Losing oil?

[noobcorpse]

So I did a search for "losing oil" and "burning oil", since I seem to be having a problem with oil disappearing from my bike - I've had 2 oil changes since I've owned the bike (just turned 7k miles) and I just had to add 2.5 quarts the other day because I checked it and the dipstick was completely dry.. not good.

A search for those terms brought up something about the 'crankcase breather' and possibly having issues with that. Anyone else have experience with this?

I've been running full synthetic since I changed out the break-in oil, the weight that the manual specifies. I also get the black carbon soot stuff on my taillight/pipes, but I've been told that it's dirty vapor / water from the cat, and not oil.

I'm going to ask my mechanic to take a look at it in the next 2 weeks, just wondering if anybody's had a similar issue.

EDIT: I suppose I should add - there are no visible oil leaks on the bike, or on my garage floor.

[NikosR]

If you were having problems loosing as opposed to burning oil you would have noticed the mess on the bike and the pools of oil where you park the bike. Yes, if your crankcase breather is blocked or the valve is faulty you will loose oil from various places but as I said you would have noticed.

I have no clue how much 2.5 quarts is in 'proper' units, but if it's not within reasonable limits for the motor you might need to have the motor checked (that would mean unfortunately opening up the motor, a not inexpensive procedure).

BTW, how did you run in your bike?

PS. Now, if your crankcase breather valve is faulty and remains always open (I don't know if that can happen), you might be loosing oil which will be directed to the air filter box and from there either to the intake or on the ground (I'm not sure what CA models are supposed to do in this respect). It wouldn't hurt if you checked that area for signs of excessive amounts of oil there.

[MickSprint06]

Do you have the 1050 or the 955 motor? My '06 is consuming oil at the rate of 400ml per 2,500km. Not a great deal compared to BMW's I've owned but more than any other Sprint I've owned (I've had 4). I've mentioned it to my dealer and they seem to be of the opinion that I don't know how to check my oil - "it's not a Honda mate". I just changed the oil for the 10K service and I will be monitoring the situation. If it continues they have to do an 'oil consumption test' and if that proves it's using oil and it's more than the *acceptable* amount then it's their problem. If your bike is still under warranty it's important that you get your dealer to note on your records that you've reported the bike is consuming oil. It could be the oil type, for example I switched to using a particular syntheic oil in a cage I used to own and it began using oil wheras previously it had used none. Switched back to the oil I was using and the oil consumption stopped. Go figure.

[ricster]

Oil consumption of 2 qts is excessive in only 2500 miles that is for sure. You either are burning it...or leaking it. Since our bikes have bodywork...you may want to check inside the bodywork to see if there is excessive oil residue there...I know 2 qts you would notice it drip on the ground...but check the inside panels just to be sure. My guess is your burning it.

[SteveD]

Hi Noob,
I too have the same oil usage problem on my 07 sprint. Right from new, the rear of the bike was covered in soot,and when hard on the throttle an explosion of black smoke.So after 3 trips back to the stealer, they finally concede that something is wrong.After calls to Triumph Australia the stealer informs me that T has had this problem with a "couple " of sprints.End result, motor is to be pulled down. T says it is either valve stem seals or rings.Oil useage has been 1.4 litres in the last 500 km. The worst part is the stealer can,t look at it for 3 weeks, and then bitched like mad when i demanded a loan bike. Tuff, fix the bloody thing. Regards Steve

[Villafan]

I too have had concernes over oil consumption - previous to the 06 ST i have now i had a 955 RS and all it required was a mere splash of oil between services. But the ST after a run of 200/300 miles needs topping up (half way down the dipstick) and no signs of oil anywhere in or around the bodywork. Talking of dipsticks, the mechanic at my dealer told me i was not checking the oil properly!!!!!!

[oldndumb]

High oil consumption and soot on your rear end are not good signs.

If it were me, I would be going to the dealer and getting it documented/fixed. It could be a simple fix, or it could be $$$$$. Either case, it should be fixed. If they say not to worry, you will have it in writing.

That means leaving the dealer with a copy of a work order saying something along the lines that the customer has a complaint about high oil consumption or deposits on rear panel/light and the disposition. If they don't want to do that, the warning bells should go off.

Always CYA and get it in writing.

[Swampy]

Hi Noob
'Bike' magazine ran a report recently regarding their long term 1050 Tiger which was using oil and blew the motor (crank journal failure I think). It failed a few hundred miles after the tester had checked the oil level and noticed it was slightly low. But when they stripped the motor there was only 1.8 litres left in. Triumph responded by saying they were not aware of an oil usage issue. I'd get down the dealer sharpish and insist this is looked at.
Oddly enough, concerning the 'not checking the oil level properly'. I've been touring recently and checked the oil after a few days (cold), my bike - an 03 ST has never used a drop of oil between changes but was showing minimum on the dipstick. I bought some oil and put in about 250ml. I checked it again and it was now on 'max' so thought all was well. When I got back I checked again and it was overfilled, so I syringed out, yep, you've guessed - 250ml and now is on max again. What happened there? I've checked the oil level dozens of times on this bike in the workshop and been mechanicing and riding for 25 years, so just like some of you have been accused of, am I incompetent at checking an oil level? I think it may be that I didn't leave it on the centrestand long enough perhaps, but not really sure - never happened before. Cheers, Chris

[NikosR]

Was it Bike or another british mag that had a Daytona 675 blow up in their hands some months ago? Seems that T and british rags don't fit well together

[artfry]

As reported before on these pages - i've had this oil consumption problem too. Fairly consistent in about 500ml /1000 miles.... sometimes more.

* Yes theres soot on the tailpipe/lights.
* No theres not a single sign of a leak.
* Theres also sometimes a v v short small puff of blue as i start sometimes - but thats not enough in itself to be the issue and this happens less now.
* Absolutely no smell of major burning of oil (had a mini as my first car way back - i know what that smells like!)
* fully synthetic oil to correct grade being used
* strictly per the book run-in cycle.

Spoken to dealer (same dealer that supplys the 'Bike' mags Tiger thats gone bang actually) who says theres no general issue in these engines which is same line as T. Going in for 12k service soon so will log again with them. Still within warranty.

Wondering how many examples of this does there have to be for there to be an issue. That amount may be within limits (upto a litre per 1000 miles) - but as noted in Bike's articles - these limits were set in 1977. Checking level every ride now - which i know is as per books instructions - but thats not what i expect to have to do in 2007 AD.

So worth posting to see how wide spread this is?

yeah it was Bike that had the 675 go pop. Same thing - they hadn't been checking daily - they put their hands up to that - but they had been checking.