916 Loosing Oil
 

My 916 seems to me buring oil on motorway trips, I'm not sure if I should book it in for a very expensive re-build of look for a replacement lump!
Any suggestions?

How much is it using?

I dont think its a common problem, my 23,000 miles St4 (same engine) doesnt use any so i think i second hand motor might be a better bet.

Or you could get yours bored out, blue printed, cams dialed in etc!!

It using loads!
The strange thing is that I can't smell it burning, I've also checked the plugs and they look perfectly normal. No small spatters of oil either!

My engine burns a bit on 300 etc mile trips where I hold prelonged stints at 120-150 MPH. ( motorway trips)

I guess it would be less than 250 mls. Say from the upper level to nearly the lower level on the sight glass.

DC.
;)

[Edited on 9-8-2005 by DC]

I did spain and france on my old 1995 916 back in late may, it covered 2400 miles (before finaly chucking its hand in) and in temps of 34 - 38 degrees and a bit of stopped traffic so got really hot. anyway it used between 1/2 - 3/4 of a litre total in this mileage which i thought was alot as normal uk cold use it just doesnt touch it at all.
perhaps it would have used more if the old dog would have made it back to the UK under its own steam, as i tend to find it uses less when on the back of an AA trailer

On a trip from London the Donnington and back it used from the max level to bellow the min! Now I'm thinking that's not good!!!

Still trying to decide if to go for a re-build or another engine???
Does anybody have any idea how much a re-build wiil cost? With a engine that's buring oil what else is going to happen!!!

If it was me, I would get the original engine looked at. You would then get the worn parts replaced, ( At the most pistons, rings re bore etc) Even get it bored out if that was your thing.

And you would have piece of mind knowing that the engine was reconditioned from the crank cases up. Might even be worth getting the rest checked while it was apart.

OR

You could buy a used lump but no matter what the seller tells you, you would never truly know much about it.

I mean that it might be bolted in, fired up and a month down the line, be burning oil just like yours is now!!

I know what I would do.................;)

DC

Buy a second motor and rebuild it then just swap them over. Rebuild the old motor then sell it on.

Are they plated bores? Dont think you can rebore them as such.

My S4 Monster (same engine) uses oil and apparantly its not uncommon.

How much?

my 1997 916 Bip started to use a little bit of oil between changes after 30,000 miles. It had done over 40,000 when I did a 2500 mile trip to france last year, and didn't use enough to require a top up.
So I reckon yours is due a bit of attention. Didn't ride it as hard as DC on long runs, but agree with DC on the approach to the problem.

SB

I've found a guy who will supply a re-built exchange lump for £1000
I've been told that a re-build of mine engine could cost anything up to £1500... How does that sound?
What to do!!!

Assuming they are offering a Guarantee of at least 3 months & the motor is fully serviced - rockers, belts etc ready to go it sounds a fair deal. Would this be Moto Louigi by any chance?

Are you planning to fit yourself, if so will they still guarantee.

Before you buy it might be a good idea to establish acceptable oil consumtion rates in case there is a problem.

I expect a full rebuild of yours would be at least £1500 although you could just get topend looked at & fit 2nd hand barrels & pistons for less.

Have you had the bike looked at? it's possible it could be just a valve guide seal problem?

Do a compression dest and a leakdown test as this will tell you if its rings or guides causing the problem.

£1000 for a rebuilt motor does indeed sound good assuming things like rockers, belts etc have been checked and replaced as required. Bear in miond that a 12,000 mile service can cost over £600!!

The £1K engine is from Louigi Moto and they would fit with my help!
What are they like?
How much will the testing cost?

I wonder if they use your old heads? I dont see how they could recondition a full engine for that kind of money. It might be what we used to call a "short engine" in that all the ancilliary bits are swapped over like heads, clutch, front sprocket, starter etc so you are basically buying a bottom end, pistons and barrels.

Still worth looking at though.

Louigi Moto had these recon engines on Ebay a few months ago.

It was a complete engine inc heads, fully stripped, rebuilt & shimmed etc. Clutch, sprockets etc will not be included.

Top end parts where inspected & reused if OK, big end was reconditioned.

[Edited on 16-8-2005 by 748mart]

Quarter of a litre every 1000 miles or so

[Edited on 16-8-2005 by Mr C]

Just curious you see. I'd expect a 916 to need a few rockers as they are by definition an older engine so will have done more miles. Lets say three at a trade price of £105 each, so thats £315 before you get to bearings, barrels, pistons, gaskets and rings etc.

Looks like an even better price!