oil consumption

[Sundance]

Mike

Reading the threads about oil blow by/oil consumption;

I experienced oil consumption again this summer(4600 miles in two weeks, 2003 FLRTI with feuling pump, 95", heads) I'm not blowing it out the air cleaner but gradual use through the engine. I'm planning on doing a cylinder leak down test to verify the integerty of the rings.....but wonder if;

a) Larger air filter, does it make a difference?

b) does oii pool in the head area and if so would it help to drill out oil drain passages to the sump area?


thank you
Jerry

[Mike]

The larger air cleaner should not make a difference other than allowing oil to collect for a longer time before it is noticed. Oil can pool in the heads and add to carryover. We had a sim. issue with cronic carryover and oil purging from the breathers in a racer. We channeled the rocker boxes and heads to drain off any oil from areas we thought it might be pooling. Although we did a number of other things to help correct the problem, I believe this was the most affective. We've not tried it on a TC motor because it is all hand work and unless the problem is cronic, may not be worth the effort. Another trick some are using is to slightly enlarge the two holes in the rocker support under the breather valves (some only do the one on the low side). We've done this on a number of bikes with mixed results. When the carryover stops it's hard to tell what really cured it because we do so many other things at the same time.
Thanks, Mike

[Sundance]

Mike,
Do you have an idea on what size to drill out the rocker arm supports? I just pulled my air filter and my intake on the throttle body had oil residue and I've recently cleaned it. I think oil may be pooling in the valve covers..... Thanks Mike for your help.

[Mike]

Everyone seems to have their own idea of how large this needs to be but drill size #36 seems most common. Do only the low side hole and if needed the other can be done.
Thanks, Mike

[Sundance]

Mike,

After chasing my oil consumption issue for two years and three cross country trips it is finally non existent, 700 miles and no visable consumption(parked in the exact same spot and checked cold the next day) After your forum, Doherty Machine, and Donny Peterson and a friend who had his heads done by Baisly.... I drilled the rocker arm support drain holes to a #42. Thought you might like some feed back...thanks for your help

jerry :)

[Mike]

Thanks for the info. It is now on file here for all to see!!!
Mike

[Sundance]

Mike, I would like to ask you "one" more question about drilling out the rocker arm supports....

Would there not be an advantage to drilling out the rocker arm supports bigger than 42 or 36 and insure
no oil pooling???

Thanks for the forum Mike and all the work you've put into it!

[Mike]

Thank you for the compliment. If the holes are drilled too large, oil can be carried back through them into the breather assembly as crank case pressure oscilates, aggrevating the problem we'er trying to solve.
Mike

[Sundance]

Thank you Mike, I was very curious about what issues that would cause....

Jerry :)