Author Topic: She does't like 10-40  (Read 1756 times)

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Scrounger

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on: December 16, 2009, 07:38:33 pm
Hi Gents:

The 2003 has been thumping along nicely.

About 1 week ago I changed the oil, and as it is December I though less viscous would be good.

Apparently not.

She has enjoyed a regular diet of 20-50  or 15-50 for the first 1700 miles with little oil usage, but my dipstick showed a regular consumption of 10-40 far above the heavier oil. perhaps a pint in 100 miles.  Aside from one horrid wet sumping (my fault ) I see no blue smoke, or leaks.

Not to be daft, but where did it likely go?

I will be switching back to 15-50 ASAP  It is 85 degrees again today.  So much for winter. >:(

Thanks for any advice.

Scrounger
The more pieces that fall off, the faster it goes!


UncleErnie

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Reply #1 on: December 16, 2009, 07:54:41 pm
Are you checking the oil first thing, or after it's been warmed up for 5 minutes?
Run what ya brung


Scrounger

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Reply #2 on: December 16, 2009, 11:33:48 pm
First thing.
The more pieces that fall off, the faster it goes!


UncleErnie

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Reply #3 on: December 17, 2009, 12:23:07 am
You're probably wet-sumping to some degree.   Start the bike on the centerstand and let it idle for a couple of minutes while the oil gets pumped back up into the oil tank. Wait a few seconds for the oil to come back down from other places- then check it.  Should be about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way up the hatched section of the dipstick (without screwing it in).
Anymore than that and it will just blow out and into your catch-can anyway.

Kind of a pain in the butt, but it's the only way to get any kind of real reading. 
New oil is hard to see, so I lay the dipstick on a napkin and look at the stain.
Run what ya brung


Scrounger

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Reply #4 on: December 17, 2009, 02:47:04 am
Thanks Ernie.

I will try when I go out to it for the ride home.

Kind of dark out, hope the lights in the lot are bright enough.  Will take a napkin.

Cheers! :)
The more pieces that fall off, the faster it goes!


Scrounger

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Reply #5 on: December 17, 2009, 01:46:07 pm
OK:

Warmed up as suggested, level is on the H line of the dip stick.

No oil leaking out of the little catch can which is vented to the crank case (yes I know some people change that, but it works fine for me).  Rode home safely.

So far so good.

Lubed all the appropriate spots.  Greased the nipples.  Checked to make sure nuts hadn't fallen off. Thumped around for a while, and then remembered I needed to work on the bike ;)

This morning gave the bike similar treatment (whats goose for the spouse, or however that goes....) and all looks good.

Still going to switch back to 20-50 for safety sake.

Cheers!

Must ride to work, or work to ride, not sure which........
The more pieces that fall off, the faster it goes!


whitey

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Reply #6 on: December 17, 2009, 02:33:52 pm
85 degrees ...where are you ?



REpozer

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Reply #7 on: December 17, 2009, 04:10:52 pm
I've also gotten in the habit of checking oil, after a ride.
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Scrounger

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Reply #8 on: December 17, 2009, 05:58:51 pm
In the library currently ;D



Naples FL
The more pieces that fall off, the faster it goes!


baird4444

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Reply #9 on: December 18, 2009, 05:47:45 am
Ah Naples...
 saw "The green flash"  at sunset once while visiting a mate...
 a great place to visit but personally I'd hate to ride in all that traffic...
                                   - Mike
'My dear you are ugly,
 but tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be ugly'
 - Winston Churchill