Oil Consumption -- What is normal??

I have a 05 Road King with 11K miles. I just completed a 3000 mile trip with 17 other bikes and I was the odd guy out in terms of oil consumption. While no one needed to add oil I used one qt. I have been told by my dealership that it's normal .... it just seems excessive to me. Any thoughts from the group would be welcomed. By the way, I use Amsoil, do not run an oil cooler and have no engine modifications.

Thanks!

I can't imagine any newer engine burning a quart of oil in 3000 miles as being normal. It should be like that old commercial for cooking oil where everything comes back except one tablespoon (when you change it). There are others here who know more than I, but you might want to have a leak-down test or something done.

SK - I agree with you but I am referred to as "mechanically challenged". The shop tells me it is normal for an air-cooled engine.

Other input from those smarter than me on the subject is helpful.

First, how and when do you check your oil? Were you "topping off" first thing before starting to ride? Were you running the engine for a while to let the scavenge pump pull oil from the sump to the pan? It is real easy to overfill the oil bag because most of us are used to checking the oil on our vehicle after they sit for a while or before the next start. This is because they are wet sump engines with the oil in a pan at the bottom of the engine. The most accurate reading you'll get is after all the oil has drained back into the pan. H-D's are dry sump and rely on a feed (pressure) and a return (scavenge) pump. The idea being that as little oil as possible is left in the crankcase to prevent it being whipped up by the crank reducing power. However, (always a however ain't there?) not all the oil is returned and some pumps work better than others and sometimes an engine can sump up a bit. So, we want to run the engine for a while before checking and topping off.


Also, I never fill to the top line, I leave it about halfway between the two.

If the oil bag is slightly overfilled the excess oil gets pushed back through the vent which connects to, you guessed it the engine. Now more oil is whipped up into air in the crankcase which gets vented out to the aircleaner which can either get sucked in like it is supposed to or run outside making a mess.

Ring seating a valve seals are the other major players. Generally, rings are seated by 11k miles but, it can take longer or you may not get a good seal ever. A leak down test will tell you the answer. Unless there is a problem with valve guides the seals usually work fine. If you do not see smoke out the exhaust or the right muffler is not a bit oily then ring seating is probably not the issue.

Some consumption is normal and the amount varies between engines.

Thanks CD! This is the most info I have been given. I check my oil about 5-10 mins after a ride so it's still warm. Your comments about overflow through the air filter makes sense .... when it was changed and/or topped off I notice some spotting on the front of my right saddle bag. I'll keep an eye on things.

Mark

Apparently, HD changed the valve stem oil seal in the 2005 models. Some 2005 owners have reported excessive oil consumption and the prevailing thought by enthusiasts is that the new oil seals are causing oil consumption.

I built a nikasil cylinder bike which are "supposedly" notorious for oil consumption during breakin. My bike has used no appreciable oil. I don't add oil between changes. The piston rings were set up to exact specs and I used Viton oil seals (.521 base circle if memory serves). Apparently, the Vitons worked as good as the stock HD 04 seals since I don't use any oil and did not use any to speak of with my stock 04 TC 88 engine. However, the Vitons may work too well since the Porsche boys who use Vitons are reporting burned valves guides/stems due to, what they believe to be, a Viton valve stem seal which works too well and allows no oil in the valve guide.

If the 05 oil seals are the problem, I wonder if HD will fix them for free. This could be an EPA issue, no? Otherwise, HD will probably not fix it anymore than it fixed the bad cam bearing bikes prior to destruction of the cam bearings.

You should keep you ear to the ground on this issue since you will probably have to pull the heads to replace the valve stem seals, if it turns out this is the problem. I bet it is based on may similar complaints on 05 bikes only.

Texas Tripod

Oiley

Yes sireee, from everything I have been reading the last few months is that Harley MoCo knows they have a problem, but will not have a recall. ($$$$$$) They have been telling the dealers that unless there puking out oil, or are causing internal problems, to let them go. Some dealers are going ahead and fixing the problem, and some are not.