I might be burning oil?

[pooker]

Hello, I do all my own oil changes on my 2008 Nomad.
The last couple of changes I noticed that the pan I use to catch the oil wasn't as full.
I decided to measure it this time and I found that the is almost 1
liter missing????
Yep, no doubt about it,......I put in 3.3 roughly and only 2.2 came out !!!!
I thought this was strange, the bike runs great, it doesn't smoke but it is burning a liter of oil.
I change about 3,000 kms and burn Rotella T 5W-40

What can this be?
Thanks

[wiz]

- What did the oil level look like in the sightglass when the bike was level? I check mine at least once a week.
- Did you change the filter too? Different oil filters hold different amounts of oil.
- 3000 kms (1800 miles) is a very short change interval. (just my cheapskate opinion)

[waterman]

Pooker,

Keep track of the oil level between oil changes. One of the things you might want to do is change to a heavier weight oil. The big thing is to keep track of it. Is this a continuous consumption or does it dramatically increase at a certain mileage.

[poppy]

i would think if you suspect you are burning 1 liter of oil in 3000km, the spark plugs should yield some type of clues. Have you checked the plugs? Maybe check them weekly during a visual oil window check?

[macmac]

Isn't that apx 500 miles? 3000km/6?

And on a 08? I'ld have to say you forgot to add a liter of oil last time. Otherwise you would see blue gray smoke out the pipes pretty hard, and or see a pretty fair oil leak. Do you ride down hill a lot letting the engine brake for you?

Sometimes in summer heat and riding in the Whites around here where I live i will use a little oil that way, but never more than 1/4er liter between oil changes. My bike is a 06 18,000 miles.

[poppy]

1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers

3,000 km = 1,864.114 miles

Losing 1 liter of oil per 1800 miles is astronomical...If it's not leaking, you could hire out as a mosquito fogger......

Mac, wouldn't you eventually foul the plugs? Regularly?

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Let us know how many miles you have on the bike. That sounds like a lot of oil loss for 1800 miles. I would start looking at everything to see if there is an oil leak. It is quite possible that it wasn't completely full the last time you changed the oil. Always add your oil and crank it and let the oil drain down then level the bike and check the site glass to make sure it is at least in the middle of the site glass.

[pooker]

The bike is an 08, yes it's under warranty.
I have used Rotella T 5W-40 since new and I buy it in a 4 liter jug.
I pour out 800 ml in an old jug to save and then dump in the rest.
So I am putting in 3.2 liters of oil every change. I change at 3,000/3,500 kms.
Most of my driving is highway and I have almost 40,000 kms on the bike.
I looked at the plugs and they look okay, whitish/brown.
I have had others follow me and no smoke,.......maybe a little carbon if I really give it.
Most bikes do burn some oil, they also blow it out the crankcase breather as well,.............but I'm down 3/4 of a liter and that seems like a lot to me.
Maybe the valves need adjusting???
Thanks

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by pooker

The bike is an 08, yes it's under warranty.
I have used Rotella T 5W-40 since new and I buy it in a 4 liter jug.
I pour out 800 ml in an old jug to save and then dump in the rest.
So I am putting in 3.2 liters of oil every change. I change at 3,000/3,500 kms.
Most of my driving is highway and I have almost 40,000 kms on the bike.
I looked at the plugs and they look okay, whitish/brown.
I have had others follow me and no smoke,.......maybe a little carbon if I really give it.
Most bikes do burn some oil, they also blow it out the crankcase breather as well,.............but I'm down 3/4 of a liter and that seems like a lot to me.
Maybe the valves need adjusting???
Thanks

The lifters are hydraulic, no valve adjustment needed.

[ringadingh]

Ive seen other motors use that amount of oil and show no unusual symptoms of it burning. Don't forget the oil filter is holding a bit of that oil as well.
My bike has been down a litre of oil between changes sometimes, I think it depends on the weather, temp, and how hard your pushing the bike. The plugs are never sooty and it doesn't smoke or show any signs at all. I don't really think its anything to worry about. Sometimes switching brands of oil will change the consumption.

[Yellow Jacket]

This may be a dumb question, but are you adding in the oil that is in the filter when you remove it?

[macmac]

Thanks Poppy I lost my mind and haven't yet found it.

I don't measure out oil, I add 3 qts and fire the engine with a larger than normal oil filter, since there is no goat belly. The engine runs a moment and I shut it off, and wait a bit then chack the level and add to half way up in the window.

When the bike is HOT that level is then at the top.

If this were a 1999 with 80,000 miles I could almost say that's ok, but it is a 08.

No one knows where the oil went but you better check it more often. I check mine each day I ride, and check my air once a week.

I hate sayin this, but I do sometimes. Bikes ain't cages. The guys I know that ride will let their cages go green. I mean things are growing on the windshield and dash and are green

These guys have spotless bike though. If you treat a bike like a cage, you might wanna hang up yer keys.

[pooker]

So, I took my Nomad in to the shop as my last oil change it was down 1.5 liters.
The mechanic told me I need new rings, pistons and sleeves!!!!!
The bike is still under warranty, I sure hope it's covered!

[ringadingh]

Im curious to see if they will cover it. They may try to pin some sort of negligence on you to get out of it. Hopefully not.

[macmac]

On a 08? I want pics of the pistons and sleeves... This is nuts. Since it is warrenty work you can't keep the dead parts, but you sure can see them on request, make that request!

Un heard of.....

Did this bike PING hard and alot? Really i want pics of the piston tops detailed at the edges where the top meets the sidewall, and the suffing on the skirts and sleeves.