Total Motorcycle Community Forums

New rider here...
New '07 Yamaha 650 VStar.
I had an initial 600 mile service a few weeks ago and since then have put another 700 miles on it.
Checking the engine oil yesterday, I was down 1/2 quart.
Is it usual to burn that much oil in 700 miles, or did the mechanic forget to change the oil at the 600 miles service?
Husband bought a duplicate bike and he wasn't down at all.
I can see being down 1/2 quart with a total mileage of 1100 miles (maybe), but not in the 700 miles since the oil change.
Like a dummy, I didn't check the fluids after the initial service.
It looks clean, but I'm planning a 1200 mile trip next week and am not quite sure if this is normal...if you experienced guys think its okay, I guess I'll have to make room in my bags to carry oil!
Any opinions appreciated...

He may not have filled it up all the way or you might have been checking it wrong. I highly doubt a new bike burned 1/2 quart of oil in that time.

1. Sounds like the mechanic didnt do his job right.

2. Just have your hubby do it. cheaper and you know its done right.......

Thanks for all the advice.

And for a Thursday laugh..

Look up U-Tube-the Married with Children Episode "Heels on Wheels" where Kelly gets a Harley and Al never makes it out of the garage for his dream ride.

ErnCol wrote:Thanks for all the advice.

And for a Thursday laugh..

Look up U-Tube-the Married with Children Episode "Heels on Wheels" where Kelly gets a Harley and Al never makes it out of the garage for his dream ride.

aaahhh ok nevermind then just take it in lol.

do you really know how to check the oil level properly? seriously. i had a Kawasaki ZRX before and it was easy to miss read the proper oil level. if you turned the motor off and checked it on the side stand you would be double wrong. easy a half quart down. this bike required a couple minutes for a drain down time. then when you look at the little sight window down by the clutch cover you need to pick the bike off the side stand and have it vertical. then check the level. i dont now yamahas that well. im a Harley/buell/kawasaki trained mechanic. i now work in an HD shop. is the bike air cooled? it could be a oil burner and that could be ok. suprisingly, most bike companies spec that you can burn a quart of oil per 1000 miles before they consider it a problem. As a mechanic. im getting tired of seeing all the whining compliants on here and everyone blames the mechanic, when its clear the owners dont know squat about there bikes. did you read the owners manual? buy the service manual first if you are even thinking of doing anything to you bike youself.

If it really is 1/2 quart low, the mechanic probably filled it to "full" and didn't check it again after running it for a bit.

On an oil change, the new filter is empty. When you first run the engine after putting in a new filter, the filter has to partially fill up and retain some oil, lowering the level slightly.

If the bike is actually burning oil, get a new one.

Gee thanks, CRAZYDAVE5; I'm sorry most of your customers are "whiners", and I wish more mechanics were as competent as you.

But, I checked the oil completely level, warmed up first, let it settle with engine off.

Since filling it, it has not burned oil in the last 800+ miles.

Johnny 18 year old mechanic just didn't fill it...lesson learned by me.

I have since learned to check EVERYTHING since this machine is not just an automobile, but a rocket attached to my body!

But while I have a mechanic to ask...have you ever noticed that these machines run a little "rougher" in humidity? To explain, I live in an arid 4,500 foot elevation and recently rode it down to the beach. Have anything to do with "thick air", for lack of a better description?

I doubt it is the humidity making your bike run poorly. More likely it is the extra oxygen messing up your fuel/air ratio and causing it.