Help, wifes Virago is using a lot of oil

[raceman62race]

I bought my wife a 1990 Virago 1100 for Christmas. The odometer showed 17,000 and change. The bike looked to be in really great shape. However, I have had to add about 1/2 quart of oil every 250 miles. If the odometer was correct at 17,000 miles, I would think the rings should still be in good shape. It doesn't leak any oil. Is there anywhere else the oil could be going besides ring blow-by? Any help/advise would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[MiCarl]

Can also be leaking past the valve guide seals. Those are more affected by age than miles. Usually leaks from valve guide seals result in more smoking at start up, then less after a few seconds.

[Venturous Randy]

Is the Virago water cooled? If so is the coolant clean, IE., a blown head gasket?

RandyA

[BradT]

My wifes 1100 burns a bit of oil as well, but notice it at highway speeds only, 1/2 quart after 2500 miles

 

Not sure why but figured it came with the design of the motor. Sounds like you have bigger issue than we do.

 

BRad

[flb_78]

Have you tried to let it get any lower? The engine just may not like that much oil in it. I would let it go down and see if it gets any lower.

[camos]

Have you checked for an oil weep/leak from the bottom of the oil filtre cover? The bottom bolt has an o-ring on it that does on occasion get lost/forgotten. Pulling the bottom bolt out can also abrade the o-ring so it does not work very well after a few/many filtre changes.

 

The level should be no higher than about 1/8 inch down from the top of the window, any higher and oil will get burned off. If the oil level is in the middle of the window the oil level sensor (not pressure) light will tend to come on quite often when cold, when going up a steep hill and even during strong acceleration.

[raceman62race]

Thanks for the replies.....

I don't think it is weeping from the oil filter o-ring area. We store the scoot in the car port and we have never seen any oil on the floor under the bike. I have also looked it over pretty well looking for any sign of a leak and I haven't found anything.

 

When I add oil, it is usually barely visible in the sight glass. After the 1/2 quart is added, it goes 3/4 the way up the glass....just a little over half way up. Haven't tried to see if it gets lower than barely visible in the sight glass....sort of scares me riding with low oil but I will give it a try to see what happens.

 

It does dump out dark blue/black smoke at start up and it is a little more than I would like to see. It does clear up after a minute or 2. I will look into replacing the valve seals and see how that works.

 

Virago's are air cooled so there isn't any coolant.

 

Thanks for the ideas and if anyone has any other ideas, please don't hesitate to post.

[RedRider]

It just wants to run like a 2 stroke.

 

RR

[Black Owl]

Dark blue/black smoke at start up is usually an indicator of burning oil.

 

If it is burning that much oil, you should also see oil residue in the mufflers.

 

Have you run a compression test?

 

[SilvrT]

1/2 quart in 250 miles and no oil leaks visible??? that sukkah should be smokin blue big time.

[SaltyDawg]

If you haven't already found this site here is a pretty helpful bunch of folks. It may take a few days for them to approve registration. Make sure you fill out as much info as possible because if there is not enough for them they will send you an email to get you to answer fill in the info and that will take longer to get registered.

 

They are VERY knowledgeable on all of the Viragos.

 

http://forums.delphiforums.com/vocroom/start

[frogmaster]

1/2 quart in 250 miles and no oil leaks visible??? that sukkah should be smokin blue big time.

 

I think your concept is correct and if your my age we all seen the Blue Smokers of the past (years ago) but today's oils are very clean and burn cleaner too. At the rate he is adding Oil he is burning clean oil constantly no chance to collect all the old Carbons suspended in the Oil thus less Blue Smoke as reported.

 

Compression test will confirm Blow Bye. If lucky the Rings are Shot and the Cylinders & Valves are not Damaged (fingers crossed for you)

 

Good Luck.

Edited July 18, 2009 by frogmaster

[raceman62race]

I have not ran a compression test. I do have a compression gauge and I will do that tomorrow if I get a chance or Sunday at the latest.

 

After a few seconds start up, it doesn't have any visible smoke at all. Pipes are black but no visible oil.

[eusa1]

questions for you:

1: is the bike stock//exhaust/stock jetting?

2: what grade and brand of oil are you using?

3 how long does it take you to put 1000 miles on the bike?/weeks/days/years?

 

better answers require more information:

 

ready to help.mike

[raceman62race]

We bought the bike used and I think it has after market exhaust. Not sure about jetting. I know it runs well and gets about 35 mpg. I am currently running Rotella 10W-30. Normally it takes about 2 weeks to get 250 miles but we did go to Tybee a bout 3 weeks ago and then we went to Asheville and they both were 250 miles one way. Had to add oil at Tybee before the ride home, when we got home from Tybee I added oil, and when we got to Asheville and before, the ride home and added oil when we got home from Asheville.

[painterman67]

Hey there John,

 

I dont remeber an excess amounbt of smoke when she cranked it to leave. And from the sound of it it is an after market exhaust. Dont remeber a virago sounding that good.

 

 

Hope all comes out well. As you seen I'm not much of a mechanic.

 

 

David

[eusa1]

often times these machines get aftermarket exhaust installed and the owners figure that if it runs good and don't blow up.....it must be ok....NOT!!

 

If the machine is left to run lean too long the damage may be too far gone to adjust.

 

however, see if you can find out if the machine is running too lean////too hot/// and get it jetted to give it more fuel to cool it off and try running casterol gtx20/50 oil and also tell me if the machine is cold blooded or not, when starting cold engine?

 

mike.

[BradT]

I know it runs well and gets about 35 mpg.

 

That gas mileage is not that good, should be getting more than that, unless you are running real hard. If you are out in the country at 50-55 mph I would expect closer to 40+ mpg

 

Guess it depends on how you ride

 

Brad

[painterman67]

yeah I didnt catch that or I would have mentioned it. My wifes 1100 Shadow gets 48-52 depending on haw she drives. She not real hard on the throttle.

 

 

David

[rod]

Viragos are not known to use oil. I have never added any oil between oil changes on my 1100 with 26,000 mi. I would check the valve adjstment and compression test/leak down test. Check here http://viragotechforum.com/phpBB/portal.php

I get 45-50 mpg and I ride it pretty hard. Good luck Rod