where is my oil going?

[White Noise]

it seems as of latetly my bike has been drinking oil and i don't know why!
for example about 300 miles ago i filled the oil upto the top level of the sight glass, then this morning on a short ride i was surpried to see the oil level waning light come on. i got home and checked the sight glass and yes indeed it was around the lower level of the sight glass. so i am puzzled about where the oil is going! i have noticed small deposits of a oily substance just below the head gasket of the left most cylinder but don't think this can account for the amount of oil i have been loosing. i have noitice a large collection of oil around some rubber pipes just behind the engine but not sure if its from a oil overflow of some sort or the chain, so i am guessing that i am burning oil, which i think is pretty bad! what is the implications of this? and what do i need to do to stop it?
the bike is a 96' divvy 600. thanks for advice given
Cheers
WN
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Buy my wife: 96' Yam XJ600s (Diversion)
Wing Commander White Noise - SE Clique
Riding Tip #86: See God, then back off a bit: Problem is i haven't seen god yet, just a close up of tarmac on revett straight

[stinkwheel]

I reckon you need to do a compression test for starters. Check the compression on each pot then put a few drops of oil down the sparkplug holes and turn the bike over a couple of times. Now check the compression again, if the reading is significantly higher it is time to tear the top-end down and check it out (vlave-stem oil seals, ring wear, bore wear etc).

Also check the base gasket isn't leaking, they can blow oil out in damned funny ways. A mate of mine had a bike that was using oil. There was a smear of oil along the outside of one of his panniers. Turned out it was coming from the base gasket.

Gunk your engine so it is nice and clean, then any leaks should show up clearly.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[bish777]

go to the MSN groups Divvy club as this is a known problem on 96-on divvy 600s. A faulty seal design pumps oil out of a breather.

https://groups.msn.com/YamahaDiversions/techinfo.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=16&LastModified=4675470798008058682
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GSXR1100J

[Gazdaman]

I've got a faulty oil light! It can be full on the glass, but the light will still come on.

And yes I know it's really a pressure light, but it's damn picky!

My head and base gaskets seep ever so slightly.

Gaz

[bish777]

most engines weep a little once theyve aged a bit. Invest in a torque wrench and retorque the head. Solved such minor weeps on my GSXR.
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GSXR1100J

[Method]

My GS500 is a '94 model and also drinks a lot of oil, it comes with age.

Although i think mine is spouting most of it out the bloody gear change... as when i look down i can see a large patch of black shiney stuff on my shoe. And when i park up i have to put a leaf or something by my sidestand, otherwise when i return there is a nice warm patch of blackness there waiting for me ...

At least you can tell where "My Parking Space" in the college compound is now though
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[bish777]

I also retorqued everything torqueable, invested in new cam cover gaskets, and used instant gasket on the side covers. Maek sure to put a new crush washer on the sump plug when you change the oil next.
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GSXR1100J

[BFG]

[White Noise]

nope, noticed today at work that oil had appeared from below the breather pipes, think it maybe a blocked breather pipe/pattern oil filter or something similar, still trying to get to the bottom of it!
WN
____________________
Buy my wife: 96' Yam XJ600s (Diversion)
Wing Commander White Noise - SE Clique
Riding Tip #86: See God, then back off a bit: Problem is i haven't seen god yet, just a close up of tarmac on revett straight