It's using oil, anyone else had this problem?

[Paul]

For the first time last year I noticed the oil level in the sight window drop during the course of the summer.
It went from completely 'full' (actually overfilled past the sight glass window) to empty, in about four thousand miles.


This year I decided to check the oil usage, and I've worked out that it's using around 175ml per thousand miles.
It doesn't leak, so it's presumably rings/bores or valves/guides, or a combination of both.
I also think, it's down on power, but despite having had the bike from new, I can't say exactly when I first noticed it.
As regards how much power it's lost, my guess (and it truly is a guess) is about 10bhp - 15bhp
It's also noisy when you start it up, the sounds seem to come from the top end (cylinder head/barrel), but it does quieten off a bit when it's warmed up.
However on the plus side, it still starts easily, doesn't misfire, and the exhaust doesn't smoke. 

Anyone else had this issue, or something similar to it, and if so, did you isolate the cause?
And if you did isolate the cause, is it worth* trying to fix it?
*worth = cost and piss-malling about.


Basic bike details below:
2001 FZS600
Mileage: 74,000, serviced regularly, and ridden hard regularly, but not deliberately abused..
Engine, gearbox, clutch etc. have never been touched, except for checking the valve shims at 30,000 miles.

[darrsi]

All i know is i do an oil change every 4000-5000 miles and don't even need a top up, they simply don't burn oil unless there's an issue.
Noise from cold is probably cam. chain rattle, which is standard, as long as it goes away when warm.
In all the time i've been reading this forum i don't remember anyone talking about losing oil, it's not a known problem with these bikes?

[Dave48]

Never had to top up oil between changes. are you burning any oil-what is the exhaust like? Have you checked coolant for presence of oil(head gasket). If coolant uncontaminated suggests head/valves/piston rings/bore wear but surely youd have a smoky exhaust?

[Paul]

As far as I know it's not using any coolant.


However came back from Scotland yesterday and there were black spots around the exhaust outlet of the silencer.
Unfortunately I cleaned the bike and didn't look at them closely.


I'll go in the garage and see if I can see anything.
----------------------------


Can't see anything unusual, just looks like normal carbon deposits.

[Dave48]

What colour are your spark plug tips? Black sooty exhaust suggests bike may be running rich.

[Paul]

To dave48


Dark brown, they seem o.k.

[tony22]

Probably burning a bit past the rings at high revs.. What oil do you use?

[Paul]

To Tony


Fully synthetic 5-30's (Asda's finest)

[tony22]

To Tony


Fully synthetic 5-30's (Asda's finest)

I would run 10w40 semi in a high millage engine, bet you don't have to top up nearly as much..

[Dave48]

Recommended oil for Fazer is 10W-40 semisynthetic-motorcycle specific. (UK climate)

[darrsi]

To Tony


Fully synthetic 5-30's (Asda's finest)

Why 5/30, there is no manual anywhere that recommends this?

[Paul]

To Darrsi


I've always used it.
Predominantly because its cheap and my wife and I shop at Asda.


Although this may well change, as we're going to Aldi more.

[Fazerider]

My current engine is on a similar mileage and does consume a bit of oil. I guess it's getting past the valve stem seals or piston rings, but with no other symptoms I don't worry about it.
If yours feels down on power then it might be worth investigating... as a first step I'd check the compression.
But, as everyone says, 10W-40 is what the thing needs (20W-50 if you don't use the bike below 5ºC), 5W is too thin.

[darrsi]

To Darrsi


I've always used it.
Predominantly because its cheap and my wife and I shop at Asda.


Although this may well change, as we're going to Aldi more.

May i suggest you stop using it, and try a 10w/40 semi synth MOTORBIKE oil and your troubles 'may' improve.
It would be the first thing to attempt as a possible easy fix anyway.
Yes it's more expensive, but it's made for the job.

[unfazed]

To Tony

Fully synthetic 5-30's (Asda's finest)

As mention in previous posts the correct oil for the Fazer is 10W40 semi synthetic.
The 5W30 is much thinner at operating temperature than any 5W40 or 10W40 oil and this may account for your oil burning.

[fazersharp]

If you shop at asda I have seen on the shelves castrol act-evo which is wahat I use £7.50 per ltr
I would of though that over filling would cause problems with it sort of having no where to go and so on a high milage bike it would get forced past the pistons and burned. I wonder if that when the oil gos down to what it should be, do you then see that you do not loose any more

[mr self destruct]

I have a similar issue with my 600, I use Yamalube semi-synth 10-40 and it does burn it away. I have to top up about every 3 weeks (750 miles) or my oil light comes on. The way I see it though, it hit 40,000 miles this week so if anything was gonna go bang it would have done by now, so I just keep topping it up.

[papercutout]

Weirdly, my bike has burnt oil recently. It's only a 20K bike, and when I did the oil change, I put Castrol GTX 10/40w Semi-synth in.

Other than the oil level dropping, there's been no problems with it. I've just topped it up twice. Due a change again soon though, averaged over 1k per month recently!

[Punkstig]

No. 1- use the right oil
No. 2- don't overfill it, there a 'max' line on the sight windows for a reason, if the window is 'full' then there's too much in there!

[CharlieDee]

Sounds more like this bike has self converted to a 2 stroke!!  IMO Yammys where always the best 2 strokes any how... joking apart.. if she's using oil then its being combusted so engine wear/bore n piston n rings is the factor here.. switch onto 10w40 SS and just keep on topping her up until she goes bang.. on an engine with that mileage she aint worth the hassle on a rebuild(unless you feel it necessary)... look out for a replacement block on Fleabay... from £150 - £400 for a minter low mileage. 

[Slaninar]

10w40 oil - 5w30 is too "thin".


SS or FS? It shouldn't matter that much. I'd stick with better - full synthetic oil all the way. Some will disagree.


However, if it starts burning oil when you pour 10w40 grade in it, THEN it there's probably something wrong with the engine - worn seals, pistons... Then you can start looking for a new engine, rebuild current - while in the mean time you can use semi-synth 15w50 oil.




Oh, and do check for "obvious" things like some seals leaking - clean the bike thoroughly and look for any oil leaking. Does it drip somewhere when you park it?