engine dry on brand new bike

[Krazy Kraut]

Hi Everybody!
Well, i bought my GZ around end of June last year. I have' t had much time to ride (due to kids), so i only had about 250 miles or less on it at the time (which was around 1 mos ago). When i was going to ride, my hubby checkd the oil and we noticed, that it was dry and only had maybe a 1/2 quart in!!!!!! My question is: Is that normal? I have NEVER heard of a brand new bike, with that low mileage on it, needing oil already!!! Please give me feedback, but at least i would know how to change the oil now!!!! LOL
Any help is appreciated, you guy's rock! :rawk:

:whistle: :shocked:
Krazy Kraut

[blaine]

If there was oil in the sight-glass dont panic.These bikes only hold 1400 ml or 1.2 quarts when full.It is normal for engine to use oil until it is broke in .Thats why first service is at 600 miles.If you change your own oil it will be normal to see metal shavings in first oil change.Hope this helps.Good luck.Ride safe!

[alanmcorcoran]

How exactly did he determine there was only a 1/2 quart of oil? Did you fill it up from there? (If so, you may have over filled - can you see an oil/no oil break in the glass?)

(Also, how did last June migrate to about 1 month ago? When did it have 250 miles on it - last June, or now? If it has over 600 [now] you are due for a change.)

There's a ton of info on here about how to change the oil (it's not too difficult, but you should probably get some oil filters and some sets of the two "O rings" if you are going to do it regulary. Google "Bike Bandit.") Basically, there is a plug on the bottom that drains the oil, you can optionally change the filter by removing the oil filter cover, and then you fill it back up in the usual manner. There is a lot of discussion on what oils people use, esp reg vs synthetic, but probably the main thing to avoid is oil with friction additives - they apparently make the clutch slip.

[patrick_777]

Checking the oil properly is also important. If it's still on the sidestand when you're looking at it, that's wrong.

[Krazy Kraut]

Hi!
No, i didn't have the bike on the stand, i had it upright. We added about 3/4 quart (according to the bottle). The bike NOW has 262miles on it, we bought it new with 0 miles. the reason why i said one month ago, cuz i don't get much riding time, so at the time of the check the mileage was 250 miles or a little less! I do check it every other ride, but to see it that low so sudden, was a shock to me. I checked the oil again today, and it was at the very bottom of the sight window! I have no problem changing the oil, due it on my vehicles, but should i even change it? So, if i can even see a little oil, it will be okay? Don't want to ruin my baby!!! Already getting negelected too much! LOL
Thanks for all your help
Krazy Kraut

[alantf]

If it's any help, when it's on the side stand (& after standing overnight, so the oil can drain down to the bottom) I can see oil, just at the bottom of the sight glass. As I get hold of the bike & move it to upright, you can see the oil come up to nearly fill the sightglass. It's always done this, so that's how I check the oil level before every ride. In 15,000 km (nearly 10,000 miles) I've never had to top up (with an oil change every 5,000 km) :)

[patrick_777]

Kraut, your best bet is to change the oil, whether or not you change the filter until the 600m mark is up to you.

Then you'll know for certain how much is actually in there. It should be just 1300ml or just under a quart and a half.

[alanmcorcoran]

It is possible that the dealer forgot to check/fill the oil when it was sold. And it's fortunate that you caught it when you did. My bike was "delivered" with turn signals not working, mirrors not fully installed and a couple of other minor issues. Not a huge deal, but galling when they charged me $150 for "safety check." I've ranted on here before about the extreme variation in dealer service department competence. In short, competent mechanics are the exception rather than the rule at most CA dealers. (When you find a good one, maintain the relationship!)

I think it's more likely they never filled it than you have developed some sort of catastrophic leak. Nonetheless, I would monitor the levels carefully for the next 250 miles and look for oil leaks or excessive smoke coming out of the pipes.

[Easy Rider]

Hi!
I checked the oil again today, and it was at the very bottom of the sight window! I have no problem changing the oil, due it on my vehicles, but should i even change it? So, if i can even see a little oil, it will be okay?

***NO***
If it used/leaked that much oil in just 15 miles, there is a PROBLEM.
Call the shop and let them check it out under warranty.
Mine went down to "half" only after about 1,500 miles......so yours is using 100X too much oil.

[Krazy Kraut]

OK!
Realy dumb question: Should i check it cold or hwarm/hot?
Here is the deal, when i checked it earlier, it was at the very bottom of the sightwindow. When i just checked it now (a friend was wanting to take it around the block), it was at the fuel line (with it beeing cold). I'm just gonna call the dealer and see what is up. It's driving me crazy, once i run it it's at the very bottom line!! maybe i'm just not loking right, but i was sitting on the bike, with another biker looking at the window. When i do it by myself, then i sit on the bike upright and lean over to see the window. I will check it again tomorrow and see what's up.

