Using alot of oil

[estagor]

I have a 1981 GSX 750 and over the last couple of months the bike has started using alot oil. I don't have a leak and there doesn't appear to be dark exhaust coming for the bike. At times it appears to be burning a little rich but nothing out of the norm...in my unexperienced opinion. The history of the bike is as follows:
It was parked for about 4 years in a garage and when I bought it last year it needed to be cleaned up. badly..the air intake had a family of mice living thier..I didn't kill them but they were evicted. I got it running at the end of August last year and it ran perfect but it has started using alot of oil...1/4 to 1/2 litre per 150 - 200 km

Does anyone have an idea were I should start?

[rustybronco]

have someone follow you and look for a blue contrail on acceleration and decceleration. iirc 1 drip per second = 1qt per 100? miles. oh the stuff you forget over time.
kinda glad my head leaks, I wouldn't want it to explode...

[Nessism]

Start by pulling the plugs to look at the color. Wet and black means that cylinder is burning oil. While the plugs are out perform a compression test (engine warm, full throttle). That should give you some idea of the condition of your rings. If the compression is low, dump about 1 tsp of oil in the cylinder in question and try the compression test again. If the compression goes up, you have bad rings. If the compression is okay the problem is most likely the valve stem seals allowing oil to leak down the valves and into the combustion chamber. Leaking valve stem seals will usually show up as a wisp of blue smoke out the exhaust on deceleration. It may be possible to change these seals with the head on but most people just pull it and replace the seals and gaskets at the same time. One last possible cause for oil consumption is if your oil control rings are sticking to the piston. To help free them up dump some Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinder and let it soak for a few days. Bike will smoke like crazy until the oil burns off so be warned. Hopefully the rings will free up and your basic oil consumption will drop.

Good luck.

[estagor]

Wow Thanks for the information, I should have registered earlier.

Thanks
Gord
Ottawa, Ontario

[estagor]

Great pic's and thanks for the calculation one to remember....

Thanks
Gord
Ottawa, Ontario