Oil consumption VN1500G1

[vulci001]

Hi,

I bought a 1999 VN1500G1 with 33000 miles.

Actually the bike has a pretty high oil consumption of about 0.7qt per 500 miles. The fumes do not show signs of burning oil.

What could be wrong? Any ideas? Is this just normal.

Roger

[Monkeyman]

First, welcome from Easter Island!

No oil usage is "normal" although sometimes it happens especially with higher mileage engines. I wouldn't expect it with only 33k miles, though. Either you're leaking it or you're burning it. I'd check the plugs to see what they look like. Are you sure it's not leaking?

[minst7877]

Check the rocker arm plugs above the spark plugs. Right side on rear cylinder and left on front. These have a habit of seeping oil as the seals get old. If it is the problem you can clean the area of oil and put a sealant over the plugs. The other option is pulling the power plant and installing new seals in the top end.

DC

[ringadingh]

It may be the way the bike is ridden as well. Sometimes high speed interstate riding will consume some, or more oil than city riding.Mine uses a bit of oil between changes, about a quart per oil change. To me thats quite acceptable with a combination of city and highway riding.

[ndbigfish]

Welcome.

I have a 99 Nomad with 31,xxx miles and it does lose any oil between changes. Oil loss is not normal. If the oil was leaking at the cam plugs or rocker cover gaskets you would see oil on the bike; alot of it. Try thoroughly warming up the engine, when place something light colored (cardboard or posterboard) at the exit of the exhaust. Wrap up the throttle and see if there is any oil on the light colored object. Likely you will see oil spattered on the board surface.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

These guys pretty much covered the things that could cause oil loss. Another thing that I have found out, not with my Nomad, but with our car. If I keep the oil changed at 3,000 to 4,000 miles it does not use any oil. Beyond that it will start using oil even though there is no smoke or other signs. Not sure how much mileage you have on that oil but if you aren't sure you might want to change the oil.

By the way, welcome from Alabama.

[pooker]

Try riding at night, when a car is behind you give it lots of throttle and look in your mirror, if you see smoke then it's burning oil.
This is how I found out mine was burning oil, it needed new rings on the pistons!!!!!

Good luck

[Loafer]

Doesn't that make a mess of the car behind you?

[caper]

Call me Crazy, or whatever But a motor shouldn't lose oil, burning or leaking! There is a problem somewhere

[krash]

Originally Posted by caper

Call me Crazy, or whatever But a motor shouldn't lose oil, burning or leaking! There is a problem somewhere

Never owned an early Harley Or British bike have you!
My 73 (AMF) sportster and 67 Norton Commando both marked thier territory, always had to carry extra oil on road trips.
Never thought of it as a problem until I got my first new Honda 750 super sport in 78 and it never leaked a drop in five years.

[rflnomad]

+1 to Krash! Our 1980 H-D Wide Glide likes to ...pee a bit. However, our 05 Nomad doesn't leak or consume any oil.
I use Kawasaki brand oil; not too sure of the differences but it still runs great.

[redjay]

My Norton Commando always marked its spot. So did my Bonneville, my T100A, my T90 and my 500 BSA. No ol leaks from any of the Japanese bikes I have owned. Thats why I keep buying them.

[rflnomad]

Would oil viscosity be a factor? Do the thinner oils burn up quicker?

[Monkeyman]

If you have bad rings or an iffy gasket, lower viscosity oils will leak more.

[danimal2]

Originally Posted by caper

Call me Crazy, or whatever But a motor shouldn't lose oil, burning or leaking! There is a problem somewhere

The old Harleys were a "Total Loss" oiling system.

"Total loss lubrication" refers to an archaic engine lubrication system wherein oil was added to a tank, passed through the engine, and was either burned or went out on the ground. Used in early racing engines as well as motorcycles and some aircraft, it was obviously long before the days of environmental awareness.