Almost all old and new types of vehicles face a common problem and that is burning oil. So, you can’t ignore it and if you do, it causes costly and irreparable damage over time. Therefore, you should identify and resolve the problem as soon as possible.
It’s very important to check your oil frequently to make sure your motorcycle oil has a good position. In this post, we break down how to check motorcycle burning oil and other information. So keep reading.
How To Check Motorcycle Burning Oil?
To keep a motorcycle engine running in good health, it needs periodic refills of engine oil. Ensure that you change your motorcycle oil at the recommended interval. To know the recommended intervals and the recommended grade, please check your owner’s manual.
Most dipsticks are the same, two small lines or dots indicate how much oil is in your motorcycle. The bottom dot represents the “fill line”. Make sure your oil level does not drop below this. The upper dot is the “full line”. Make sure your oil level never goes above this.
Step 1.
First, remove the dipstick, on your engine you can easily find it by an orange or yellow tab. As you pull it out, you’ll see some oil residue on it. Wipe it off with a paper towel and then slide it back in. Pull it back out and peek at the oil. Wherever it ends up between the two points is your oil level.
Step 2.
But an oil test cannot prove whether you are burning oil or not. Before putting your dipstick back, take a clear photo and hang it on. Drive your motorcycle for 1000 miles or so, then again check the oil.
Additionally, if it’s earlier or relatively close, you’re probably not burning oil. It’s a good practice to check your oil every 1,000 miles. It’s because you may see a small change in oil level after 1,000 miles. But, it can be a big difference after 3,000 miles.
Step 3.
Accordingly, if you’re burning oil, visit your nearest auto parts store to see if your motorcycle has a quart of oil.
Always read the owner’s manual and fill your engine with recommended oil. Take off the big black cap on your motorcycle. Fill your engine with a quarter bottle to ensure you don’t overfill.
Why Is My Bike Consuming Oil?
There are many reasons to consume the oil on your bike. Let’s quickly go through the most common ones:
Engine Design.
Some vehicle engines consume oil by design from day 1. Your engine oil consumption can be 1 liter per 1000 km. It depends on the engine’s make and model. So if oil consumption is important to you, you might want to ask about it on the forum.
Driving Style.
Your driving style is also responsible for consuming oil. The higher your normal RPM the more oil can be consumed. This is because you put more pressure on the gaskets and seals. Some oil finds its path around it and burns in the combustion chamber.
Seal and Gasket Condition.
The more they wear, the more oil they consume. The same thing we mentioned earlier, the oil finds its path around the seal. And it burns in the combustion chamber or just escapes.
Higher-than-normal Engine Temperature.
The hotter your engine, your oil will get thinner. Again a thinner oil will reach the combustion chamber and mix with the fuel and burn easier.
Motorcycle Low Oil Symptoms:
There are many symptoms that your bike is running low on oil; We’ve compiled 4 common signs that your motorcycle is low on oil:
Motor Runs Hotter Than Normal
If your engine overheats so much that it runs noticeably hotter than before, your bike may be low on oil. Some motorcycles have a temperature gauge that tells you if your bike will overheat. Most unique bikes come with a digital meter to read the engine temperature.
An overheating engine isn’t good for your engine, but for a motorcycle air-cooled, it is imperative to correct the problem.
You Smell Burning Metal When Riding
Another slightly more serious sign that your motorcycle is low on oil is the smell of burnt metal. In addition, if you’ve ever been at home with a caster heating metal, you know the distant smell. If you smell welding metal while riding, pull and hit the kill switch as soon as possible.
Moreover, if low oil is the cause, you should top off your oil level immediately. Don’t even ride your motorcycle until it cools down. If you don’t deal with it immediately, you’ll soon experience the most serious low-oil symptoms.
Your Oil is in Poor Condition
If your oil is in poor condition due to contamination, condensation, etc., it will decrease in the column. Therefore, an important early sign is inspecting your oil condition after checking your oil level.
Burnt or pollutant oil is a sign that your motorcycle is out of oil or low on oil. Check the oil condition by rubbing your finger up and down the dipstick. Rub the oil on the fingers, feeling for particles of debris, bumps in the road, or any kind of grit.
Your Check Oil Light Stays On
A newer bike gauge tells you if your oil is low. If your check oil light is on, it’s a good sign that your bike is low on oil.
With the oil light illuminated, go back to the above two sections and check the oil level. and conditions. Mainly, if it is low, stop the oil and see how long it lasts. Likewise, if it’s burnt and black, before refilling it, change the oil and filter.
Read Also: Symptoms of Too Much Oil in Motorcycle
Motorcycle Burning Smell After Rain:
It will occur on any bike. Something that could start burning in the rain if water gets into your electrical system. Resulting in short circulation in the wiring. For that reason, it’s best for your motorcycles that all electrical circuits should be protected by fuses.
You need to confirm that all the fuses in your fuse box have the correct rating. And also make sure none are bridged by aluminum foil. Besides this, you should make sure if you have hard-wired tools for the battery, they have a suitable in-line fuse.
Anyway, just off the light bar and tap the little nicks where the existing wire had razor splices. To fix this problem you need to go to the dealer. They will find the issues and replace the blown fuse. After that, if they find any issues they will fix them.
Why Motorcycle Ran Out Of Oil Won’t Start:
Runs out of oil? It can seize and destroy your motorcycle. It’s because running out of oil is a very bad issue, you won’t pour some oil back in and expect it to work. You may get the engine starter seizing or trying to start a freewheel.
Mainly, running out of oil is not fun. If you want to start your bike then try turning the crankshaft by removing the cap on the stator left side. Even so, you need to turn the engine by hand with a 14mm socket. But if you don’t do that then it will be more damaging. If you empty it and start it up then it will possibly sound very loud.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Q. How to tell if the motorcycle is burning oil?
First, check the engine oil level in the motorcycle. Now, if the motorcycle consumes more oil than recommended – the engine is likely to burn too much oil. Here are two quick ways to know about burning oil.
- Burning oil has a distinct smell.
To check for this smell, put the motorcycle on its side for a while. Then check if there is any burning smell coming from the engine.
- While riding.
During riding, you should keep an eye out for bluish-white smoke coming from the exhaust. If there is no smoke, that means your engine hasn’t burned oil.
Q. What happens if engine oil is low on the bike?
Due to a lack of sufficient oil, your bike will lose its cooling and lubrication properties. A lack of motorcycle oil causes friction between the piston and cylinder. Subsequently, this friction will generate heat and unnecessary noise. And in the long run, will rob your motorcycle engine.
Q. What happens if engine oil is empty?
When the engine oil is empty., it will grind and then seize, stalling the automobile. Your engine can be damaged and possibly destroyed. Many drivers don’t get warnings about empty engine oil until it’s too late.
Q. Why does my motorcycle burn oil?
Piston rings are the most likely culprit. One way before you replace them is to check the cylinder compression. Then put a few drops of engine oil in the spark plug hole and check it again. Notably, if you see the compression increase, it means the oil makes a better seal on rings.
Final Word
If your motorcycle is burning oil, it is imperative to deal with the problem immediately. In the meantime, make sure you check your oil frequently and keep it topped up at the manufacturer’s recommended level.
The longer you wait to fix a problem, the more likely it is to damage the engine which leaves you with a hefty repair bill. Ultimately, here we are trying to help you to fix the problem of motorcycle burning oil. We hope you will be helpful.
