Who's using what oil?

[Yama-Crazy]

I've used Amsoil 0W40 since breakin on my 03, along with the Amsoil Filter. I've had no issues with oil consumption whatsoever.

Thats pretty amazing because most guys that I know of with an 03 are using at least some oil if not ALOT...how many miles on your sled?

 

[airboss]

Right now, I've got 8,000 Kms on the clock. This particular season was short for us, as I was only able to put on 1,500 Kms. The oil level remained just below the full mark at the end of the season.

 

[Silverbullet]

My 03 never burned a drop in 3200 miles and that included 1500 TURBO miles I always used regular (5-30) mineral oil too :shock:

 

[Yama-Crazy]

My 03 never burned a drop in 3200 miles and that included 1500 TURBO miles I always used regular (5-30) mineral oil too :shock:

Hmmm seems like your one of the lucky ones ...even tho alittle oil consumption is no big deal. I know a guy with an 03 that is having his dealer under his extended warrantee rebuild the top half of his engine because it burns alot of oil.

 

[Black 1000]

I have an 03 and I do burn oil. I use Mobil 1 5w30. I will be switching to 0w40 I believe. I find my oil cunsumption issues are more with long distances of high rpm operation. I was a dealer for Amsoil and have used thier 2 stroke injector oil with excelent results. I switched to Mobil 1 for two reasons
1 Availability
2 Price

I also belive thier is a ring problem with the 03 and 04 and thats why at high rpm operation it tends to use oil.

But what do I know.

 

[Yama-Crazy]

I have an 03 and I do burn oil. I use Mobil 1 5w30. I will be switching to 0w40 I believe. I find my oil cunsumption issues are more with long distances of high rpm operation. I was a dealer for Amsoil and have used thier 2 stroke injector oil with excelent results. I switched to Mobil 1 for two reasons
1 Availability
2 Price

I also belive thier is a ring problem with the 03 and 04 and thats why at high rpm operation it tends to use oil.

But what do I know.

I agree 03-&04's have a ring prob also and thats why mainly that I'm going to use mobile 1 too is the same reasons as you are. But I will be using 0-30 in my RS model.

 

[Skydog]

(I will be switching to 0w40 I believe)

This will help the weight of mobile 1 is more like a 0w35.Dino oil

Skydog

 

[MEAT]

Synthetic oils will oxidize and get dirty just as fast as as regular blend oils.I'm not saying don't run synthetic oils' but if you change your oil every 2000 km with a semi synthetic you wont have any lube issues. Oxidation and carbon happens before the additives wear out .... sample that. If you would rather change your oil after 5000 and think you'r doing your engine a favor cause its full synthetic,think again.

 

[Red2003]

Hey guys,

OK I got an 03 with 2000 miles and its not using much oil....yet. Is the problem with carbon build up and ring seizure? If so, is it a ring problem caused by carbon, or a carbon problem caused by the rings? Anyone tried leaning the carbs to get a cleaner / hotter burn? What about a hotter plug? I haven't even checked my plugs, but if they are pretty brown, I'm gonna lean it out a little. Think it would help?? I don't see how changing brand / type of oil will help. If the oil is getting in there past the rings, any oil will make carbon when burned. What about using a fuel treatment for carbon buildup on a regular basis?? A can of STP per tank is a lot cheaper then a ring job.

 

[LazyBastard]

This weekend I did a seafoam treatment (clean it all out before storage). Friday night I poured a whole bunch of seafoam into each cylinder and let it sit overnight. Saturday morning I warmed it up and did oil change #1 - no filter, swap the oil, lots of seafoam in the oil. I ran it like that all weekend. LOTS of crud blew out the exhaust all over my extension (you couldn't hold the grab bar without getting really messed up). It felt like it got easier to start and seemed to gain speed. I did second oil change on Monday, including both oil and filter, no seafoam.

Mine wasn't burning much oil at all, only a little. I followed the charts on the jetting and upped it to 137.5 (from 135). My plugs are WHITE, even in warm weather. I may need some advise on this, wondering if I should go up to 140?

 

[Sled Dog]

LB I would go up one more jet size to get the tan color mine are a light rusty brown color

 

[Red2003]

LB,

So you're thinking the ring free DOES work. Sure sounds it to me with all the crud coming out. Must have come from somewhere. Question, did you roll the engine over with the plugs out before you started it in the morning? If not, couldn't it hydrolock with all that stuff in there? Question #2, are you sure the crud wasn't just the ring free blowing out from the cylinders? If you think it helped its definintely worth a shot. I still question whether its the rings making the carbon problem or vise versa. If its an issue of bad rings, getting the carbon out isn't going to cure the oil consumption problem. Might make it worse, actually. Thoughts??

 

[LazyBastard]

I really can't say if it did anything or not. Maybe snake oil, maybe it helped a little. As for the hydrolock question, you leave a thin petroleum-based fluid in the cylinder overnight, it is NOT going to be there in the morning. By morning, it made its way past the ring end-gaps into the crankcase.

Based on discussions, the oil consumption problem seems to be related to TWO contributing factors; insufficient crankcase ventilation, and weak rings. The '05 rings are different, the '06 crankcase ventilation is different. The oil consumption on these engines is NOT past the rings (except for a couple of notable exceptions), it is out the breather and into the airbox. Carbon on the rings causes the rings to stick IN, which increases the combustion gases that escape into the crankcase, increasing the crankcase pressure and causing it to vent more. Increasing the crankcase pressure by insufficient venting causes poor ring seal. By getting the carbon off the rings, you are allowing them to seal better, which reduces the pressure in the crankcase, which reduces the ventilation, which reduces the oil consumption.

The 03-05 oil baffle is also pretty shoddy. With sufficient vent gas velocity, it will easily allow oil past. Thats my summer project... I'm going to make a proper high-capacity vent baffler and add the rocker cover plug as a secondary vent.

 

[Red2003]

Nice post LB,

I agree with everything you stated, but it brings me right back to my initial question. If the rings are sticking because of carbon build up, then oil was getting past them or combustion was making its way into the crankcase to begin with. If no oil gets into the cylinders and/or no exhaust is gettting into the crankcase, there should be no carbon, provided the jets are close. So if there IS a carbon problem, its also a ring problem and that's not going to go away with any additive. Right or wrong?

 

[LazyBastard]

As I said, shoddy oil baffle causes oil to dump into the airbox. Making the rings seal better by cleaning it out will reduce crankcase pressure, which will reduce the amount of spew out the breather.