oil consumption isn't going to get much worse. I'd hate to have to tear into this thing before I get to 200k miles.

Fill it up on the higher side of midpoint maybe and see how often the light goes on between oil changes?

[raYzerman]

I wouldn't worry about a little oil consumption, however, with filter change I put in 4.3 litres. This is near the top of the sight glass after doing the warm-up and wait check (which will vary depending on how warm and how much wait..... did I mention I hate sight glasses? Gimme a dipstick). This is not overfill although some might erroneously think that. Jes' sayin' putting enough in should prevent the oil level light from coming on.

Have someone follow you and check for blue smoke. If it's the valve seals, when you decelerate the vacuum is high enough to pull a bit of oil past the seals, and the blue will appear when you accelerate. A little bit is OK, a lot is not as OK. Other than that, general blue smoke all the time is a sign of worn piston rings..... but both of these would be more high mileage things. Keeping track of consumption and checking the sight glass with a consistent warm up and wait process will give you consistent results (your method may vary with mine, e.g.). 99.873426 % of us have nothing to worry about........ go ride!

[petey]

No loss of oil between changes.(leaking or useage) 286,000 klicks

Yeah but your klicks are smaller than the merican klicks....

[PhilJet09]

My second FJR came with a weeping seal by the left middle engine shaft...seemed to use up more oil when I was running higher revs (6-8k)...noticed it on my Kali trip at about 65K I'm sure you know it's a level indicator and not a pressure indicator...

Yep. The light doesn't really bother me...except that in my profession, red lights on a display tend to trigger a critical response. I'm mostly hoping that the oil consumption isn't going to get much worse. I'd hate to have to tear into this thing before I get to 200k miles.

Fill it up on the higher side of midpoint maybe and see how often the light goes on between oil changes?

That's what I've been doing, all the way to the upper dot lately. It definely uses more when riding hard in the twisties, as I engine brake a lot. I'll have somebody follow me one of these days and look for smoke. Not losing any sleep over it, it is what it is.

[wheatonFJR]

When I was using oil on my Kali trip, airboss was riding behind me and he said I was not burning oil on those high rev days. Of course it could have been, but I did have a bit of seapage at the middle gear seals as well...but not enough to account for the oil lost.

[BikerGeek]

121K on my '04. On the way home from NAFO, on the last day before getting home, I noticed that the erl level light was on. Heaven only knows how long it was on - my GPS blocks my idiot lights. I ran down to a dealer that was just down the road from the hotel - it took aboot 3/4 of a quart to get 'er back up to where it should be. That woulda been at aboot 4400 miles on that erl change.

At EOM, Ken (chivalry) was riding behind me at one point and told me that whenever I really "got on it," he noticed a little puff of smoke outta my exhaust. I think this is what Ray was talking aboot.

So, yeah, my bike is burning a bit. I'll have to start paying more attention, I guess.

And, Phil - depending on weather and Life, I'd be happy to hook up with ya and maybe fart around on the flat, straight, boring roads in SE Ohio one weekend afternoon.

[Harald]

My 07 with 116k on it goes from upper dot in sight glass to almost lower dot between 5k oil changes. I'm not too worried about it and will run it until it dies or at least 200k just so I can check that mileage off my bucket list.

It's interesting that my low oil LEVEL light has only come on once and that was many years ago when the level was at the low dot after an oil change where I didn't top it off after the initial test run/leak check. The light came on during a downhill twisty road ride, so I'm guessing the combination of down and sideways attitude was enough to affect the sensor.

[PhilJet09]

121K on my '04. On the way home from NAFO, on the last day before getting home, I noticed that the erl level light was on. Heaven only knows how long it was on - my GPS blocks my idiot lights. I ran down to a dealer that was just down the road from the hotel - it took aboot 3/4 of a quart to get 'er back up to where it should be. That woulda been at aboot 4400 miles on that erl change.

At EOM, Ken (chivalry) was riding behind me at one point and told me that whenever I really "got on it," he noticed a little puff of smoke outta my exhaust. I think this is what Ray was talking aboot.

So, yeah, my bike is burning a bit. I'll have to start paying more attention, I guess.

And, Phil - depending on weather and Life, I'd be happy to hook up with ya and maybe fart around on the flat, straight, boring roads in SE Ohio one weekend afternoon.

Deal! Sometime in the spring.

[PhilJet09]

My 07 with 116k on it goes from upper dot in sight glass to almost lower dot between 5k oil changes. I'm not too worried about it and will run it until it dies or at least 200k just so I can check that mileage off my bucket list.

It's interesting that my low oil LEVEL light has only come on once and that was many years ago when the level was at the low dot after an oil change where I didn't top it off after the initial test run/leak check. The light came on during a downhill twisty road ride, so I'm guessing the combination of down and sideways attitude was enough to affect the sensor.

Funny, mine comes on when I have to stop on an overpass just a couple blocks into my commute and the bike is pointed generally "nose up".

[Harald]

My 07 with 116k on it goes from upper dot in sight glass to almost lower dot between 5k oil changes. I'm not too worried about it and will run it until it dies or at least 200k just so I can check that mileage off my bucket list.

It's interesting that my low oil LEVEL light has only come on once and that was many years ago when the level was at the low dot after an oil change where I didn't top it off after the initial test run/leak check. The light came on during a downhill twisty road ride, so I'm guessing the combination of down and sideways attitude was enough to affect the sensor.

Funny, mine comes on when I have to stop on an overpass just a couple blocks into my commute and the bike is pointed generally "nose up".

That is odd. It did happen as I leveled off at the bottom of the hill, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't doing a wheelie (that time).
Or perhaps it's because you ride an inferior 09? LOL