Thanks for evcerybodies input, we'll figure it out, i'm sure. I'll keep you posted

Ride hard and be safe
Krazy Kraut

[burkbuilds]

When your bike is warm,(just finished a ride), then some of the oil is still up inside the engine instead of down in the lower case, which will make it appear low on oil. Let it sit for several minutes, I'd say at least 5 minutes and then get off the bike, squat down and have someone else hold the handlebars and hold the bike upright. In a few seconds, you should have an oil level somewhere around the middle of the sightglass. It might be up towards the top or down a little but it should be somewhere above the bottom 1/4 of the sightglass and below the top 1/4 of the sightglass. If you can't see an oil level, sometimes that is because it is overfilled and the top of the oil is completely above the sight glass, just to make sure that is not the case have the person helping you, slowly lean the bike away from you back towards the kickstand, if you see the level starting at the top as they lean the bike away then you have overfilled the oil level.
If you are checking it cold, (after sitting for a few minutes) and you are seeing a noticeable drop in the oil level after only a few miles of riding then you definitely should take it back in to the dealer and let them check it out.

[Easy Rider]

OK!
Realy dumb question: Should i check it cold or hwarm/hot?


Not dumb at all.
The answer is: If hot, you need to wait a few minutes but......it should not make THAT much difference. Checked cold versus checked hot and drained down for a few minutes should not be more than 1/4 of the window different.
If it was at the top one time and at the bottom the next, then there might be a problem with exactly how you are checking it.

[blaine]

Best time to check oil is at the start of the day.If you are trying to check oil while sitting on bike it won't be acurate as the bike will lean as you do.Takes very little lean to throw of level in sight glass.A small mirror will help you check oil while sitting uprite on bike.

[alantf]

A small mirror will help you check oil while sitting uprite on bike.

I find that I don't even need that. I'm no superman, but I find that if I stand at the side of the bike (the side opposite the stand), I can hold the handlebar & tip the bike towards me, quite easily (& look at the sight glass at the same time). I've never needed mirror/assistance to check the oil. :)

[blaine]

That's true,but she said she was trying to check oil while sitting on the bike.some people are more relaxed doing it this way.

[GZ250]

i have 36k (2005) and my bike (engine) still uses oil rather drinks oil. when it was new i was concerned but not now, i simply add new oil as needed and keep the level in the middle. I have to add 2-3 times during changes.

[alantf]

i have 36k (2005) and my bike (engine) still uses oil rather drinks oil. when it was new i was concerned but not now, i simply add new oil as needed and keep the level in the middle. I have to add 2-3 times during changes.

I wonder what the factor is that makes all the bikes use different amounts of oil. Mine has never needed topping up between changes (with around 11,000 miles now). Yours "uses oil". Other people have GZs that use a lot of oil. Could it be the style of riding? or the build quality of the different factory people? or what? I just can't understand it. :??:

[blaine]

I would say it is riding style,or the way bike was "broke in" when new.My bike has 39000 kms uses very little oil between changes.

[GZ250]

a good break in very essential for any engine and it has to be done in the way it is said. i did the same way. i still ride single. riding style can make some difference but WHAt exactly will make that difference. so there is something else, may be depends when components were assembled together - same as genetic differences in humans - later handling differences are add ins.

[Sarris]

Your probably right. Bad break-in and poorly seated rings.

I always break my new bikes in faster and harder than the manufacturers recommend and I have great running bikes with the horsepower at the upper range of the norm. My GeeZer uses absolutely no oil.

BTW, picked up a nail in the front tire this weekend and I may have ridden it for 30 or so miles (straight smooth road no stops) before I discovered it had gone flat!! Stopped at my first light and shit!!! Flat as a pancake. It took 3 pump ups to get her home.

[burkbuilds]

This certainly won't explain all differences in oil consumption, but consider: All machine parts are made with a tolerance. In the case of moving parts like pistons and cylinder walls, there must always be a gap or the engine would seize up instantly. If when the bike is being assembled, you (by random chance) get a cylinder wall that is made to tolerance, but that is towards the smallest hole size allowed by that tolerance, and the piston, also within tolerance, but on the largest diameter allowed within that tolerance, then you have the tightest fit possible for the given limits. On the other hand, if you by chance fit the smallest sized piston allowed in that tolerance with the largest diameter hole for the cylinder in that tolerance, you will have the loosest fit possible within that tolerance and most of the time you get some mix in between, but it can make a significant difference. I understand that the rings are there to help make up that difference and keep compression, but once again, you get back to the tolerance of the rings and the tolerance of the grooves they fit in, some will be loose some tight and again, sometimes just random chance you could get all those components matched up for a relatively loose fit, which would allow more oil to pass through and could account for why some engines burn oil their entire life, but don't seem to increase in their consumption as the engine gets older.

[Water Warrior 2]

BB, that was a very well thought out explanation and something we should all remember for a long time. But you could have said the same thing in a lot less words and typing time. To keep it simple, read my answer with a chuckle......IT'S A CRAP SHOOT.

[GZ250]

But you could have said the same thing in a lot less words and typing time.


again ..... depends when components were assembled together ........ and how we drive...... :tongue:

no offence, just fun :lol:

[Water Warrior 2]

Actually it is probably good for an engine to use a little oil. That way it keeps us on our toes and we do a better job of inspecting the bike at more frequent intervals. Besides, topping up a little oil now and again will freshen up the oil additives etc.
I think a lot of folks get too used to the newer cages out there that never need to be topped up and apply that experience to the bike.
2 years ago on our trip Lynda's GZ was barely showing any oil usage(not enough to top up) and one day dropped a fair bit. I added approx a cup of oil. Doesn't sound like a lot but it is nearly 20 % of the oil capacity. Check before every ride and be safe.