Oil Consumption
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 15
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From: Hampton, VA
Oil Consumption
Just finished a 1500 mile trip over the past week on my 2018 iron 1200 and noticed today while filling up that no oil was touching the dipstick. I changed the oil before the trip, doing what the manual said to do; fill up with two quarts, get the bike to running temp, check oil then add until level is reached. When I checked the oil after the oil change it was halfway up the dipstick and when I topped off today to get up to a little past the bottom line it was half a quart. Is this pretty normal to burn oil at that rate? I did run the bike pretty hard through mountains at high RPMs and the interstate at 80. The bike seems to be running fine, no smoke out the exhaust and no leaks. Did have a guy say it smelled like it was running rich. Any help is appreciated!
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Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Indianapolis
One time I had to add maybe a 1 cup of oil to my '17. That was two oil changes ago, and before I installed a Jaggs oil cooler. At that time oil temps were pushing 250* on hot days at Interstate speeds. Since installing the cooler, oil temps stay right at 200-210* and the bike has used no oil. The bike has right at 9400 miles on it now.
I have also found that it takes exactly 3 quarts to bring mine up to the full line on the factory dipstick. I have the analog oil temp dipstick but use the factory one to check the oil level when changing oil since it is much easier to read. I run mine at the full level since I have routed the breathers out of the airbox and under the bike. Even then I never see any residue on the line under the bike to speak of.
I have also found that it takes exactly 3 quarts to bring mine up to the full line on the factory dipstick. I have the analog oil temp dipstick but use the factory one to check the oil level when changing oil since it is much easier to read. I run mine at the full level since I have routed the breathers out of the airbox and under the bike. Even then I never see any residue on the line under the bike to speak of.
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Joined: Aug 2016
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From: King Ontario
I change my oil every 8,000 kilometers. It seems to use no oil between changes. I run below 200 degrees Fahrenheit on the back roads and 210 if I push it hard on the highway. I measure my oil temp in the oil tank via a built in thermometer in my oil cap. I have 55,000 kilometers on my 2006 XL1200C.
Last edited by ChromeSporty; Oct 21, 2018 at 05:13 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
In the 11 years I've had mine I have never had to add oil between oil changes, it might go from halfway up the stick right after a change to a quarter up the stick just before I change it but that's it.
It has a lot to do with the initial break in of the motor, if the rings didn't get fully seated before the honing wore off the cylinders it will cause it to use a bit of oil (not enough to see blue smoke) for the life of the motor. In some extreme cases where the motor was really babied during break in it can cause a lazy motor that uses excessive oil for the life of the motor (or until it is rebuilt and re-broken in).
It has a lot to do with the initial break in of the motor, if the rings didn't get fully seated before the honing wore off the cylinders it will cause it to use a bit of oil (not enough to see blue smoke) for the life of the motor. In some extreme cases where the motor was really babied during break in it can cause a lazy motor that uses excessive oil for the life of the motor (or until it is rebuilt and re-broken in).
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2017
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From: over the mountain
The major supplier of 1250/1275 kits would disagree with some of that.
Last edited by apache snow; Oct 22, 2018 at 07:40 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2009
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The general rule is 1QT/1,000 miles before it's at unacceptable levels. My 1250 burns about 1Qt/5k miles, which I hardly care about. I've got other motors that come closer to that 1qt/1k miles line. There are a lot of variables. One bike burned 3Qts in 900 miles. That one had bad rings and you could see and smell the blue smoke on acceleration.
A 2018 bike shouldn't burn a lot of oil after break in. If you've got more than 5k-10k on the motor, it might be a concern worthy of a trip to the dealer. If you're under 10k miles on the bike, ride some more and monitor. It will usually stabilize after that.
A 2018 bike shouldn't burn a lot of oil after break in. If you've got more than 5k-10k on the motor, it might be a concern worthy of a trip to the dealer. If you're under 10k miles on the bike, ride some more and monitor. It will usually stabilize after that.
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