Vanishing oil

[drifterbob]

Just changed oil in my bike (no filter change) and 2 3/4 qt.'s put it right at the hi mark on the site glass.

[michaelh42]

Gordo, How do you get your wife to read a map??? 

[Gordo]

I've got a mechanics mirror on an extendible wand thing that works great.  Put the bike level, look at the mirror, then try and find the sight glass through the upside down mirror image.  Hhmm, maybe not so easy, but accurate.  I used to use the wife to look for me.  But that was like getting her to read a map.

[chief]

You really need to get used to the sight glass. It may hold more or less than the recommended amount and you need to be able to check it periodically. Always have the bike level when checking.

[plevine1]

Too much oil can be as bad as too little. You've been adding oil to a bike that didn't need more oil... I'd check the level NOW!

Thanks for the update. It will help others in the future.

I changed my oil over the weekend. I also pulled and cleaned my oil intake screen. I had already changed the oil filter the week before. I put in EXACTLY 3.1 qts. I do find it hard to see the level within the glass. At least I know my oil level is currently correct.

[chief]

Too much oil can be as bad as too little. You've been adding oil to a bike that didn't need more oil... I'd check the level NOW!

Thanks for the update. It will help others in the future.

[plevine1]

Sometimes the first step of the 12 step program to cure stupidity is admitting you are an idiot.
All this time I have been basing my need for oil on the fact that I see ALL the lights on my dash on. The odd thing was that I only thought I saw the lights on when sitting at a certain angle. When I would look directly over the dash the lights wouldn't be on. Just as you convince yourself that your car rides better after it's washed I convinced myself that my bike was dying a horrible death without any visible sign.
So until I invent another problem, this one seems resolved.

[chief]

What kind of oil are you using?

Have you noticed any increase in lifter noise?
How about any leakage around the valve cover gaskets?
To test to see if you are burning oil, have someone follow you at about 50-55 mph, close the throttle and let the bike run down to about 30-35, without changing gears quickly throttle back up to 50 or so and have the observer look for blue smoke.

[chief]

If you are burning it, it would be visible... in your rear view while riding. That's a lot of oil... I don't need to add any between oil changes... usually once per season or 5K. The drain plug has a crush washer... but really I can't imagine that much blowing past a gasket with nothing showing while sitting still... anything is possible I guess.

[plevine1]

According to tech support at Power Commander:

There is no way that a Power Commander fuel map would cause you to consume more or less oil. If the oil isn't leaking out anywhere, and isn't in the water, then it has to be getting past the oil rings and getting burned and going out the tailpipe.

Given the amount of oil I am replacing wouldnt my exhaust be blowing visible smoke constantly?

Is there a gasket around the oil pan? I do feel oil when I run my finger on the pan specifically around the drain plug area.

[plevine1]

So still nothing good. I swapped my oil filter and tightened up everything. My friend noticed a little white smoke and what seems to be a touch of oil blowing out my pipes but ont when I start the bike.

This problem seems to have begun right after I did a new download to my Power Commander. Could this have anything to do with my problem?

[plevine1]

I have Vance & Hines Straight Shots. I recently did the download to my Power Commander, which actually made the bike ride smoother and give me slightly better gas mileage.

Yesterday I changed my oil filter and made sure my drain plug was tight. I did notice a little oil around lower pan. Lets see how the next few days go.

[griz01]

That is a ton of oil! I do not remember; does your bike have the stock exhaust system? Converters will mask oil smoke some times.

[Troll]

That's a LOT of oil....even when my old shovel needed rings, I was getting 500 to a quart, and visible smoke...somebody should have noticed something.

[plevine1]

How many miles in 2 weeks? Ring problems usually mean exhaust smoke on acceleration, and valve guide problems mean smoke on deceleration or when first started. Compression tests are ok but you need a cylinder leak down test to diagnose a ring sealing problem. If the compression rings are ok, then you will not see any problems, but the oil scrapers could have still failed.

I estimate about 300-500 miles during the 2 week period. Somehow I got appointed "road captain" so I tend to led. Nobody has mentioned or complained about my bike blowing smoke or smelling fumes. I inspected the inside of my pipes looking for oil, nothing.
I plan on changing my oil filter today because it wasnt changed during my last change. Maybe a hairline leak from the filter that only shows while riding and the bike is under pressure, just guessing.

[Troll]

How many miles in 2 weeks? Ring problems usually mean exhaust smoke on acceleration, and valve guide problems mean smoke on deceleration or when first started. Compression tests are ok but you need a cylinder leak down test to diagnose a ring sealing problem. If the compression rings are ok, then you will not see any problems, but the oil scrapers could have still failed.

[plevine1]

My 99 Drifter has 26k miles. Recently I've notice it running hotter than usual. I have also been putting in about a quart of oil every 2 weeks which is the real reason the bike has been running hot.

The bike runs great. Nothing to indicate engine problems. No backfire, Spark plugs look fine. No exhaust smoke or fumes and no sign of a leak either on the floor or anywhere on the frame. Checked the radiator overflow and it looks perfect, full and no sign of oil in the mix.

My thought is it might be a ring problem. Would a compression test confirm this? Any other suggestions?