My 2001 FXSTS used less then a 1/4 of a quart between 5,000 mile changes. That was still after 25,000 when I sold it. My 2005 FLTR was using a quart every 1,200 miles at first all through the front cylinder. Evidentally the end gap on the rings were lined up nice and perfectly (gotta love them union guy's). After the new rings and valve guide seals it now uses about 1/2 a quart in 5,000 miles. This is using Mobil 1 15w50 synthetic in both motors.

 

You can't compare a TC with an Evo in many areas, including oil consumption. TC's almost always use less oil between changines, whether because of tighter engine tolerances or whatever. Most of my friends report very little oil consumption in TC's, and my new '07 SG has shown no decrease in oil level in the 3600 miles since my last change.

 

How may miles are on your bike?

My wife and I have had 6 HD's over the past 17 years. They included:
- '90 Sportster
- '91FXRS-Con
- '96 Sportster
- '99 FXD
- '00 FLHT
- '06 FLHTCUI

Using regular HD oil, none of them ever needed oil to be added between changes at 2500 to 3000 miles. I've been trying synthetic oil in the '06 Ultra and have gone over 4000 miles between oil changes and did not need to add oil.

To more specifically answer your question about your '96 FLHRI with the EVO engine, I have to confess that I only hadthe '91 FXRS-Con for ten years andonly used it for short trips such as:

- All the East Coast States
- Coast-to-Coast touring
- Canada
- Mexico
- HD's 90th Birthday Party
- Daytona Bike Week
- Multi trips to Sturgis
- Daily riding to work

And after only 50K miles or so, the EVO engine base gaskets started to 'weep' a little - but not enought toneed to add oil between changes.

I found that all four of the 'big twins'would blow some oil out the air filter if I over-filled the oil. If I followed the service manual and only put in enough oil to register half- to two-thirdsbetween "full" and "add" ---rather than adding oil up to the "full" mark,they seldom if ever blew oil into the air filters (I use K&N), and the oil level after 2500 to 3000 miles was still between "full" and "add."

Having said all that, I mustsay that every one of the bikes "used" oil. I could see that the oil level dropped some amountbetween changes. For example, when I change the oil in the '06, four quarts puts the oil level about 2/3 of the way between "full" and "add." After 4000 miles, it drops to about half-way between "full" and "add."

JMHO