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cleaning the injectors
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:25 pm
by ian
If I'm burning oil at a rate of about a quart ever 500 miles, how often should I be using fuel injector cleaner?
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:32 pm
by ragedigital
What kind of car is it?
And if you're burning that much oil, it's time to get it serviced.
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:04 pm
by ian
haha not the car, it's my bike

Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:56 pm
by ragedigital
I figured. There's no injectors, so I just made a little crack.
I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you let the bike sit for a while. Change your fuel filter every season though...
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:22 pm
by Luke-a-Tron
Running a detergent (I like SeaFoam) will generally make oil leaks/burning worse rather than better. If you're burning oil, cleaning out the gunk and getting it flowing better will make you burn more oil. That's a high rate to be losing oil, are you sure it's all burning? Are you fouling plugs left and right?
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:52 pm
by ian
actually my plugs are fine as far as I can tell, I haven't actually checked them since I got the bike back in January. And yes, I'm sure it's burning off, because I have no puddles anywhere.
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:21 pm
by Luke-a-Tron
It's probably your exhaust valve seals in that case because that much oil would have to foul the plugs pretty quickly if it were getting into the cylinder. Either that or it's only leaking when it's moving. Goopy crap deposited on the frame or the inside of the fairings is a sure sign of that.
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:37 am
by ian
haha well if I had fairings I could tell you if it was there. Where would it be on the frame? underside? clutch cover?
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:46 am
by Luke-a-Tron
Around where it's leaking,

. Look around, if you see a bunch of oil and road grime some place, investigate.
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:58 am
by ian
will do. Leaks are usually easier to fix than valve seals I'm guessing...
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:03 am
by ian
unfortunately it looks like the only gunk/grime is from lube being thrown off the chain...
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:56 am
by Luke-a-Tron
It depends where it's leaking. Clean out the filth behind the sprocket cover and take a look after a short ride. Two of the most suspect seals under there, the main output shaft behind the front sprocket (PITA to replace) and the clutch rod seal (very easy to replace).
Is your bike smoking? That's just a very large quantity of oil to loose in a short period.
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:30 pm
by ian
Yes, she does smoke, quite a bit when I wring her out.
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:37 pm
by Luke-a-Tron
Then I'm suspect of the exhaust valve stem seals. I'd do a compression test. If all is well there it more or less has to be the valves.
You might just plan on doing a full top end rebuild this winter. Valves, rings, cylinder hone, the whole nine yards. It's silly not to do the rings and cylinders if you've go the head off already.
Re: cleaning the injectors
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:56 pm
by ian
Do I have to buy a compression tester or can I borrow one from autoreilly zone?