excessive oil use

[lokik45]

hi I own a Suzuki sv650s its a 2001 model with 19450 miles on it.in six weeks of owning it and only ridden 350 miles ive noticed its using a lot of oil.ive topped it up twice each time taking a litre of oil at a time? its not burning oil not leaking oil don't understand why its using so much oil? when started from cold exhaust smoke is white no burning smell.where bike is parked underneath is bone dry.ive checked all over engine its bone dry cant find a leak anywhere? any ideas as to why its using so much oil?
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cdalzell

[jaffa90]

Have you a mate who can follow you with a good sense of smell, more so when giving it some throttle?
Is the clutch slipping (if a wet oil clutch)?
What oil are you using (what does it say on the tin)?

[Riejufixing]

[Hong Kong Phooey]

How are you measuring the oil level?
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'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[merquis00]

[lokik45]

[lokik45]

[Riejufixing]

[Evil Hans]

What do the plugs look like? Oily or burnt at all?
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[talkToTheHat]

Isn't the measuring precedure bring engine up to temperature, turn off, wait 5 minutes(or some other critical time)? If you're checking the oil straight after turning the engine off it will read wrong. Less bad to wait too long on a water cooled bike than on an air/oil bike that can drain a lot of oil back into the sump.

Pull the plug on the airbox drain and see what comes out, if you're overfilling or have crankcase pressure issues the oil gets coughed out into the airbox.

If it's just white on starting it may just be steam, my bandit looks awful on a cold morning, particularl on the stockpipes as they had perforated inner tube all the way from the end of the headers to the end can and it was really good for collecting condensation but I've never had to top it up between changes. Hold some white printer paper in the exhaust flow and see if it gets damp, oily or both. If it's oily it won't dry out and will stay translucent.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[WD Forte]

valve stem oil seals?
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bikers smell of wee

[Teflon-Mike]

350 miles at 50mpg would be 7 gallons, or about 35litres of petrol.
2 litres of oil in 35 litres of petrol? That's over 35:1... a 'thick' mix for a two-stroke, sort of what you'd stick in a strmmer!!!

IF the thing is burning 'that' much oil, then you aught see the damn smoke turn blue, especially as 10w40 isn't a a clean smoke oil designed to burn!!!

Stick that thick a mix of petroil in a two stroke motorbike, and even on a low-tuned, low sped motor, like a moped or strimmer, need to use a colder plug or three to dodge the thing oiling and sooting up... if you AINT got sooty as feck plugs in a four-stroke.... SOMETHING aint right in what you say......

Go re-check.

As said, how are you measuring the oil level? Fuller plug screwed out and rested on the threads, as with most honda'z or screwed all the way down.... difference can be the hight of oil shown on dip-stick.

Thing shouldn't hold much more than 2&1/2 litres from completely dry... chucking in one whole litre then isn't a 'top-up'.... it would only take that much if the thing had been run beneath minimum, and even then, if it hadn't seized, aiding a full litre would mostr like take it above max on the dip-stiock, and 'venting' excess oil out the crank-case breather....

ooooh..... crank case breather.... vents excess oil, when too much and too much pressure in case; dont go down the exhaust pipe being burned, and usually soved into the air-box, dont drip on the floor (too much!)

Go check the air-box....

Go check how you check the oil level.

Do a propper oil-change with new filter (check book for added oil to fill with or prime filter with), warming motor, dumping crank-case oil completely, fill NOT to the dip-stick, but use measured amount, NOT from scale on retail pakaging if there is one, worse "oooh, that's about half!" guess, BUT a proper graduted flask or jug.... hint, they are only about 50p from the kitchen section of ASDA and other good emporiums....

Change plugs

Make sure you are checking oil level properly....

Report back in 500 miles!
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[Nobby the Bastard]

Jesus, this is giving me flashbacks....

Exup? Not even once...
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[weasley]

Are you checking the level with the bike on its side stand?
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Riejufixing]

It's two litres of oil, in 350 miles. Either the OP has made a mistake, and it's in fact 200ml or similar, or.... je ne sais pas.

[Hong Kong Phooey]