Hitchcocks Forum

Hello, Summer has arrived and back on the bike for a blast to work, a 60 mile round trip of A roads at 60mph ish. Checked oil, returned home, checked bike over later that evening and had the oil below the L mark, when it was near the H mark when I left. I don't think this is normal.

500 65 with 5000miles on the clock. No smoke or overly messey back wheel, no signs of oil escaping.

Where is it going?????

Help

Thanks

A

Could be wet-sumping. Check the level just a few minutes after stopping the bike.

Hi guys---------run your finger around the inside of the silencer tailpipe----It might be slightly sooty but DRY....If wet or moist then you might be burning some even with no smoke showing

Std valve guides dont last long without good old lead , this happened to my bike and I went for phosphor bronze guides with plasma nitride valves , next de-coke might show that my 4th and final seat cut on the oversize exhaust valve might end up with comp beryllium ones as std seats are very soft

Just checked the pipe, not wet but very slightly oily, could that be the point of exit for the oil? Is it time for new rings? Or even an upgrade to a 535 big bore kit??

Checking the oil juat after shutting of showed a full dip, so assuing if the level has dropped, its wet sumping. Anything to stop this? And do I need to top up the oil?

If it's wet sumping DO NOT add any oil. You have enough in there, just in the wrong place (the sump) Don't worry, it pumps out in a few seconds after you start up. If you're not getting smoke out of the exhaust when you start up it's not a problem but it can usually be prevented by ensuring the piston is at TDC when parked up. Have a read here http://www.whfolk.co.uk/REOCHUMBER/Articles/wetsump.htm

Thanks, Pete, So really I should check the oil either when I have finished riding, or just after I have started bike. And don't add any more oil. What happens if I do??? - Which I have done in the past. Yesterday for example.

Ok, so some of your oil gets into the sump when the engine wet-sumps, but is then pumped back into the oil tank when you start up. If you top up the oil tank when there is some in the sump, you will end up with too much in the oil tank when the oil in the sump gets returned. REs are a bit confusing as the oil tank is part of the same casting as the crankcase but it is a separate compartment - it's not a wetsump engine like most cars and most modern bikes. If you have too much oil in there it may get blown out of the breather, and will definitely make the wet-sumping worse. You want the level half way between the marks when checked after you stop the engine. Don't do it with the engine running as the oil will spew out, especially if there is too much in there.