My 2012 S10 seems to using one half litre of oil every 1000 miles. Bike has 36,000 mile on odometer. I have been using synthetic 10-40 oil and after 1000 miles no oil shows up in the sight glass after a 10 minute warm up or after extended riding for an hour. I ride a lot of highway miles with the motor spinning 4000 to 4500 rpm. Bike seems perfect except for loss of oil. Ideas? Thanks
S10 Using oil
- Thread starter bigbruce
- Start date
I'm fairly new here but I have read that the oil can change levels in that ole sight glass. Are you judging the loss by what you put in or did you do a complete drain and measure the amount of oil you got out compared to what you put in? You may want to do a search on oil level changing. I was reading about it somewhere on the forum.
Are you sure you're "losing it"? The sight glass is ZERO percent accurate. I obviously can't tell you, with certainty, you're not losing/using oil, but it's not a common complaint with her. But I CAN tell you that when I change oil, I pay no attention to the sight glass. I put in the reccomended-ish amount and ride.
thughes317
Well-Known Member
4 qts (1 gal) at each oil change, ignore it until the next change. 50K+ happy trouble free miles......
When I changed the oil and let the bike warm up as per the manual the oil level looked fine. After 1000 miles nothing in the glass window. Should I just continue riding it until the oil level light comes on (as it has)? I would hate to run it out of oil and cause engine damage!
thughes317
Well-Known Member
See post above.
WJBertrand
Ventura Highway
I’ve heard of a few Gen 1s that use oil. Yamaha made changes to the 2nd Gen pistons and rings, perhaps as a result? So far I’ve not read/heard of a 2nd Gen using oil.
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I totally agree. But remember she's a semi-dry sump, so she has two oil chambers. That's why she has two drain plugs. The front chamber doesn't hold as much as the back chamber. And the oil light coming on is why pour the entire jug of oil into her. If I don't the oil light won't stay off. The only way to be sure is to follow the above suggestion of comparing how much drains out compared to what you put in. Although it will never be exactly the same.
Boris
Well-Known Member
Hi Bruce, Although not impossible, I’d be extremely surprised if your bike is using that much oil. The sight glass measurement is a pita and far too inconsistent. The light will warn you if the level is low, not ideal but a good back up. Perhaps at the next oil change, measure what comes out ( providing you know how much went in).
FWIW, I have a Gen1 bike with almost 45k miles, which I never top up between oil changes (5-6k miles). I believe it does use a little, perhaps a third of a litre at most, but never enough to need a top up.
FWIW, I have a Gen1 bike with almost 45k miles, which I never top up between oil changes (5-6k miles). I believe it does use a little, perhaps a third of a litre at most, but never enough to need a top up.
same here gen 1 32000 miles had 9 yrs never top up between services never look at that glass either
rob
scott123007
Well-Known Member
The Gen 1's (2012 and 2013 for U.S. bikes) WILL burn oil "if" run hard against the wind for long periods. Usually at 80 mph plus speeds droning along on interstates. Not a defect necessarily, but it was corrected on '14's and up.
gv550
Well-Known Member
Stop parking it beside the KLR. 
Because a KLR will use a bunch of oil if driven at higher speeds.Stop parking it beside the KLR.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Put 50,000 miles on previous 2013 Tenere and never noticed any oil consumption.
Have 49,000 on 2018 Tenere and never noticed any oil consumption.
I do check the little oil window frequently, like others have said it is rather deceiving , can check it parked in the exact same spot in my garage and seldom get the exact same reading 2 days in a row.
But it is also definitely possible that yours is burning oil. Have the valves ever been properly adjusted ?
One liter of oil every 1,000 miles seems like a lot of oil, does it blow blue smoke out the exhaust ?
What grade of gasoline have you been using ?
I have had very good luck with adding Marvel Mystery Oil to the gas to reduce oil consumption.
Have 49,000 on 2018 Tenere and never noticed any oil consumption.
I do check the little oil window frequently, like others have said it is rather deceiving , can check it parked in the exact same spot in my garage and seldom get the exact same reading 2 days in a row.
But it is also definitely possible that yours is burning oil. Have the valves ever been properly adjusted ?
One liter of oil every 1,000 miles seems like a lot of oil, does it blow blue smoke out the exhaust ?
What grade of gasoline have you been using ?
I have had very good luck with adding Marvel Mystery Oil to the gas to reduce oil consumption.
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fwiw on Gen 1 70mph = 3800 rpm and 80 = 4400 rpm
I know this to be true from personal experience.
And it seems you are aware that the oil light relates to low oil quantity, NOT oil pressure.
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RCinNC
Well-Known Member
Now I feel like, the next time I change my oil, I should measure how much comes out. My 2014 has 95,000 miles on it, and I've never added oil to it in between oil changes. The oil light's never come on. I've never given it much thought before, but I guess that, with no dipstick and an unreliable sight glass, the only way to really know your oil is low is if the warning light activates.
Without digging through my service manual, does anyone know offhand how low does the actual amount of oil have to be until the light kicks on?
Without digging through my service manual, does anyone know offhand how low does the actual amount of oil have to be until the light kicks on?
Fennellg
Well-Known Member
As previously stated. Add 4 quarts. Ignore the sight glass. Keep an eye out for the oil light. When you change it put the old oil in the 4 quart jug. You now have a scientific and accurate way to determine if you are losing oil. The only way to be sure. I do this every time. Easy way to store and get rid of your old oil. Keeps you informed as to what your bike is doing oil wise. Real peace of mind. Added bonus the oil is cheaper in a 4 quart container.
I store 4 or 5 jugs. That way I only have to take them to the recycle place every year or two. Works for my cars as well.
I store 4 or 5 jugs. That way I only have to take them to the recycle place every year or two. Works for my cars as well.
Thanks for all the advice. For all of you who have suggested to just leave the oil level alone, do you notice when checking your bike the oil level that the glass shows nothing? As mentioned previously my oil comsumption is worse when traveling at freeway speeds between 4000 and 4500 rpm.
RCinNC
Well-Known Member
Part of it would depend on when I'm looking at the sight glass. If It's immediately after I shut the bike off after riding, then I might not see anything in the sight glass. It takes a few minutes after you shut off the bike until the oil drains back into the sump, so if you were inclined to sit there watching it the whole time, you'd probably see the oil level rising.
I've seen differing oil levels depending on where in my garage I have the bike parked, since the floor is not absolutely level. But I've never gone out and looked at the site glass when the bike was cold and seen no oil in the glass.
I think if you were actually burning a half liter of oil every 1000 miles, you'd be noticing some performance issues, like fouled O2 sensors, or plugs, or even smoke from the exhaust.
I've seen differing oil levels depending on where in my garage I have the bike parked, since the floor is not absolutely level. But I've never gone out and looked at the site glass when the bike was cold and seen no oil in the glass.
I think if you were actually burning a half liter of oil every 1000 miles, you'd be noticing some performance issues, like fouled O2 sensors, or plugs, or even smoke from the exhaust.
tntmo
Well-Known Member
I never understood the "ignore the sight glass" statements. It works fine if you do the oil level check as it's supposed to be done. Dry sump engines have been around for years, it's not a big deal.
Some engines may use oil. Check it, keep it at the proper level.
Some engines may use oil. Check it, keep it at the proper level.