My bike gets a service every 4000 km. Bewteen services I have to top my oil up. It goes from full to add line after about 2000 KM.  Ie, 1 top up between services. It runs smooth, doesn't blow any smoke, but has always used a bit of oil.   

What are other riders experiences with oil usage?  Is this a usual occurance?

Cheers, Mungrel.

Mine doesn't seem to use any oil.

If your bike isn;t dropping any, and isn;t burning any where could it be going ?

No offence intended but are you reading the level right ?

CHeers
Boof

me either ,  check when its cold as wen its hot it will be fuller

No offence taken Boof.  I always check the oil on the stand, on level ground whilst it's hot. It does not leak. Nothing visible out the pipe, but I guess it has to be burning it. I asked the local deaslership and they measured the consumption. They say it's a few hunderd ml which is nothing out of the 3.8 ltr capacity and it's not a problem.  Only done 20,000 on it. I am not loosing sleep over it ... just don't know if it's a common thing or not. That's why I though I would ask the question.

Thanks for responding.  Cheers.

Could be it ... it's a 2005 FLSTFI.

Thanks for the info.

Cheers

I have H.D. info that I downloaded from another forum and it says that if the problem persists (on 05/06 twin cams) the dealer should discard the valve seal- Part No 18094-02 and replace with Part No 18094-02A it goes on to say that it will be covered under warranty and all future bikes will be fitted with the new part. So give em hell,thats of course if the bike is still under warranty.It also says that it would be acceptable for a twin cam 88 to use 1 quart (yanks) of oil every 1500 miles ,but it sure wouldn't be if it was my bike and had only done 20,000km's.Mine has done nearly 12,000km"s and doesn't use a drop.Good luck mate!

Peter, really good info. Thank you. My bike is nearly 3 yrs old and is not under warranty, but we will have the discussion as the issue was identified whilst it was. If my ranting gets me nowhere I won't be pulling the head off any time soon unless the problem deteriorates, which is not evident. You echo my sentiments exactly. It might be acceptable to HD but it sure aint right in my book.

Thanks again.

You did not list the year but if it is three years old then it is a 05 or a 04?? The stock valve seal can cuase this if it is a 05 then more than likely that is the issue. The oil pump alignment can cause this as well if you are are venting the breathers into the air cleaner. If the bike is a softail then you need to check the oil after the bike has been run for 30-45 seconds to ensure that you have no oil in the lower crankcase. They will drain there over night,, I have had many a customer not do this and add oil this will cause the problems in the oil bag breather and more oil ends up being forced through the breather system. The Viton valve seals are much better than the replacement orange HD seal. They are not costly at all and will cure the oil usage, if you current seals are the problem.

GMR,

The bike is a 2005 FLSTFI. I recon fair chance the issue has been pin pointed.  Thanks for the other tips too!

Cheers

Final chapter on my oil usage problem. The bike had a glazed bore. A bit of a hoan, new rings and its singing like a bird, and has not used a drop of oil in 3000 km.

So there you go. Suspect there may have been some mild overheating in the very initial running in. I did pick the bike up at the end of January, I can't recall but I suppose it's possible.

All's well that ends well.

Mungrel.

G'day.. How did ya find out that it was a glazed bore?

Thanks Scotty & RT...

RT is on the ball again. My 05 had the guide seal problem. By the time the bike had 20,000km it was using a quart every 2000km. It also pinged a lot more than usual which may have been the result of fuel being diluted with oil.

Peter Stevens in Adelaide made the diagnosis of my glazed bore.They corrected it and I am happy to say I have ridden close to 10,000 km since then with absolutely no oil usage what-so-ever. I calculated my oil usage to be equivalent to a 100/1 mixture. Thats half way to 2-stoke mix. I also experienced pinging which has now stopped. 

I am led to believe the Valve stem oil seals are an intermittent issue on the 2005 bikes. That was not the cause of my oil issue.

Cheers

Hi Scotty,

Each situation is different, but they did right by me and I was not out of pocket.  I actually recon the bike has never run better.

Cheers