What would cause her to burn oil?

[Dave77459]

Last weekend, I noticed a mysterious red light come on when I rev limited in 2nd gear. I'd never seen it before, and the manual was inconvenient. So I checked the oil level and was shocked to see that it was at the bottom of the sight glass, and looked rather black.

 

I just changed the oil, and it was black and nasty. Clearly, she burned oil since the last change (about 4000 miles ago). I changed her oil just before my trip to Zion National Park, Four Corners, etc. I towed a trailer on that trip, so 3500 miles of those 4000 were towed.

 

She's never burned any oil (except when I overfilled her, before I realized she took less than the manual). She just rolled over 50,000 miles.

 

What causes a bike to burn oil?

 

Dave

[SilvrT]

Last weekend, I noticed a mysterious red light come on when I rev limited in 2nd gear. I'd never seen it before, and the manual was inconvenient. So I checked the oil level and was shocked to see that it was at the bottom of the sight glass, and looked rather black.

 

It's not uncommon for the oil to look black, especially thru that sight glass and even more so, after 4000 miles. That red light will come on under certain conditions, even if your oil is at normal level. For instance, if you red-line it going up a hill.

 

I just changed the oil, and it was black and nasty.

 

Mine is like that every time I change it ... pretty normal to me.

 

Clearly, she burned oil since the last change (about 4000 miles ago). I changed her oil just before my trip to Zion National Park, Four Corners, etc. I towed a trailer on that trip, so 3500 miles of those 4000 were towed.

 

She's never burned any oil (except when I overfilled her, before I realized she took less than the manual). She just rolled over 50,000 miles.

 

What causes a bike to burn oil?

 

Are you certain you got it filled properly last oil change?

 

Dave

 

I'd suggest you don't panic but keep a close eye on the oil level between this change and the next one. If it's gone down significantly, then start looking into why.

[Squidley]

Several things can lead to burning of oil. On auto engines valve seals will produce that effect as well as worn oil rings on the pistons. Do you actually see any evidence (blue smoke) when you start the bike up? Another thing to think about is do you possibly have an oil leak that either is hidden so not to actually drip on the ground, but be trapped in a valley or cavity where it might dissapate? I know others will chime in but thats what I come up with off the top of my head

[SilvrT]

Regarding burning oil and blue smoke, an old method we used to use to determine if it was valve seals or oil rings is, if blue smoke is coming out when you decelerate, then it's valve seals.... if it's pumping blue when you accelerate, then it's oil rings (Not a real accurate method but a good indicator). Similarly, if it pumps blue for a bit when you start it, after sitting for a while... then the blue goes away, it's probably valve seals.

[1sttenor]

Last weekend, I noticed a mysterious red light come on when I rev limited in 2nd gear. I'd never seen it before, and the manual was inconvenient. So I checked the oil level and was shocked to see that it was at the bottom of the sight glass, and looked rather black.

 

I just changed the oil, and it was black and nasty. Clearly, she burned oil since the last change (about 4000 miles ago). I changed her oil just before my trip to Zion National Park, Four Corners, etc. I towed a trailer on that trip, so 3500 miles of those 4000 were towed.

 

She's never burned any oil (except when I overfilled her, before I realized she took less than the manual). She just rolled over 50,000 miles.

 

What causes a bike to burn oil?

 

Dave

 

If its an 06 take it back to the dealer while its still under warranty!

[Dave77459]

I'd suggest you don't panic but keep a close eye on the oil level between this change and the next one. If it's gone down significantly, then start looking into why.

 

Thanks for your reassurance and ideas. Usually when I change the oil, it is new looking in the site glass. This time it is murky already. I'll keep an eye on it.

 

Several things can lead to burning of oil. On auto engines valve seals will produce that effect as well as worn oil rings on the pistons. Do you actually see any evidence (blue smoke) when you start the bike up? Another thing to think about is do you possibly have an oil leak that either is hidden so not to actually drip on the ground, but be trapped in a valley or cavity where it might dissapate? I know others will chime in but thats what I come up with off the top of my head

 

She's warm now, but it's a cool day. I'll let her sit a bit and then look for smoke. I haven't seen any, but my first start of the day is always in the dark. Stupid DST.

 

If its an 06 take it back to the dealer while its still under warranty!

 

I hope to take her in this morning for a chat with the dealer about a different matter. That'll give me an idea of what sort of resistance I can expect.

 

Dave

[SilvrT]

Thanks for your reassurance and ideas. Usually when I change the oil, it is new looking in the site glass. This time it is murky already. I'll keep an eye on it.

Dave

 

A lot of things can affect the color of the oil ... even the brand of gas you use. Operating under heavy load conditions...such as pulling a trailer ... how clean are your air filters? Did you try a different brand of oil? When did you change plugs last... sync carbs,... etc, etc Frankly, I rarely worry about the oil color. Now, if I see blue smoke or I notice a significant drop in oil level in, say 2000-3000 miles, then I start getting concerned.

 

When I change oil, I always run it until warm right after adding the new oil... then let it cool down and re-check the level and top up as necessary, never going much higher than the 1/2 way mark ... max to about 3/4 on the sight glass.

 

Hope it's only a misleading thing for you coz these engines shouldn't have oil consumption (burning or otherwise) issues for well over 100,000 miles.

[GeorgeS]

Maby pull the plugs out, and see what they look like. If its actually burning the oil, then one cylinder would most likley be the culprit. The Plugs should show some indication of which it is.

 

Also consider draining the oil, into a very clean container, and running it thru a filter of some type and check for any extreme amount of metal shaveings. ( I would use a cloth filter of some type )

[Dave77459]

A lot of things can affect the color of the oil ... even the brand of gas you use. Operating under heavy load conditions...such as pulling a trailer ... how clean are your air filters?

 

They were clean when I checked at the beginning of summer. 8000 miles ago?

 

Did you try a different brand of oil?

 

I did recently change to Rotella T6 Synthetic, but that was before my trip to Michigan in July, and I had another change between that trip and this one. So the burn was on the second change with the new oil.

 

When did you change plugs last... sync carbs,... etc, etc

 

At a Houston Maintenance Day, between trips.

 

Frankly, I rarely worry about the oil color. Now, if I see blue smoke or I notice a significant drop in oil level in, say 2000-3000 miles, then I start getting concerned.

 

When I change oil, I always run it until warm right after adding the new oil... then let it cool down and re-check the level and top up as necessary, never going much higher than the 1/2 way mark ... max to about 3/4 on the sight glass.

 

Yup, that's what I do too.

 

Hope it's only a misleading thing for you coz these engines shouldn't have oil consumption (burning or otherwise) issues for well over 100,000 miles.

 

Thanks again for your ideas.

 

Dave

[LilBeaver]

A compression test may also be helpful.

 

[FreezyRider]

If its an 06 take it back to the dealer while its still under warranty!

 

Don't hold your breath on the dealer doing anything about this. My buddy has a Vulcan 2000 (Kaw) with 45000 miles on it, and it is using a quart every 1000-1500 miles. Kawasaki's response is that this amount of usage falls within the normal range.

Hope that Yamaha would feel differently, but I doubt it.

[LilBeaver]

Don't hold your breath on the dealer doing anything about this. My buddy has a Vulcan 2000 (Kaw) with 45000 miles on it, and it is using a quart every 1000-1500 miles. Kawasaki's response is that this amount of usage falls within the normal range.

Hope that Yamaha would feel differently, but I doubt it.

 

I've read the same thing about 08-10 KLRs. (Another forum I visit occasionally has an ongoing post with these owners adding info on their bikes -- quite a few of them actually).