07-07-2022, 10:56 PM
@Jurlie, a couple of points:
- it is one of those subjects, where you get 13 opinions, when asking 12 owners,
- technically, an air-cooled engine usually does (but does not need to) burn more oil than a water-cooled one,
- oil burn is not necessarily steady, or going up steadily with age,
- but most important - and regardless of advice from self proclaimed experts - even high oil burn rates for a long time should not make you worry - unless there is other signs of damage (sparks, etc.). The risk of taking the engine apart, and have it develop other problems afterwards, is just not justified by "high oil burn".
Now tell me
- in which temperature (extremes) do you typically operate ?
- lots of inner city riding, or steady 50mph on country roads ?
- did you recently change oil because it's been 1y from the last change, or because of miles you rode ?
To give you a house-number, I'd say even that if my Honda burned 1 quart every 50 hours of operation, I would not become concerned. After all it's not an aircraft, where an engine failure causes a forced landing or a ditch.
- it is one of those subjects, where you get 13 opinions, when asking 12 owners,
- technically, an air-cooled engine usually does (but does not need to) burn more oil than a water-cooled one,
- oil burn is not necessarily steady, or going up steadily with age,
- but most important - and regardless of advice from self proclaimed experts - even high oil burn rates for a long time should not make you worry - unless there is other signs of damage (sparks, etc.). The risk of taking the engine apart, and have it develop other problems afterwards, is just not justified by "high oil burn".
Now tell me
- in which temperature (extremes) do you typically operate ?
- lots of inner city riding, or steady 50mph on country roads ?
- did you recently change oil because it's been 1y from the last change, or because of miles you rode ?
To give you a house-number, I'd say even that if my Honda burned 1 quart every 50 hours of operation, I would not become concerned. After all it's not an aircraft, where an engine failure causes a forced landing or a ditch.