Running a bike in - link to oil consumption?

Running a bike in - link to oil consumption?

Author
Discussion

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

242 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
You may remember this time last year I picked up a new 675R, and was asking questions re running the bike in as per manufacturers advice, or just getting on it and screaming away.

After reading about other 675's, and their tendency to drink oil, I decided to run mine in as per manfacturers guidelines. TimmyWoo may remember that I actually suggested that his bike drank oil because he had not followed the advice. So tonight whilst performing some pre-touring checks on the bike, I decided to check the oil for the first time.

I have been a bit of a girl over the last year, and the bike has only done 2200 miles. The first service is due at 6000 miles. Imagine my suprise when the dipstick (that shocked me as well!) showed no reading. Surely it was because the bike was on a slight slope. So bike moved and tested again. Still no reading on dipstick. So I added a bit of oil, then a bit more, then a bit more. The bike swallowed a litre of oil.

Moral of the story - if you get a 675 - it will drink oil regardless of how you run it in. I suggest 0.5l per 1000 miles. Timmy was that about what you were seeing?

I will be keeping a closer eye in future.

GTIR

24,741 posts

279 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
You've not checked your oil for a year? eek

LiamB

8,019 posts

156 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
GTIR said:
You've not checked your oil for a year? eek
+1!

3doorPete

9,961 posts

247 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Does it not have a sight glass?

Maruchino

958 posts

197 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Fats25 said:
You may remember this time last year I picked up a new 675R, and was asking questions re running the bike in as per manufacturers advice, or just getting on it and screaming away.

After reading about other 675's, and their tendency to drink oil, I decided to run mine in as per manfacturers guidelines. TimmyWoo may remember that I actually suggested that his bike drank oil because he had not followed the advice. So tonight whilst performing some pre-touring checks on the bike, I decided to check the oil for the first time.

I have been a bit of a girl over the last year, and the bike has only done 2200 miles. The first service is due at 6000 miles. Imagine my suprise when the dipstick (that shocked me as well!) showed no reading. Surely it was because the bike was on a slight slope. So bike moved and tested again. Still no reading on dipstick. So I added a bit of oil, then a bit more, then a bit more. The bike swallowed a litre of oil.

Moral of the story - if you get a 675 - it will drink oil regardless of how you run it in. I suggest 0.5l per 1000 miles. Timmy was that about what you were seeing?

I will be keeping a closer eye in future.
My Daytona 675 drank oil like it was going out of fashion. At LEAST 0.5l per 1000 miles. I didn't run it in, but I've heard similar that it makes no difference to some engines.

The Moose

23,280 posts

222 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
I know which 675R not to buy now wink

Maruchino

958 posts

197 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
3doorPete said:
Does it not have a sight glass?
675 is a dipstick only

Maruchino

958 posts

197 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
out of curiosity, you did screw the dipstick back in when you tested the level I presume? Some bikes you just rest the dipstick, with the 675 you screw it back it in then out again.

Pothole

34,367 posts

295 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
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OP, you did have it upright and not on its side stand, didn't you?

RemaL

25,030 posts

247 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Check my oil quite a lot, as the 08-11 blades sometimes used oil. bnut mine has only used 600 mil in the last 3800 miles. including 3 trackdays.

But never checked the oil level when touring and doing 1800 miles in 6 days.

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

242 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Lots of responses questioning my mechanical competency - I can't understand why? smile

1) as explained - no sight glass. Is a dipstick.

2) yes dipstick was screwed all the way in, and bike was warmed up, and on flat surface, and standing up straight.

3) why would I check the oil on a bike that has only done 2000 miles?! I have a KTM I have to service every 15 hours, and a bandit that does 10,000 miles per year, and wifes er6f does more, which I service every 4000 miles. I never check the oil in those before the service is due, and they have never been low. This bike is a toy - I check the necessary, tyres, battery, chain etc - never for a minute thought the oil would be low this early.

Lesson learned - this bike needs more frequent oil checking!

Maruchino

958 posts

197 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Fats25 said:
Lots of responses questioning my mechanical competency - I can't understand why? smile

1) as explained - no sight glass. Is a dipstick.

2) yes dipstick was screwed all the way in, and bike was warmed up, and on flat surface, and standing up straight.

3) why would I check the oil on a bike that has only done 2000 miles?! I have a KTM I have to service every 15 hours, and a bandit that does 10,000 miles per year, and wifes er6f does more, which I service every 4000 miles. I never check the oil in those before the service is due, and they have never been low. This bike is a toy - I check the necessary, tyres, battery, chain etc - never for a minute thought the oil would be low this early.

