chewing oil !

[Yak1050]

Just in case - you are checking oil with the bike upright, not on the side stand?? Your profile does say you are a newbie.

[jazzafox76]

Yeah Yak checking it standing up not on either stand, new to Triumphs not new to motorcycles.

[MrMessy]

Bit odd there pal. Im in Gladstone and run 10w-40 just fine though .

Surely you would notice that much oil being burnt by the engine - evidenced by the cloud of smoke you would be leaving behind. Is it smoky on start up or after a long idle?
If not id definitely be doing a thorough inspection around the bike, though again with that much fluid you would likely find a puddle anywhere you park.

As stated it shouldnt be in that state after a mere 25k kms...

[KitNYC]

Mine burns huge amounts of oil. Unless I'm looking for it, the only time I see the smoke is when I'm stopped at a traffic light at night with a vehicle behind me illuminating the smoke and a tailwind to blow it out in front of me. The smoke is not dense enough to see in the mirror in daylight; it's even hard for someone following me and looking for it to see. It's just not as visible as you might expect. (But put a flashlight on the tail pipe at night and rev it up a little standing still... It gets real visible real quick!)

Cheers,
-Kit

[duncan67]

No matter what is causing it,its not a cheap fix unless its something super easy like a blocked airway causing the oil to go up the breather.I have never seen that to be the case and it is unlikely. More likely its valve seals,sticking valves,bad rings,or the worse case of broken pistons,in that order of lilkelyhood. Get a leakdown and compression test done by a competent service place and they can tell you much better. It wont matter what oil you run be it heavy or thin,it will burn at the same rate. Kinda sucks getting an oil burner if you wanna keep a clear concience you cant really sell it to someone without letting them know and if you do tell them youll have to damn near give it away.

[jazzafox76]

Howdy, thanks for your input. Its great to hear different views on this issue. Mr Messy do you run semi syn in your bike ? My bike is parked always in the same spot in the garage and not one bit of oil is on the concrete. I'm guessing that its valve stem seals, since the performance is great, so no easy cheap fix. Cheers. Having owned suzukis in tha past I've never had wear problems, it seems to me that Triumphs do after reading quite a few reviews. Some people say its how they have run them in from new, yet with modern oils and engine technology I find this hard to believe.....thoughts ?

[lovecuba]

this is generally accomplished on (believe it or not) the first 18 revolutions of the crankshaft after the engine is started (the initial bed in). From then on, well? Thrash or follow makers recommendations but, it is generally recognised that 'good' oil will hinder the remainder of the bedding in. Why, because 'good' oil is just that, inhibits wear. When bedding in a little wear is good.