Oil Consumption Question
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Wait, isn't your dip stick the same as the ones I have seen? They have squares for measuring on the center stand and circles or dots for the side stand measurement. Anyways, that doesn't matter as I think you understood, and where just poking a little fun.....
I appreciate your response but you didn't comprehend my posts because if you did, you would have read that it's kind of hard to tell exactly how much oil it consumes based on the type of ride but in another response, I equate it to about 1/2 quart of oil per 1500 miles if riding at 80+ for that entire distance.
Also, who said anything about a bike that I own losing oil pressure? If you are talking about the 13 that I traded in more than 5 months ago, I never said it loses oil pressure, I said it was making all kinds of noise and was below the first indicator/dot/tick/mark/circle on the dip stick. IIRC, I was still showing somewhere around the 10 psi on the gauge at idle and no low pressure idiot light.....
I appreciate your response but you didn't comprehend my posts because if you did, you would have read that it's kind of hard to tell exactly how much oil it consumes based on the type of ride but in another response, I equate it to about 1/2 quart of oil per 1500 miles if riding at 80+ for that entire distance.
Also, who said anything about a bike that I own losing oil pressure? If you are talking about the 13 that I traded in more than 5 months ago, I never said it loses oil pressure, I said it was making all kinds of noise and was below the first indicator/dot/tick/mark/circle on the dip stick. IIRC, I was still showing somewhere around the 10 psi on the gauge at idle and no low pressure idiot light.....
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 127
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
I don't burn any oil at all and haven't on any of my last three HD's. Perhaps it wasn't broke in hard and the rings never fully seated.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
I followed the OM break in on my 07 1200 C and leaked from AC and on 1200 mile trip used 1/2 qt. Had 30k when traded
Was NOT going to let same happen to my 14 Ultra Classic
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
I deal with pilots, aircraft techs, preachers, school teachers and engineers daily, I won't go there with an opinion. As far as miles go, I was a "how many miles can I put on" riders for years, I then road FL's. Those years are gone and miles accrued have nothing to do with knowledge about what you ride or drive. Finalshot, your last post did clarify what I understood from the OP after reading several times. I am smart enough not to wrestle with pigs in the mud. And, still nothing negative.
Last edited by checkers; Apr 15, 2015 at 06:12 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 1
From: Mass
I am at 5500 mi. I have not used any noticeable amount of oil between oil changes, the oil is nice and brown and doesnt smell of burning or gas . I tore out of the dealership the day i got it, got right on the highway and broke it in with WOT and high RPM deceleration at varying gears and speeds for an 40 min, oil changes at 1000,2500 and 5000. I believe I seated the rings as best as they could have been. I am hoping it would pay off with little to no oil consumption as the engine ages. so far so good i hope
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,016
Likes: 277
From: East Tn Foot of The Dragon
I am at 5500 mi. I have not used any noticeable amount of oil between oil changes, the oil is nice and brown and doesnt smell of burning or gas . I tore out of the dealership the day i got it, got right on the highway and broke it in with WOT and high RPM deceleration at varying gears and speeds for an 40 min, oil changes at 1000,2500 and 5000. I believe I seated the rings as best as they could have been. I am hoping it would pay off with little to no oil consumption as the engine ages. so far so good i hope
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 320
From: Vancouver, WA
Hey FinalShot, I told you I would get back with you after that ride I had planned. We rode 3,500+ miles in 6 days, one day did 790 miles at an average speed of 75-80. I changed oil in all 3 before the ride using Bel Ray in the trans, Harley Formula+ in the primary (switched back from Synthetic in there) and Syn 3 in the engine. I filled to just over half way up the stick using the jiffy stand scale and I was down less than a half dot on the stick after the ride. I'd say that's no consumption at all.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 839
Likes: 6
From: Virginia
I just ran a bit over 1000 miles a couple of weeks ago with the vast majority being at 80mph or so. I had to add about 1/4 to 1/3 a quart when I got home. I did find that my engine seemed a bit noisier than normal when we pulled off for fuel a couple of times. I didn't think much of it as several people have mentioned the 110's as being a bit noisy as times.
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,559
Likes: 1,936
From: NE Florida
That amount of oil seems excessive. Personally, I wouldn't use Synthetic until 5k miles - minimum 3k miles.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,808
Likes: 285
From: Green Country Oklahoma
I've never added oil between changes on my 05 and 07 UC with 32K and 98K miles but we did have excessive use on my wife's 08 UC loosing 1/2 qt every thousand miles regardless how and where it was ridden which turned out to be front piston rings and bad valve guide. We've taken few 500 miles a day high speed rides on our 15 Limiteds without adding any oil between changes.However wife often revs high on the twisty roads which often can lead to oil consumption.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 713
Likes: 97
From: Castle Rock, Colorado
12,000 on '14 SGS, 32,000 on '10 RK and never had to add any oil between changes. The highway I use to go anywhere has a speed limit of 75 MPH; however, if I did go 75 MPH they'd run over me... 85/90 is more like it... I hide in the far right lanes at 75/80 MPH.