| Author | Message | ||
     Sarodude |
I could've posted this in the Blast section but thought it might have more general consequence. After 13,000 miles, our trusty little Blast still gobbles up oil. The most interesting thing about it is that I can't seem to nail down any sort of pattern as to when it does or doesn't have an appetite. The only engine work of note is that I swapped out the valve guide seals once already. This, and the typical rocker gasket leaks, are about it. Oh, the breather was recently routed out of the intake. It seems to have made no difference. What gives? How likely is an out of round jug? Inadequate valve guide seals - again? Unhappy rings? Given mileage and mild state of tune, I'm looking for the most likely culprits. If my jug is out of round, that'll also put a slight damper on some other things. Oh well.... -Saro | ||
| Blake |
Saro, You don't specify the rate of oil consumption, but I trust it is excessive. First thing I would do is have the compression and leakdown checked by a trustworthy competent technician. The bike must be hot when being checked. I would guess that you will find a problem with ring seal or valve guides/seals or something like that. either way, no worries. If ring seal is the problem, it is a simple matter of either a new cylinder and rings, or an overbore job, an oversize piston, and new rings. You are talking easy stuff to fix. If you went with a new cylinder and rings, it's a couple hours work max for a good mechanic. If it turns out to be something related to a prior problem and it was under warranty, you might petition BCS for some consideration in the matter. You've certainly had to put up with more than a fair share of difficulties. In my book, they owe you. And while the top end is off...  | ||
| Sarodude |
Blake- I've been meaning to put a leakdown tester together for, uh, like 13 years or something... I'm sure I'll get to it one of these lifetimes.  How much oil? How's this: Yesterday morning, Loli rode from Reseda, Ca to Banning, Ca. 110 - 120 miles. The oil was near the top mark on the dipstick before she left. After she returned (another 120 miles) the oil was NOWHERE on the dipstick. I think we added something on the order of 4 to 6 ounces to make it happy. Funny thing is that we hadn't had to add any oil for a few tankfuls previous to that - maybe 3 or 4 tanks. The oil level BARELY moved. This was a 2 tank trip and it ate SO much more oil. Loli & I may have to start keeping a ride / oil / fuel log for that thing. -Saro | ||
| Blake |
You are checking the oil immediately after shutting down the bike right? On my Cyclones, the dipsticks all had about a half quart range from the full mark to the tip of the stick. It seems awfully strange that only 4 to 6 onces (1/8th to 3/16ths of a quart) are required to cover the same range on your Blast's dipstick. It could be perfectly normal, but it sounds strangely over sensitive. Anything less than a half quart down from full in my Cyclone and I don't care. | ||
| Mikej |
Blake, Next time you're near one look at the Blast oil cavity, don't take much loss as there isn't a whole lot of surface area where the dipstick sticks in. As far as the variability of oil loss goes I found the same thing on my M2. Similar conditions, but more loss on some days, no loss on others. Some speculate it's how the cylinder warmed up and took shape that day, others say it's due to humidity and barometric pressure. I just say to keep an eye on the oil at the end of each day's riding. Okay, carry on.  | ||
| Sarodude |
Blake- I'm just guessing on the quantity. I'll double check when I go look at the bottle tonight. The checks are always done immediately after shutdown. Also, I didn't shoot for the full mark during last night's fill. Some (not necessarily me) feel the higher the oil level the quicker the loss. One thing of note: The blast sure bubbles up the oil. I don't see that on our Dyna. I'm not sure if this is normal, acceptable, or applicable to other models. One of my wonderings has to do with oil getting bubbly (therefore taking up more space) and slowly finding its way out of something someplace. Nice and specific, eh? -Saro | ||
| Cjmblast |
The blast sure bubbles up the oil. My Blast bubbles up the oil too. I don't seem to have any problems with the oil, I check it immediately after riding, and I've ridden that far and Never lost that much oil in one trip !! I have about 6,600 miles on mine and have only put in two containers of oil during that time, I only have to add a little at a time ! CJM  | ||
| Dynarider |
Some (not necessarily me) feel the higher the oil level the quicker the loss. On both my Dyna & my X1 if I topped the oil off to the correct amount it would "disappear" mysteriously. I keep the oil level a bit above the add line on my Dyna & its just fine that way. I had an 1988 1100 Virago that would do a similar deal with oil. There were times I could ride it for weeks & weeks putting on thousands of miles & it would use zero oil. Then other times I would make a lunch run up to wisconsin dells..about 130 miles..& it would use 1/2 quart. It didnt burn it & it didnt leak, but the oil would just be gone. | ||
| Blastin |
Saro, In my 8,700 miles or so.(gonna add about 600 this weekend,yeahah  ) I usually never have to add more than a few ounces at a time, every 3-400 miles or so. I think the higher the speed and duration, as well as, the more floggin' you give it the more oil goes out the breather, etc. I ride with a bunch of the twins a lot, so I flogg it regularly(the bike that is). My recomendation is to keep the oil just barley on the dipstick when the engine is HOT. I used to put it up to the full mark when HOT, and it always just ended up blowing out the airbox. It seems much happier while keeping it at the lower level. Actually a lot of the time my oil doesn't even touch the dipstick. The first couple of times that happened to me, I just about freaked. But with the Blast you can see oil flowing through the frame when the dipstick is removed, so you know its not dry yet. When it does go down that low, it usually takes less than 2-4 ounces to bring it up to touch the dipstick when HOT. Another 6 ounces or so and your getting pretty high on the dipstick when HOT. It doesn't take much to overfill, as I'm sure you know. Jerry P.S. I always carry at least a half of quart of oil with me in the tank bag, just in case as well. I'll try to keep an eye on the oil level this weekend myself. A large portion (75%) of the trip will be freeway speeds of 60mph or better. | ||
| Cjmblast |
Blastin, where you going this weekend dude ?? Or is that Top Secret info ?? CJM | ||
| Blastin |
I'm headed up to Eagle River tommorrow with my Brother and family. Actually I'll be going through Pelican Lake, so I'll be sure and say "Hi" to Char. I'm guestimating that we will be going through Pelican Lake about 3p.m. But who knows how long gas stops etc. will take. | ||
| Cjmblast |
Blastin, cool !! Be Safe !! CJM | ||
| Sarodude |
Man, I love how lame I can be. When I referenced the 4 to 6 ounces above (a bad guesstimate of what turned out to be 8 ounces) I had forgotten that I emptied some now forgotten quantity out of another oil bottle. I realized this after I walked into the garage last night and checked stuff. The freshly opened bottle was missing 8 ounces. Then next to it was the empty bottle I'd forgotten to toss. It barely had anything in it when I used it up. I'd guess 1 or 2 ounces. Also, the oil level I'd filled to was maybe 2/3 up between the marks - which is about where it was before Loli's round trip. That basically makes something like 10 ounces in 240 miles. Crap - I just realized I forgot to check the puke drain. -Saro | ||
| Ezblast |
Iused to park my oil level near the stick base and I'd always end up feeding more oil - but I then got the red Blast with 5G on it and noticed that its oil was near the top, however, I also noticed in a few weeks that I never had to add oil to it, so now I do the same with the Black and it too has stoped using oil. All my lines are always checked and the valve is always checked (when tank is off to make sure seated properly). Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ  |
