Oil Consumption -- WTFO

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
129
I find that my `71 has consumed/lost/burned as much as 12 oz of Castrol 20/50 GTX in the last 200 miles. (At least that's what it took to bring the oil tank back up the dipstick's midpoint.) This is on top of another 4 oz of Marvel Mystery Oil I've thrown in the gas over that milage as a matter of habit from the early 70s.

I see no obvious leaks, no "puddling on the floor," no immense dripping off the frame, no (excessive) head gasket blowby, no breather oil blown all over the place, no fouled plugs (in fact the brand new 220/106/mid-needle Amals run things beautifully w/ light chocolate colors up to mid throttle -- gray/tan when up on the mains) ... and no smoking even when cold.

The only symptom is having to re-fill what appears to be a lot of oil in relatively short mileage.

Is it really possible to burn that much oil without obvious smoking and/or plug evidence?
 
Its worth a quick check the oil level in the primary.
Oil can get pushed through the crankshaft seal if the breathing isn't too healthy.
 
Good Point.

The Good News: The Primary ATF was just that (pure ATF) and within a 1/2 oz of being dead on proper level.

The Bad News: The Primary ATF was just that (pure ATF) and within a 1/2 oz of being dead on proper level.

<sigh>

I guess I didn't have anything else to do this Winter...... :-(
 
Not really enough of a problem in either location to cause concern.
 
Intake valve seals? I was burning a lot of oil last year and this was the cause. I could see smoking out of the guilty cylinder while idling and riders following me could see puffs of smoke when I downshifted. I was using about a quart every 300 miles with one seal missing. This consumption depended a lot on how I drove though. At higher, more consistent speeds on the freeway, I used less.
 
I always check oil after a run to get true/consistant levels, Mike, so I can't blame it on sumping. (And this bike has always been very good about not sumping to begin with.)

I guess I'll run straight gas for a tankful (no Mystery Oil/no lead additive) and have someone follow me out to see if they can observe what I can't coming out of the exhausts while putting it through some paces. Doggone things is running so well, too. `Ya hate to mess with it.

(But as in handloading and ham radio, when things finally get just perfect... it's time for a total rebuild on something. ) :?
 
MEHAVEY:

Marvel Myster Oil

The name says it all, could be Marvel Snake Oil. Are you trying to emulate a 2 stroke? You are not doing your engine any favors, just gumming up the rings, helping create "hot spots" on your pistons that will encourage detonation (pinging).

For the symptoms you describe I agree with Tpeever that your intake valve seals may well be retired. Try this: have an observer watch you while you strom up on them at high revs in second gear and as you get close to your observer shut the throttle down and have them watch for smoke. If you get clouds, you, likely, have worn rings, if you get wisps, or near nothing then valve seals.

I feel your pain, if you have winter comming up, start inventoring your parts and line up your services. When you pull the top end off measure everything and don't cheap out, you'll just be back again too soon.

Best wishes!

RS
 
Oh the pain, the pain.... someone who hasn't grown up on Marvel Mystery Oil.

Good for everything from top end lubrication to constipation....
Only your imagination limits its use.

:)
 
MEHAVEY said:
I always check oil after a run to get true/consistant levels, Mike, so I can't blame it on sumping. (And this bike has always been very good about not sumping to begin with.)

I guess I'll run straight gas for a tankful (no Mystery Oil/no lead additive) and have someone follow me out to see if they can observe what I can't coming out of the exhausts while putting it through some paces. Doggone things is running so well, too. `Ya hate to mess with it.

(But as in handloading and ham radio, when things finally get just perfect... it's time for a total rebuild on something. ) :?

My bike was running really well too!! Just burning a ton of oil!! I also had a small oil leak from the head gasket at the pushrod tunnels so needed to address that at the same time. So it was off with it's head last winter. Runs like a charm with no oil leaks and no oil burning at all any more.
 
MEHAVEY said:
Oh the pain, the pain.... someone who hasn't grown up on Marvel Mystery Oil.

:)
I hope they've altered their recipe to blend with modern fuels.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top