Oil AWOL

Tombstone

Tombstone

Joined
May 30, 2025
Messages
40
Location
Utah
Bike
NT 1100
When I've ridden my NT1100 a few hundred miles and park the bike, after it sits for awhile I get a small amount of leakage from one of the 3 hoses on the left side by the foot peg.

When I changed my oil, the old oil was short by about a quart of the amount it should have been.
Anyone else experiencing this? I'm hoping it is not normal.
And yes, I need to take it to the dealer, but I have several rides planned in the near future and I have to think they will keep it for a number of weeks.

I got it the first of June - It has appx 11,500 miles.

Any thoughts?
 
Are you saying the oil level dropped 1 quart out of how many the capacity is by the time of change ? That's a lot of oil. When did this start? I wonder if anyone here bought a manual. Would love to know where that hose goes. Wonder if it drips while under way.
 
It seems to me that I remember somewhere that the NT1100 has two drainplugs for oil changes because of the DCT. Is it possible that you overlooked a drain plug? I could be totally mistaken about this. I just can't imagine a Honda using/losing a quart of oil between changes.

Mike
 
2 drain plugs, the 1 near filter is the lowest and let more oil out than the one on side by edge of case, you can see that one by looking between frame tube and engine case. But whether enough oil came out, when filling there is a dip stick port to check oil level, so before starting up engine to fill filter and check level, IT SHOULD HAVE already been checked. Not really sure what happened with Tombstone
 
I called the service dept of the Honda store where I purchased the bike. He felt like it wasn't a problem and advised to keep an eye on it.

I did use both drain holes to empty old oil. And when refilling checked very closely the dip stick.

I'll moniter it and if I "lose" that much oil on the next change then I'll decide what to do. As for right now I'm just going to keep riding. I have a trip planned in about two weeks from Salt Lake to Kentucky and back so that should max out my oil miles and I'll change it when I return.

I appreciate your comments and Ideas. I've never seen anything like this before but I'm sure it will be cleared up before long.
 
Tombstone said:
I called the service dept of the Honda store where I purchased the bike. He felt like it wasn't a problem and advised to keep an eye on it.

I did use both drain holes to empty old oil. And when refilling checked very closely the dip stick.

I'll moniter it and if I "lose" that much oil on the next change then I'll decide what to do. As for right now I'm just going to keep riding. I have a trip planned in about two weeks from Salt Lake to Kentucky and back so that should max out my oil miles and I'll change it when I return.

I appreciate your comments and Ideas. I've never seen anything like this before but I'm sure it will be cleared up before long.
Click to expand...
Keep us up to date on any oil usage. I really like sight gages myself but if you are careful, a dip stick will work.
 
Tombstone said:
When I changed my oil, the old oil was short by about a quart of the amount it should have been.
I got it the first of June - It has appx 11,500 miles.
Click to expand...
Aren't new, not yet broken in engines not expected to consume some oil?
AFAIK does it take a while till rings and honing mate, and till the oil rings collect carbon deposits...
 
ST1100Y said:
Aren't new, not yet broken in engines not expected to consume some oil?
AFAIK does it take a while till rings and honing mate, and till the oil rings collect carbon deposits...
Click to expand...
Interesting thought... I don't have a good answer. However wouldn't 10,000 miles be considered 'broken in'? I don't usually look forward to oil changes, but I am anxious to see how the next one turns out.
 
Coyote Chris said:
Keep us up to date on any oil usage. I really like sight gages myself but if you are careful, a dip stick will work.
Click to expand...
I prefer sight guages also.. Calling someone a 'dip stick' is an insult, but call them a 'sight guage' and they might spend the rest of the day trying to figure out if it was a compliment or insult.... LOL
 
ST1100Y said:
Aren't new, not yet broken in engines not expected to consume some oil?
AFAIK does it take a while till rings and honing mate, and till the oil rings collect carbon deposits...
Click to expand...
Well, in the last century, yes. But I will tell you this and you can take it to the bank. All the new cars and bikes I have bought in this century didnt burn a drop from new. Or not that you could see. All were Japanese. My wife's old beaters with 150k on the clock? Yes. A quart every 2-3 thousand. Subbies are after all horizontal engines. my 2004 Honda CRV with 162K doesnt burn any oil that I am aware of. Still, it stands to reason that every time an ICE is started, a very little bit of oil is burned. How could it not? But it amazes me to this day how very little an ICE engine that is well built burns. I took my new Subaru Crosstrek with less than a 1000 miles on it from Spokane to Oshkosh Wisconsin and back. Sure I was easy on it but I also did 80 mph through Montana. I never saw a change on the dip stick. 3500 miles. You can argue that the burned oil was replace by combustion byproducts, etc. I am not worried. I am amazed.

A bike that burns a quart in the first year has an issue. But I have a feeling that if you are keeping careful track, you will see no further usage worth mentioning.
Now a P and W R 4360 on start up? Different story.
a 4360.JPG
A well warmed up R 3350 pulling some manifold pressure during a night run....this engine in a B29 would burn 2 gallons of oil an hour with 6 being throught excessive.
Power small.jpgPower small.jpg
 
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My friend Rob Miller took with pic of a night run of a Rolls Royce Griffen counter rotating prop engine at night. A Merlin could easily burn 1 gallon of oil an hour at cruise.rob miller pm.jpg
 
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