Hitchcocks Forum

Hi.

I have a 2004 500 Bullet and I am finding I am using a lot of oil. I can fill the engine to the correct level using the dip stick and when I check it only 2 days later I find that it is off the bottom of the dip stick. The bike does not seem to be burning any or loosing any but for some reason it is drinking it. Can anyone point me in the right direction.

Thanks Eddie

First off, don't fill to the top mark. About half way is better. These engines do tend to wet sump so check the level a few minutes after stopping the engine. If the level is still found to be falling it must be either burning or leaking.

Try draining the crankcase after the couple of days & the level has dropped off the dipstick. .... Takes a while so leave it draining into a one pint kitchen measuring jug for a few hours. ... you might be surprised what you get. ....

Eddie, they will go through a lot of oil and you won't really see any smoke, we have a 612 going through 3mls a kilometer and you only see the odd puff of smoke on gear changes when riding behind it. You can smell it but you can't see it and 3mls is 300lms per 100ks A few weeks ago he rode it to Sydney and back and went through 6 liters of oil and that is the truth

Eddie: Try parking it with the piston on compression stroke, Top Dead Centre if standing for a few days. Also try using Castrol Edge 25/50, for big bore street machines.It stopped my Bullet wet-sumping and it doesn`t use oil in large quantities like it used to.

Eddie, More information is needed, what mileage has the bike covered?, how many miles does two days equate to?.

I would be wary of piston rings, it could be a sign of imminent piston decapitation. What oil are you using, mine doesn't like anything thinner then 20/50

Hi,

The bike has done 23000 miles now and I do around 36 miles on her a day. I do use a 20w 50 oil in the bike.
Thanks for the replies.

Eddie

Hi Eddie at that mileage on these engines it is time for a top end strip to check the wear on the bores and the valves and guides if it hasn't been done, using all that oil in 72 miles is extreme are you sure it isn't leaking out?.

Check the bore for wear and if worn it is time for a rebore and piston, you may be lucky and find there is little wear in which case deglaze the bore and fit new rings. if the valves and guides are worn then they will need to be replaced it is also a good idea to fit a stem seal to the inlet valve if not fitted as standard on this model.