Has anyone solved the oil consumption problem?

I am 1 lucky RX1 MTN owner. The 1st time I rode my sled in the mountains, it overheated so bad the engine was snapping and cracking BAD when I shut it down. I have never added more than 1/2 liter in 1000 miles. 1 thing I have noticed, is the engine uses that 1st 1/2 liter in about 200-300 miles, then 700-800 miles for the 2nd 1/2 liter. I always wait untill the oil light comes on to add and then I add just 1/2 liter. I use Yamaha 0w30 4stroke oil. BTW, I change the oil at the beginning of the year along with the filter.
 
Is the problem definately the rings? I have heard so many theories as to why this is happening and have never gotten a concrete answer as far as what was eventually found to be the cause. It seems that those who go through the re-ring have no further problems so that would be proof, but I have heard stories here and there about people who have done the rerings and still had problems. These instances are few and far between though, and I am wondering if its just the typical BS you always find floating around the internet. I have an '05 with just over 2000 miles on it and no issues yet. I am wondering if I should be worried.
 
No need to be worried. The reason that there is no concrete answer is that there are many factors that come into play. For example, something as simple as running high octane fuel on a stock engine can cause increased oil consumption over an extended period of time. A *LOT* of the people who have had oil consumption issues are those who have installed AFTERMARKET INTAKE FILTERS that don't properly draw from the crankcase. Even with the newer approach to aftermarket intake filters, the little bits of oil drawn through the crankcase vent will be drawn into the engine and burn unlike with the stock exhaust where those oil droplets will be stopped by the filter and ultimately will flow out the drain.

One of the main things that prevents oil consumption is maintaining a low pressure in the crankcase. Any engine will have some blow-by (exhaust gases escaping past the rings)... there is no way to stop this 100%. Now if the pressure goes up in the crankcase, then more pressure will escape out the vent to the intake and up the rings into the combustion chamber. Both will result in oil getting into the combustion chamber. Oil in the combustion chamber will burn and provide carbon deposits, causing the rings to stick, which leads to more exhaust escaping into the crankcase -- they call this the snowball effect. This is precisely the reason why some people get good results using ringfree or seafoam to clean out their engines.

Sometimes, poor breakin can cause excessive and localized heat which can weaken and/or deform rings -- the wildly popular "motoman" breakin technique can do a great job of killing an engine (what would you expect from a mechanic trying to GENERATE CUSTOMERS?) -- the reason for the popularity of this approach is that you basically throw the breakin to the wind and let it rip before its ready, and everyone wants to let it rip. Yet others have had things go loose in their engines, resulting in abrasive materials attacking the cylinder and rings.


Now about the 05 rings.... they seal better against the cylinder. The result of this better seal is less exhaust gas escaping through the rings resulting in a lower crankcase pressure, and the lower crankcase pressure (and greater seal) preventing oil from being drawn into the combustion chamber during the intake stroke (when the pressure in the combustion chamber is a relative vacuum compared to ambient and crankcase pressure). This helps to prevent the snowball effect, but I have to stress the word "HELPS" as nothing can stop it absolutely. Once it starts, nothing will stop it except for cleaning it out.


The end result... if your machine is well maintained and has stock intake, and if you don't have *bad luck*, then there is no problem with ANY YEAR. The 05+ are somewhat more secure, so unless you are doing something wrong with yours, there is no need to be worried.
 
rx1mtn said:
I am 1 lucky RX1 MTN owner. The 1st time I rode my sled in the mountains, it overheated so bad the engine was snapping and cracking BAD when I shut it down. I have never added more than 1/2 liter in 1000 miles. 1 thing I have noticed, is the engine uses that 1st 1/2 liter in about 200-300 miles, then 700-800 miles for the 2nd 1/2 liter. I always wait untill the oil light comes on to add and then I add just 1/2 liter. I use Yamaha 0w30 4stroke oil. BTW, I change the oil at the beginning of the year along with the filter.
Click to expand...

So when the "Oil Light" comes on it only takes 1/2 liter to fill it up to the TOP Line on the dipstick?
 
No, it dosn't fill to the top. But on my sled, it seems the if I fill it to the top, it burns it off fast. If I leave it a 1/2 pint low, it takes a long time to burn off. Last year I road just over 2800 miles and used 1 full liter.
 
Will using these cleaning products cause any long-term problems for the motor down the road?
 
No, it'll be fine. Just don't be leaving a bottle of that stuff in the crankcase for an extended time. What most people do is run it through the last full tank of gas before an oil change. You can also add directly to the oil, but again, for the last tank of gas before an oil change.
 
Would "Restore" engine treatment be of any benefit to reduce oil burning?
 
Do the ringfree shock treatment. Then consistently run it in the gas. The directions are on the bottle.

You will need to change the oil right after the shock treatment.

I do it every year, and I see little if any oil usage on my '04. :-)
 
Len Todd said:
Do the ringfree shock treatment. Then consistently run it in the gas. The directions are on the bottle.

You will need to change the oil right after the shock treatment.

I do it every year, and I see little if any oil usage on my '04. :-)
Click to expand...

Is Seafoam as good as Ringfree?
 
I suspect that Yamaha recommends Ring Free because they sell it. I have done the Shock Treatment with Seafoam and Ring Free. But once that is done, I run only Ring Free in the fuel.

If I get lazy and NOT put the Ring Free in the fuel, after a couple hundred miles you can see the carbon beginning to start forming in the exhaust tips again. With the Ring Free the exhaust tips stay a lot cleaner, once you shock it.

When you shock it, you will be amazed how filthy the oil is. All that carbon is loosened and diluted in the oil.

I put the shock treatment in and only run it in the oil for 50 miles or so. Then change the oil and filter for the season. This is the first thing I do in the season. I have the opportunity for some short runs first thing in the season. If you do not have short runs early on, I suspect that you could shock it on the end (last 50 miles or so) on the first run.

It really does work, guys.
 
guess after i do the compression check and the vent tube thing Ill try seafoam.......again. im not real close to a yami dealer that id give my money to. maybe ill get some ringfree next time im at peacock.
 
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