M8 Oil consumption
#21
10-18-2018, 09:28 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Well my sporty used about a coffee cup full of oil in the first 1000 mile and that was pretty much do to an oil pump fitting that has been incorrectly installed ( cross threaded) into the pump housing. Once that was sorted I dought if I’ve used 50 milliliters of oil over the last 3000 mile. It’s getting close to its winter / 5000 mile oil change and I don’t think it’s consumption has changed, If anything it’s less than before, and I’m guessing it’s because everything has bedded in.
Wiz 🍺
#22
10-18-2018, 09:42 AM
If you haven't done it then once warmed up run the engine full throttle 2000-5000 in every gear and especially under load up a hill if possible. Let cool between runs then repeat about 20 times like someone would on a dyno. The idea is to seat the rings. If they don't then there's an internal build problem that needs to be looked at.
Don't believe in break in periods?
#23
10-18-2018, 09:56 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
OP is past the 500 mile break in period so his advice isn't bad..should be able to handle what he recommended which is after the fact..obviously the first 500 was the most important and OP didn't mention how he broke it in..don't think 20 cycles of that is necessary tho
#24
10-18-2018, 10:14 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
I will tell you this. I personal run 3 m8 with 3.4 /3.6 quarts of oil . ( over 10k on one 24k on another ) That shows at 2 dots below the add mark on the stick.( yep almost a quart and a half less than dealer spec) One bike would not hold at full mark more than 300-500 miles and owner kept dumping another quart in. Now at 2 dots below add with 3.4 quarts he can go 5000 miles doesn't use a drop. His plugs also were showing oil.....the breathers were dumping into throttle body. I believe a lot of problems are the MOCO has there spec way over full on oil . Try it as it can't hurt a thing. At 85-95 mph it will not empty pan or bag. On the other hand have now seen a couple expensive 2017 CVOs that had never been updated or opened up with piston scuffs.Maybe just chitty workmanship ......
#25
10-18-2018, 11:53 AM
I will tell you this. I personal run 3 m8 with 3.4 /3.6 quarts of oil . ( over 10k on one 24k on another ) That shows at 2 dots below the add mark on the stick.( yep almost a quart and a half less than dealer spec) One bike would not hold at full mark more than 300-500 miles and owner kept dumping another quart in. Now at 2 dots below add with 3.4 quarts he can go 5000 miles doesn't use a drop. His plugs also were showing oil.....the breathers were dumping into throttle body. I believe a lot of problems are the MOCO has there spec way over full on oil . Try it as it can't hurt a thing. At 85-95 mph it will not empty pan or bag. On the other hand have now seen a couple expensive 2017 CVOs that had never been updated or opened up with piston scuffs.Maybe just chitty workmanship ......
#26
10-18-2018, 01:22 PM
Road Master
Mine is just past 10k miles. Runs great. Oil is disappearing at the rate of about 2/3 quart per 5k miles extrapolated. Recently, with the oil load at the 3k miles point, I added 1/3 quart to bring the level back up from seven dots down on the dip to two dots down on the dip. My early consumption was much higher. The engine went through a quart in the first 1k miles. But it has gradually lessened until now. I doubt it will get any less now the bike is over 10k.
#27
10-18-2018, 02:05 PM
Road Captain
The number of pulls I suggested should be unnecessary but the best way to determine that is noted in the link. Do as you wish but I've never had an oil burner with a vigorous break-in on a fully warmed engine...aircraft, auto, implements, outboards, and so on. Once the ring to cylinder seal is complete it's as good as it's going to get. Glaze the walls and it'll never be a tight seal. Just allow for cool down periods between pressure runs so the rings don't loose temper and pressure.
Edit: One simple way to monitor ring seal is have a look at the spark plugs and piston top during break-in. Oil deposits on both should decrease between exams. I use a borescope to see the piston top. It drys off with less oil present when sealed. Without run the piston to TDC and peeking the plug hole, but the plugs if cleaned and re-run will also tell the tale.
Last edited by PA1195; 10-18-2018 at 02:17 PM.
#28
10-18-2018, 03:42 PM
Thanks for the responses guys I’ll go through them all in detail when I get off work. Update: Dealer told me the same thing as last time. They topped off to where it should be, ride it till 1k without adding any oil. Once again I said so ride it below the “add quart line” as it’s going to happen within 150 miles or so? Told me no and to bring it back which is why it’s back in the first place. Spoke with the mothership in Milwaukee and did absolutely nothing but notate everything I said which was nothing good obviously. I was told to do as the dealer said. They basically don’t give a damn about our issues or stand behind their product. I have never in my life dealt with such crappy service With any bike or 4 wheeled vehicle I’ve had. I went with HD because I did reasearch and seemed like they take care of their customers. I couldn’t be more wrong if I wanted to. Not sure how many times I have to repeat this nonsense before something is done. I guess I’ll go pick bike up the bike, ride it tonight, consume a whole qt of oil once again and take it back in tomorrow. I’m so dissapointed that I feel like just letting them keep the bike and just take a hit on my perfect credit that I’ve worked so hard to obtain. I’m also thinking of maybe doing a trade and just take a hit. Definitely won’t be HD if I go that route. I purposely stayed away from Indian/Polaris to avoid issues and here I am. Such BS.
#29
10-18-2018, 03:55 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Thanks for the responses guys I’ll go through them all in detail when I get off work. Update: Dealer told me the same thing as last time. They topped off to where it should be, ride it till 1k without adding any oil. Once again I said so ride it below the “add quart line” as it’s going to happen within 150 miles or so? Told me no and to bring it back which is why it’s back in the first place. Spoke with the mothership in Milwaukee and did absolutely nothing but notate everything I said which was nothing good obviously. I was told to do as the dealer said. They basically don’t give a damn about our issues or stand behind their product. I have never in my life dealt with such crappy service With any bike or 4 wheeled vehicle I’ve had. I went with HD because I did reasearch and seemed like they take care of their customers. I couldn’t be more wrong if I wanted to. Not sure how many times I have to repeat this nonsense before something is done. I guess I’ll go pick bike up the bike, ride it tonight, consume a whole qt of oil once again and take it back in tomorrow. I’m so dissapointed that I feel like just letting them keep the bike and just take a hit on my perfect credit that I’ve worked so hard to obtain. I’m also thinking of maybe doing a trade and just take a hit. Definitely won’t be HD if I go that route. I purposely stayed away from Indian/Polaris to avoid issues and here I am. Such BS.
good luck man, that sucks but they can't be allowed to win
Last edited by mjwebb; 10-18-2018 at 03:57 PM.
#30
10-18-2018, 04:06 PM
I'm surprised the MOCO didn't open a case number with the dealership..they did for me with an issue and the dealership mentioned to me they acknowledged it within a day...anyway, dealership topped it off for you, you're convinced it will use a quart within a 1000 / 1500 or whatever it is miles which is the threshold for acceptable consumption so when you drop it off after that they have to investigate and troubleshoot further..if they don't resolve the problem you have done as you were instructed to and need to call back and demand a case number stating unable to obtain resolution to a problem that is under warranty...just tell the dealership you want to return it for a refund and you will be making that claim to the MOCO as well...that would be my breaking point for getting really pissy and ugly with the *****
good luck man, that sucks but they can't be allowed to win
good luck man, that sucks but they can't be allowed to win
Last edited by GusTrevino; 10-18-2018 at 04:08 PM.
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