R3 GT 2020: oil consumption

Dear R3 owners, I am not a mechanic, my English is not as good as expected but I need your advice and help and I thank you in advance for that.

I put 6.509 miles in the new R3 after first service and I am obliged to add 0.11 quarter (0,1 litre) of oil every 250 miles (400 km)to keep the level above 1/4" (6 mm) minimum level on the stick (I am using the Triumph "cold" method of measurement).

That means a consumption of oil close to 0.43 quarters / 1000 miles (0,25 litres / 1000 km). According to me it is 3 times over normal oil consumption.
I have never seen that with any of my previous bikes ( as for example: Triumph Rocket 3 2300 and Sprint 900, Honda 350, Suzuki 800 vs, HD 88, HD 110 ....) and 3 of them (Triumph and HD) have been bought to and maintained by the same dealership.

R3 2.5: There is no fume, no oil leak, and exhaust is not greasy. I only can see some dark "material" going out of the exhaust after a few seconds and during a few seconds when I started the engine (picture: see what it can be seen on white sheet of paper leaking from left exhaust). The transparent liquid around dark spots is water and is understandable (condensed water).

Saying that to my dealership, the answer from Triumph was: until 1.7 quarters of oil consumed every 1000 miles, is acceptable (1 litre / 1000 km).

What do you think about and what do you suggest (I will have my second Dealership service after one year on Thursday) ?

I had the same on a BMW a few years ago . There answer 1lt /800 mi was acceptable . it also depends on your driving habits also .

I'm going to start monitoring oil level more often... currently at 3500 miles, I have notice the oil level was just at about 1/8 of the allowed range, close to minimum.
I added an extra 125cc and after checking the next day, it was probably just 1/8 more than the day before. I added another 125cc. Now its showing about 1/3 of the allowed range.

I normally have mine in sport mode, and probably most of the time between 3500 to 4500 rpm, I would think using some oil it's kind of normal. Even my old truck with 200k miles on it, can have an extra 0.5 L per 5000 miles and that is a vehicle that runs normally at very low rpm (2k-2.5k)

What specification of oil are you adding?

Anonmeng said:

What specification of oil are you adding?

Click to expand...

I just went with oil available locally. motul 7100 (MOTUL 7100 15W-50 4T - Motul API SG/SH/SJ/SL/SM/SN JASO MA2 M033MOT125)

Thank you for your replies

@ Bernard Vinet: yes I know that BMW bikes are using some oil even the last GS models. But other French R3 are not consuming any oil. Am I the only one ? I am not a "pilot" and I usually change gear @ 3 500 rpm. I ride rather "cool". Ok sometimes I am going to 6 500 rpm, once or twice a day ride.

@ Pica: 0,25 litres with 3 500 miles that means 0.08 litres / 1000 miles which is nice.

@ Anonmeng: The dealership is using and I use this one:
Moto 4 Road ELF - Synthetic based - 15W-50 -

JPHDT said:

Thank you for your replies

@ Bernard Vinet: yes I know that BMW bikes are using some oil even the last GS models. But other French R3 are not consuming any oil. Am I the only one ? I am not a "pilot" and I usually change gear @ 3 500 rpm. I ride rather "cool". Ok sometimes I am going to 6 500 rpm, once or twice a day ride.

@ Pica: 0,25 litres with 3 500 miles that means 0.08 litres / 1000 miles which is nice.

@ Anonmeng: The dealership is using and I use this one:
Moto 4 Road ELF - Synthetic based - 15W-50 -

Click to expand...

15-50, MA2, that's all you need.

To me the small amount you measure the oil level down from full would not worry me. Remember a dry sump is going to have more oil in the tank than is needed in the engine. Many mechanically pumped fluids will need to find their own happy level and you will see some fluctuation on the dip stick . The great amount of reserve oil in the tank is more than adequate to protect your engine during a ride. I would ride it a while without topping up and see if it settles on its own sweet spot. My coolant does this. If I top it up to the full line it will puke it out every time. So I just let it find its sweet spot and leave it there. My Moto Guzzi will push a little oil out if you fill to the full line. These bikes are known for this. So the proper "Full" on the dip stick is half way between full and add.

@ Idaho Red Rocket 3

My English is so bad: I try to keep oil level on the stick only 1/4" above the minimum level. I am always below half level, and I never add oil to reach full level.

I need to add oil every 250 miles to stay at this low level: 1/4 " above minimum level on the stick.

On another forum, some Triumph guys are looking for the cause of some oil missing. According to Triumph, there would be a compartment in the engine or the oil if housed ??? So maybe this is the cause of your problem?
For me no excessive consumption but an unconvincing level control (manual method r3 GT 2500)