The Shovelhead and EVO engines tend to go through more oil than the newer TC's, but one quart every 1,200 miles seems a little excessive.

My EVO WideGlide goes through about 1/2 quart between oil changes (every 2,000 to 2,500 miles), while my TC bikes require no additional oil between changes.

If you want to talk about oil consumption on the Panhead and Shovelhead engines, well, that's a whole different story. LoL [8D]

 

Yep, on the old bikes, the chain oiler and just plain "weeping" as the Brits call it, could use up a bit too. Kinda like Harley was hesitant to give up the "total loss" system.

 

Do a search as the 05's had a valve seal issue that was covered by warranty. There are several threads here about it.

Look here: https://www.hdforums.com/m_222244/tm.htm


You can also check to see if there are any recalls on your bike here: http://www.harley-davidson.com/EX/MN...bmLocale=en_US

 

If everything seems to be running good and it's not leaking into the transmission, I wouldn't worry too much about it. It seems to be more than normal, but normal for one bike is differant for another bike. I had a 78 Ford pickup that used a quart about ever 1500 miles or so from the day my dad bought it new until I sold it with about 180,000 miles on it and it never had a problem. I would check the oil and make sure it doesn't smell like there's gas in it, and if you can get a compression test done that would give you a better idea what's going on. If all that checks out just ride it and keep an eye on the level.

 

03 Heritage, 21000 and no oil loss between changes here

 

If you have oil in the air filter you might be overfilling it,these engines will blow back thru the air filter if you overfill check it hot and dont add all the way to the full mark,that is not normal consumption even my shovel didnt use that much..now my amf sporty.....well I dont talk about it no more...Good luck.

 

How many miles are on the bike? I would say this is not normal oil consumption for an Evo with less than 150k miles on it, assuming it has had a steady diet of synthetic oil changed regularly. My '96 RK used about 1 qt./4-6k miles (depending on temperature) from the time I bought it in 1997 'til 2007 at 106k miles. If it isn't leaking, it is probably either escaping through the valve seals or oil rings. If visible, the former will show up upon deceleration, when you have high manifold vacuum levels which suck the oil around the seals into the combustion chamber. If the latter it will be seen upon acceleration. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there, and 1qt/1k miles may not be enough to make a big enough cloud to be readily seen.

Try warming the bike up for a night ride and have someone to follow you. Oil smoke will show up more readily against a headlight than in daylight, and you may see something there.
Also, check your primary, as if you have a bad engine-primary seal (been there, done that) the engine oil may migrate into the primary. Check the primary oil level to see if it has changed since the last oil change.

 

My '03RK normally uses no oil between changes.If I get into really hot conditions(like idling and slow-speed during Bike Week)it will use about a pint.
Clark

 

Going to check the primary this weekend. I may have been overfilling the bike with oil though.I am going to keep a closer and better trainedeye on the level. Thanks again forall the insight.

 

1 qt every oil change 2500-3000 is OK..