Lesson learned - this bike needs more frequent oil checking!
re number 3, according to the Triumph handbook you should have checked the oil 3 times in that period! I'm pretty sure there is a note that is not part of the service schedule that tells you to check it every 600 miles!

3doorPete

9,961 posts

247 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Maruchino said:
3doorPete said:
Does it not have a sight glass?
675 is a dipstick only
Are we talking about the owner or the bike?

I check all my bikes before every ride except the Innova which gets checked once a month. Only the KTM and CBR use oil, but the KTM is 80% over its recommended engine rebuild hours and it's still using under half what yours is. The CBR uses 100ml approx every 1500 miles, but I'm guessing that's mainly gone in the airbox rahter than burned due to the prolonged back wheel action it sees. hehe

You'd think Triumph would whack a sight glass in there given their thirst??

Andy XRV

3,883 posts

193 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Being old school why does a good engine burn oil? If the oil is not being sucked down sloppy valve stems or up a worn piston/barrel how does it get into the combustion chamber?

SirBlade

544 posts

205 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Why wouldn't a modern bike have a sight glass?
Why would a modern bike burn oil.

I recommend ragging the bollix off a new bike first chance you get.

3doorPete

9,961 posts

247 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Andy XRV said:
Being old school why does a good engine burn oil? If the oil is not being sucked down sloppy valve stems or up a worn piston/barrel how does it get into the combustion chamber?
I too struggle with that, but I've had Vauxhall DERVs that do a quarter of a million miles and use oil from new and the same amount when 250K. I posted about oil consumption on Triumphs when I was considering a 675. Just seems a feature.

I've followed Chris at decent pace cross country and there are no puffs of smoke etc like I used to see with 90s Yamahas and KTMs needing rebuilds when following them. Not even a smell of oil.

scorcher

4,037 posts

247 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
My SMT still uses oil at 26000 miles. About a ltr or so between servicing (4500 miles)Some say it will settle down as the miles pile on. I'm not so sure. A lot of modern engines seem to have a thirst for oil ( cars and bikes) but as long as you're checking it and keeping it topped up at least its getting some nice new oil now and again.Obviously if its excessive its a problem, but if its within manufacturers guidelines,top it up and ride on.I check mine at least after every other ride. If I'd left it a year it would of seized...........

Fats25

Original Poster:

6,260 posts

242 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
3doorPete said:
I check all my bikes before every ride except the Innova which gets checked once a month.

You'd think Triumph would whack a sight glass in there given their thirst??
I choose to spend my time keeping my garage tidy rather than checking for oil every time I ride wink

I was surprised there was no sight glass - even the KTM has a sight glass. In fact this is the first bike I have ever owned without one..... Maybe it is to ensure you make the effort to check it as they know it drinks the oil!

crashley

1,572 posts

193 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
My 675 doesn't drink, and it's mostly just used for trackdays now although I have now got into changing it every 2 trackdays. It's now done approx 3.5-4k miles and I can't recall having to top it up -I ended up not really sticking to the guidelines, but I did ride like even more of a big fairy when I first got it.

Yazza54

19,679 posts

194 months

Thursday 14th June 2012
quotequote all
Maruchino said:
Fats25 said:
You may remember this time last year I picked up a new 675R, and was asking questions re running the bike in as per manufacturers advice, or just getting on it and screaming away.

After reading about other 675's, and their tendency to drink oil, I decided to run mine in as per manfacturers guidelines. TimmyWoo may remember that I actually suggested that his bike drank oil because he had not followed the advice. So tonight whilst performing some pre-touring checks on the bike, I decided to check the oil for the first time.

I have been a bit of a girl over the last year, and the bike has only done 2200 miles. The first service is due at 6000 miles. Imagine my suprise when the dipstick (that shocked me as well!) showed no reading. Surely it was because the bike was on a slight slope. So bike moved and tested again. Still no reading on dipstick. So I added a bit of oil, then a bit more, then a bit more. The bike swallowed a litre of oil.

Moral of the story - if you get a 675 - it will drink oil regardless of how you run it in. I suggest 0.5l per 1000 miles. Timmy was that about what you were seeing?

I will be keeping a closer eye in future.
My Daytona 675 drank oil like it was going out of fashion. At LEAST 0.5l per 1000 miles. I didn't run it in, but I've heard similar that it makes no difference to some engines.
You had a 675? Bet it looked like a toy with you on it!

Id love one but probably dwarf it