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[bigchuck]

I have 15000 miles on my 2015 CVO Limited 110. It doesn't use oil except on long rides. If I do back to back days of 500 miles it will be over a quart low on the stick. Spoke to dealership and they say it is "normal". I have ESP coverage. Does any one have any ideas on what the problem could be? No smoke or leaks.

[J.D.]

Classic dealer response.

It's likely either escaping though:
A. breathers and into intake - check air filter for oil residue
B. rings - check compression
C. valve guides - check for blue smoke upon startup
D. seal leaking - check underneath drivetrain well for signs of an oil leak

[scottt]

Unless the bike is using more than 1 quart per thousand miles your going to be hard pressed to get warranty to cover a rebuild.

One thing about air cooled cylinders is that they change shape, heating and cooling. Some oil consumption is normal under the conditions you explained from my experience.

Frankly, from my experience, the 110 is not Harleys most trouble free motor.

Best of luck

Sent from my SM-J327T using Tapatalk

[sadunbar]

I have 15000 miles on my 2015 CVO Limited 110. It doesn't use oil except on long rides. If I do back to back days of 500 miles it will be over a quart low on the stick. Spoke to dealership and they say it is "normal". I have ESP coverage. Does any one have any ideas on what the problem could be? No smoke or leaks.

Frankly, you could tell your dealer you just finished a 500 mile ride and found your crankcase full of kool-aid, and your dealer would tell you it's normal.  Since you have ESP coverage, take your bike to a competent independent shop and get a second opinion of what's normal...

[bigchuck]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll let you know what I find. Hell I may just ride it till it blows.

[mark]

This is the reason I got rid of my 2010 CVO SG.  It would use a qt. of oil every thousand miles.  Sometimes more, if ridden for a few hours at top interstate speed (80+ mph).  Nothing like taking a bike trip and having to bring along a couple qts. of oil and top-off every morning.  This is an all-to-common issue with the 110. 

BTW, my bike never smoked but did have a burnt oil smell, particularly after riding at higher speeds.

[NH Bulldog]

My 2012 always used oil from day 1.  I expected oil consumption during break-in, but it never stopped.  I didn't see evidence of it on the plugs, or in the exhaust, nor did other fluids increase in volume.  I did however find oil on the air intake.  I believe that the oil vaporized in the crankcase, was pulled into the air cleaner through the vents and then was sucked back into the motor and burned.  It never caused any issues in 30,000 miles, other than I always kept a spare quart of oil on the bike, especially on long trips.     

[J.D.]

Unfortunately many TCs blow oil into the intake via the breathers, especially when running hard for extended periods, all the way back to the original 88s.  It's not just a 110 problem.

[bigchuck]

Unfortunately many TCs blow oil into the intake via the breathers, especially when running hard for extended periods, all the way back to the original 88s.  It's not just a 110 problem.

I go on a trip with a group of 6 bikes every year. I have the newest bike. Others have 88" to 103" and I'm the only one adding oil.

[J.D.]

Yes, they all don't do it, and those that do, some are worse than others.  Quite a few 88s do; at least the online chatter I've read would suggest they do.  I've seen it firsthand.

Regardless, a quart in 1,000 miles is not what most anyone would consider normal or acceptable.

[HD Street Performance]

Whst you are experiencing is oil carry over and it is not normal. Main culprit is usually blow by the rings causing oil on top to go out the breathers into the intake

[FLSTFI Dave]

I have done 5000 to 6000 mile trips on 4 different CVO's with the 110 and have never had to had oil during the trip. 

[grc]

If you have an oil carryover problem, which should be obvious if you remove the air filter and inspect it as well as the backing plate, throttle body, and breather ports, my first question is how "full" are you running the oil level?  If you usually run it at or above the hot fill mark, you may need to back off a bit and run it about a pint low. Do not add oil until the level reaches the add mark on the dipstick, then only add a pint. That has eliminated the problem on many Twin Cams over the years.  If that doesn't help, then detailed diagnostics are necessary to determine if you have one or more internal issues that allow excessive amounts of oil to flow through the breather system. 

Jerry

[mark]

If you have an oil carryover problem, which should be obvious if you remove the air filter and inspect it as well as the backing plate, throttle body, and breather ports, my first question is how "full" are you running the oil level?  If you usually run it at or above the hot fill mark, you may need to back off a bit and run it about a pint low. Do not add oil until the level reaches the add mark on the dipstick, then only add a pint. That has eliminated the problem on many Twin Cams over the years.  If that doesn't help, then detailed diagnostics are necessary to determine if you have one or more internal issues that allow excessive amounts of oil to flow through the breather system. 

Jerry

Jerry, it's some other problem with the 110s.  I ran my crankcase about a pint low to prevent oil blowing from the breather into the air cleaner.  Didn't make a difference.  I never narrowed down a culprit, but there were enough posts about 110 oil consumption across the various HD forums that I concluded it was an issue with the 110.  My previous HDs, including a 103 CVO, never used any oil.

[HD Street Performance]

Blowby, simple as that. Not exclusive to 110s but they present more often due to blazing heat when not tuned properly or babied and never broken in.