In your message dated: Thu, 09 May 2002 20:03:53 EDT,
The pithy ruminations from "Bob J." on
<Re: dreaded oil consumption thread> were:
=> In a message dated 5/8/2002 6:03:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
=> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
=>
=>
=> > bought my 93 GTS new in 96 and used Yamalube for the
=> >
=> > first 3,000 miles. The first oil change was at 500
=> > miles and then two more changes up to 3,000 miles.
=> > Ever since then I've used Mobil 1 15w-50, with oil&
=> > filter change intervals at 2,500-3,000 miles. My
=> > riding style is fast but smooth. No redline shifts,
=> > but I'll cruise 80-100 mph all day long on interstate
=> > and county roads. My current mileage on the GTS is
=> > 51,000. Consumption has not changed since 3,000 miles,
=> > at 4oz. per oil change. I think oil cunsumption is
=> > based on three points.
=> > 1. Method of brake-in.
=> >
=>
=> Jon, you have a very interesting point that i have also stumbeled on and
=> just thought that maybe i was all wet. My first GTS was a 93 bought new ,
[SNIP!]
=> with 35K on the motor. I sold that bike and bought a stock 94 that had 3K on
=> it and had standard dino oil. I made the first change using silkolene dino
=> oil to 5K then changed again using Motul dino oil and noticed after I had
=> changed the oil that it said break in oil on the container. I ran that about
=> 1700 miles and had to add about about a half pint before my next change to
=> Motul 5100 mwhich is a blend. Rode to Death Valley and back running between
=> 80 and 100 most of the way with Kelly Cash and Christopher (cant remember
=> the last name) and along the way they were adding oil almost each time we
=> fueled. Went 1200 miles and the oil level is still full in the sight glass.
=> I now have about 1500 and it still doesnt show any oil usage. Needless to
=> say I was quite surprised and wondered if running the dino oil longer had a
=> effect of sealing the rings better. Just a thought.
I had the same thought, but here's some contradictory data:
I bought GTS(1) new, and ran dino oil in it for about 10,000 miles just
for break in. I think that was all 10w40 oil.
After that, I switched to Mobil1 15w50.
I change the oil + filter about every 3000~4000 miles (sometimes over 5k
if I'm on a long trip). On the road, I add whatever oil I can find...in
the US it's usually Mobil1 or some other synthetic, usually 15w50 or
20w50. Outside the US, I take what I can get!
The bike has always used significant oil--as much as 600cc/1000miles.
The oil usage depends almost entirely on the riding style--sustained
high speed riding (80~100+ mph) sucks down oil fast. Sustained high-rpm
riding (6~7K RPM) at lower speeds uses oil, but a bit less so. Commuting
and slower riding...maybe 200CC/1000 miles (but I rarely ride 1000mi
taking it that easy, so it's hard to say).
Oil usage began increasing after about 40K miles, and was really
annoying by about 50K...over 600CC/1000 miles of fun riding. Yuck.
I had the top-end worked on (new rings, valve seals, etc.), but I
haven't ridden the bike since.
GTS(2) bought from Mike Coan with about 21K on the bike. He used 10w40
oil (semi-synthetic). I don't have complete records about the history of
oil changes or usage, but he did add oil about 1K miles after a change,
and about 2.5k miles after another. Since I got the bike, I've put on
about 5.5K miles, and have added about 1.5L of oil.
So, two different bikes...same year...different break in process, different oil
weights...different oil types...different mileage. However, with the same
rider, both bikes show about the same oil consumption.
My riding style--completely approximate (by hours of engine use, not mileage):
~30% city traffic (1st/2nd gear, under 50mph, lots of stop&go)
~30% moderate freeway/backroads (every gear, under 65mph, interspersed
with ~30mph sections, reasonable throttle
variation, under 6K rpm)
~20% high speed highway (80~115mph for sustained periods--30~45 minutes
or more, constant throttle, ~6K rpm)
~15% fast backroads (2nd~3rd~4th gear, up to about 75mph, lots of
throttle variation, under 7k rpm)
~5% fast backroads (1st~3rd gear, hard acceleration, 6.5~8.5k rpm)
I ride with a passenger and luggage for about 40% of those hours, but under the
same mix. I don't see significant changes in oil consumption related to the
passenger/luggage or altitude.
In my experience, a constant throttle above 5.5K RPM uses more oil than any
other riding style. It's also boring, but it certainly gets you to the horizon
quickly! :)
Mark
=>
=> Bob Johnson
=>
-----
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