How much oil Burned is normal?!?
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
" 3000mi of it was over just a few days on a trip "
Bingo,just what i thought!
putting around locally 50-60mph on wk ends for 3k miles over mult months vs running high speeds for 3k miles in maybe hotter cond's too with often cause a motor thats generally oil tight to use oil when oil gets hotter having its viscosity sheered thinning it making it easier to get bast rings,valve seals,guides etc.
And if your crankcase breather is still hooked on stock location/in air filter that cans and will generally increase use runnoing motor at sig higher speed used more stress for 3k miles in jus a few days.
Just keep an eye on oil lvl when pushing the bike and dont worry about it.
And if i were you i would definately install a DK kit to relocate your bikes crankcase breather too because not matter how good the motors cond is when you push it 3k miles at high speed in short time even though you think it wont it will in fact push additional oil mist out in crankcase fumes that are ingested (sucked in!) by the motor when it's running long distance at higher speed thats even worse when in warmer summer temp cond.
Scott
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 651
Likes: 72
From: Harleysville, PA
How much oil burned is normal? Well there are a few variables to consider before answering.
1) How aggressive of a rider are you? If you speed shift, run out the motor to the fringes of red line (two to three time a week). You will used up a considerable amount of oil, also depending on how many miles are on you scoot's motor, and if proper engine breaking was administered (1 qt. used every 1,500 miles) is a conservative guesstament.
2) Another variable is if your PVC positive crankcase ventilation is slinging large amounts of oil trough intake breather (this can be easily missed as "oil burned".
3) Lets say you broke in the engine properly, you use a quality recommended oil, and change it within recommended scheduled miles w/filter. Also shift gears somewhat aggressively "yellow line rpm's" on occasion but not often, and are considered average rider. (1/2 of a qt. used every 2500 to 3000 miles) is a conservative guesstament.
Also can have an adverse effect if majority of riding is stop & go, you will use 20% more oil over town & country riding.
Bottom line, there are way too many variables to consider providing an accurate assessment. At best its a guesstament!
B Bop
2012 FLHR (Road King) Ember Red Sunglo & Merlo (stage II)
Cruise Control, ABS, Chrome Aluminum Profile Laced Spoke Tubeless Wheels, Security Package, Saddle Bag LED Lid Spoilers, and an array of accessories that enhances nostalgic appearance & blood curdling performance.
No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
1) How aggressive of a rider are you? If you speed shift, run out the motor to the fringes of red line (two to three time a week). You will used up a considerable amount of oil, also depending on how many miles are on you scoot's motor, and if proper engine breaking was administered (1 qt. used every 1,500 miles) is a conservative guesstament.
2) Another variable is if your PVC positive crankcase ventilation is slinging large amounts of oil trough intake breather (this can be easily missed as "oil burned".
3) Lets say you broke in the engine properly, you use a quality recommended oil, and change it within recommended scheduled miles w/filter. Also shift gears somewhat aggressively "yellow line rpm's" on occasion but not often, and are considered average rider. (1/2 of a qt. used every 2500 to 3000 miles) is a conservative guesstament.
Also can have an adverse effect if majority of riding is stop & go, you will use 20% more oil over town & country riding.
Bottom line, there are way too many variables to consider providing an accurate assessment. At best its a guesstament!
B Bop
2012 FLHR (Road King) Ember Red Sunglo & Merlo (stage II)
Cruise Control, ABS, Chrome Aluminum Profile Laced Spoke Tubeless Wheels, Security Package, Saddle Bag LED Lid Spoilers, and an array of accessories that enhances nostalgic appearance & blood curdling performance.
No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
Last edited by B Bop; Aug 21, 2017 at 12:37 PM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
For me, with my bike, at oil change time I fill it to 1/2 way in the etching, what some may refer to as a pint low.
At 5K when I change it, it is still there.
My other vehicles are generally 1/2 qt. low at oil change time, which I change per the oil life indicator. Mileage generally between 7K and 10K miles, dependent upon different variables per GM.
A quart below what I filled it to at 4K miles would have me pissed, unless I had 300,000 miles on it or so, ha ha.
At 5K when I change it, it is still there.
My other vehicles are generally 1/2 qt. low at oil change time, which I change per the oil life indicator. Mileage generally between 7K and 10K miles, dependent upon different variables per GM.
A quart below what I filled it to at 4K miles would have me pissed, unless I had 300,000 miles on it or so, ha ha.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 532
Likes: 10
From: Cottleville, Mo.
I think it can vary by brand and type of oil as well. I used to use Royal Purple synthetic in my 2011 Road King. From the beginning I would have to add oil to it a couple of times between changes. Maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart in 3,000 miles .
When I bought my 2015 Road Glide Special I switched to Harley SYN 3 and I never had to add any oil in between changes.
When I bought my 2015 Road Glide Special I switched to Harley SYN 3 and I never had to add any oil in between changes.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 107
From: Joplin, MO
Your engine creates an oil mist that seeps out of the crankcase vent tubes. it is directed back into your throttle body and burned inside the cylinder. I re-directed mine to a small catch container so it would not be deposited back into the cylinder. When I dump the container every thousand miles it has about 2 tablespoons of oil in it. This is where some of your oil is going. I have seen Harley pistons that have lots of sooty buildup on them, as the oil mist is not totally consumed, leaving lots of junk in there. This is why I bypassed mine.
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revriff
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