How often is everyone needing to top off oil on XB's?

[RedWhiteandBuell]

How often is everyone needing to top off the motor oil on their XB? I have an '09 XB12R. I got the 1000 mile service done a few months ago and I am now at 2762 miles. I've had to top off the oil 3 times since the servicing. I've seen some people saying they check it every couple fill ups (which I'm sure is a good practice to get into. I haven't been that religious about it), some saying they check it but are not needing to add anything until next scheduled servicing, and other various checking/adding intervals.

Mine isn't smoking at all and I don't see any leaks. Just seems like that is a lot of oil getting burned off somewhere in less than 2,000 miles.

Also, there shouldn't be any primary oil being burned off or lost correct? I know I can pop the inspection cover and check it out, but there should be very little if any lost there I would think.

Just wanted to see what everyone elses bikes are doing and see if mine is burning an excessive amount of oil for some reason.

 

[wolfo68]

primary shouldn't lose any, but it's always good to check it ever so often. Make sure there aren't any slow leaks that you only notice on the underside.

 

[snrusnak]

How much are you having to add? 1/2 quart in 3,000 miles is probably the limit to what I'd call "normal". Keep in mind every bike will differ. A lot of how much oil an engine burns has to do with how the engine was broken in, and you can't control that now.

 

[RedWhiteandBuell]

I know all bikes will use more/less depending on various things. Just trying to guage if mine is using a somewhat "normal" amount or not. [confused]

I've used all the left over oil, from the 4 Quarts, from the 1000 mile servcing and it needs a bit more (Amsoil in both holes). There have been some pretty hot days here and most days I'm sitting at lights and in traffic some on the way home. The really hot days the fan kicks up on high, so she gets a little hot sometimes.

Going to place an order for a case of Amsoil today so I have reserves for topping off and the next few oil changes.

 

[snrusnak]

Well like I said if you are using more than a 1/2 qt in say 3,000 miles I wouldn't be happy about that. Not that it's going to blow up tomorrow....but it just uses a lot of oil.

 

[user_deleted]

what sean said and might i add that there was an H-D 1200 sportster dealer bulletin issued back in 2003 when they changed to rubber mounted configuration. bulletin addressed oil consumption and stated that factory techs deemed 8 ounces of consumption per 1000 miles quite acceptable. our XB's run hotter and are higher performance motors so might use a tad more than that and still be considered within the parameters of what's considered acceptable consumption.

 

[1badtitan90]

I go through a quart every 2 months

 

[Thomo]

Do you have the oil bypass mod cause I lose some there, but usually I dont have to add until next service, I lose maybe a 1/2 quart or so.

 

[RedWhiteandBuell]

Oil bypass mod?

Sounds like mine is about right on par with what everyone has posted. I wasn't too worried. As I said, I don't see anything leaking and I'm not blowing smoke out the exhaust so I figured it was doing alright.

 

[08levin]

Check out this thread. I had the same issue on my 08scg. Then after they rebuilt the top end for the valve problem, they put in synthetic and the rings never broke in. Took it back to a different dealer and they did another top end job and said go with regular oil. So far, so good.

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/Oil-consumption-1

Oh... I was going through about 1/2 quart every 500 miles.

 

[g3stripes]

i have never had to add oil between changes, never checked it either. latter statement was false

 

[user_deleted]

never checked it either. latter statement was false

LOL LOL LOL i'm just here to read the comments.