How to tell if your burning oil

[Vsekvsek]

My 89 runs perfect. No cloads of smoke, no weirdness. Has 39300 on it now. I average maybe 2-3 k miles on it per year. Its mainly my summertime commuter. Well my oil light came on a couple months ago. Added a little to get it visible in sight window as itvwas a tad low. Was fine but oil light came back on this last week. Checked and sure enough it was a tad low again. I added again.

So, at this point what suggestions would more learned fellows give me? Just keep oil in it or is there something else I should looknfor or be aware off? I saw another thread like this where others where saying just keep adding oil and your good. However thatbwas a high miler. Mines fairly low miles. Curious to hear opinions.
Thanks

[rktmanfj]

If you're just keeping it above the bottom of the sight glass, you're way low.     

[Vsekvsek]

Ok dumb question then..how do i know i am sufficient level?(i am still fairly new to bike btw)

[fj11.5]

Oil should be at least level with the two lines opposite the top of the site glass, or just covering the glass

[Pat Conlon]

 You really need a owners manual. You can download one for free:
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3483.0

[red]

You really need a owners manual. You can download one for free:
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3483.0

Pat,

I get nothing useful, there.  Where does a guy get the simple owner's manual for a 1985 FJ1100? 
Right now, I have the Yamaha service manual, and Haynes, but all that can be TMI.

Cheers,
Red

[FJmonkey]

Pat,

I get nothing useful, there.  Where does a guy get the simple owner's manual for a 1985 FJ1100? 
Right now, I have the Yamaha service manual, and Haynes, but all that can be TMI.

Cheers,
Red

Pat, he is correct. results for FJ1100, 1985 is not found. However, if you don't give up and enter FJ1100, 1984 you get 2 options. Being that both years are the same bike, either will do.

[red]

Pat,
I get nothing useful, there.  Where does a guy get the simple owner's manual for a 1985 FJ1100? 
Cheers,
Red

Pat, he is correct. results for FJ1100, 1985 is not found. However, if you don't give up and enter FJ1100, 1984 you get 2 options. Being that both years are the same bike, either will do.

FJmonkey,
Who knew?        Thanks.

Cheers,
Red

[ribbert]

My 89 runs perfect. No cloads of smoke, no weirdness. Has 39300 on it now. I average maybe 2-3 k miles on it per year. Its mainly my summertime commuter. Well my oil light came on a couple months ago. Added a little to get it visible in sight window as itvwas a tad low. Was fine but oil light came back on this last week. Checked and sure enough it was a tad low again. I added again.

So, at this point what suggestions would more learned fellows give me? Just keep oil in it or is there something else I should looknfor or be aware off? I saw another thread like this where others where saying just keep adding oil and your good. However thatbwas a high miler. Mines fairly low miles. Curious to hear opinions.
Thanks

Many things could cause oil consumption, even the way your using it. Does your commute see any open road or is it all traffic? How much oil over what mileage? A lot would depend on what you call a "little"

There is an upper and lower mark on that window, the upper should be you target level.
These are the max and min marks and the engine IS designed to have sufficient oil to operate down to the bottom mark, but with no buffer, and it is NOT designed to operate with the oil above the top mark.
I like to leave a gap between the oil and the top of the window because once you are past that you do not know what the level is.
Motorbike engines do not like to be overfilled.

The light is an oil level light, not an oil pressure light and is subject to the oil surging in the sump with acceleration. So, the lower the level the more likely it is to come on as you ride it.

Any opinions on oil consumption would need a little more info.

Noel

[Vsekvsek]

Its all wide open freeway riding. I filled oil to level described above and no light today in 6 hours of riding..soo...?

[aviationfred]

Its all wide open freeway riding. I filled oil to level described above and no light today in 6 hours of riding..soo...?

Now that you have the proper amount of oil, monitor the level. Oil amounts from the upper line to the lower line is about a quart.

I was burning a quart every 450 miles. I had the head removed and sent to Randy @RPM to rebuild. The valves were de-carboned, valve surfaces machined, new valve springs and new stem seals installed. Now there is very little oil consumption. I use an extremely high end synthetic oil. No leaks or clutch issues.

Fred