2007 Norge leaking oil from airbox breather

[brentis1]

Hi all,

I have a 2007 Norge (2 valve) that has 5000km on the clock. This is my first MG and I am completely besotted but....

She is loosing about 50ml of oil out the airbox breather tube every 150km which I am at a lose to find the source of. I have drained all the oil, installed a new filter, and run the engine with 3l of oil rather than the 3.6l as specified and this has made no difference and I am sure eliminates over pressure in the crankcase. I am running 10w60 as recommended.

I have read other posts on the forum which suggest I am not the only one to experience this but really want to understand where this oil comes from and what can I check to eliminate this. At this volume it seems to be too much oil to be mist that has condensed in the airbox and then drained out.

Can anyone out there give me some ideas - any help greatly appreciated!

[Chuck in Indiana]

First, welcome to WG.
Now. 7 years old and 3000 miles. Maybe it has a stuck ring from lack of use? Just a guess, but it seems like the crankcase is getting pressurized for what ever reason. It wouldn't hurt to put some Marvel Mystery oil in the crankcase at any rate. Maybe it was babied on break in, and it hasn't broken in yet? Dunno. Maybe someone that knows will be along shortly.  ;D

[molly]

What's the level at the dipstick? Ideally it wants to be below halfway. Usually the oil finds it's own level and starts pushing less through the breather and after 6000 miles very little at all.
Makes sure the breather pipes that sit next to the airbox aren't kinked or trapped.

[Don G]

Take her out and drive the piss out of her, it will straighten up in short order. ;-T DonG

[Bisbonian]

What the level at the dipstick? Ideally it wants to be below halfway. Usually the oil finds it's own level and starts pushing less through the breather and after 6000 miles very little at all.
Makes sure the breather pipes that sit next to the airbox aren't kinked or trapped.

I'm going with molly on this one. I think we all ran into this in the beginning but learned not to overfill the oil, or at least learned where our bike likes the oil level to be.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Hey, he said he only had 3 L in it. I'd think it isn't over filled..

[biking sailor]

Hey, he said he only had 3 L in it. I'd think it isn't over filled..

Just a data point...

On my 2008 1200 Sport, I would put in 3 full liters, with an oil and filter change, and it would put about a couple of table spoons in the air box drain tube before it would stop.  After that no oil would come out till the next change.  Also at 40,000 miles I never had to add any between 6200 mile change intervals.

Same method/amounts on the 2013 Stelvio and so far none has come out after 3 oil changes.

As always, YMMV.

[Wayne Orwig]

Hey, he said he only had 3 L in it. I'd think it isn't over filled..

Yes but......

I would verify the level. Then go for a long hard run and verify it again. It may not drop. He may just be seeing left over oil in the vent system still being purged.

[biking sailor]

Further thinking about this, I seem to recall Pete Roper warning that too much oil in the air box from over filling the crankcase could lead to gunking up the throttle bodies with oil mist.  Please correct me if I mis-remembered this.

I would pull it apart and check the inside back part of the air box, where the oil would collect, to see how much was in there.  Of course giving it a good wiping out while in there.

[brentis1]

Hi Guys,

Cannot thank you enough for your comments!

Just some further info for you. I got the bike out of the box in 2013 so the 5000km has been in one year. I have fitted a Teo Lamers dipstick so the marks don't relate to the factory dipstick. I put 3l in and then marked the stick myself. I have done about 1000km with 3l in the sump so think the residual oil in the airbox would be gone.

On your advice time to take it out for a trash (might leave mum at home that day as the bike is normally used two up).

Will check the breathers for kinks.

Feel a lot less concerned after your remarks. Sounds like this is Italian character.

Cheers

Brent

[Wayne Orwig]

You may want to stick the original dipstick in to see how it compares.

[Zoom Zoom]

I had a TLM stick in my Norge and the marks were correct in relation to my oil level. Filling through that small hole was a pain, but it was worth not needing to remove body work. I was telling my neighbor about it one day and he braised up a piece of copper tubing with a few select bends in it to the base of an old metal coffee can. I just kept the can filled until I had deposited 3L through it.

As to the original question, same here as others. Early on, I would get a small amount of oil in the drain tube. Just keep it drained out. It's probably only a small amount that will be in a measuring cup if you drain into one.

Biking Sailor: You are right. If enough oil collects in the bottom of the drain box, it can be drawn back into the TB's and gunk things up.

John Henry

[brentis1]

Hi Guys,

Just to let you know I took the Norge out during the weekend and as suggested thrashed the nuts off the old girl. Feels very wrong riding a big twin at 5000 to 7000 RPM for extended periods!! Got home after about 100 miles and looked in the wee bottle I had installed on the oil breather and to my surprise about 2ml of oil.

Thanks all for your suggestions - looks like the Norge manual recommendations for running in are complete and utter shitte! Thrash the arse off it right from the get go.

Will do another 100 mile in a similar vein over this weekend to make sure the process is completed.

Cannot thank you all enough for your suggestions - I am just surprised the dealer network did not suggest the same?

Cheers

Brent

[ajonen]

I have the same bike. That little bit of oil in the drain tube is normal. Only fill her up to half full on the dip stick.

[Thunderbox]

Hi Guys,

Just to let you know I took the Norge out during the weekend and as suggested thrashed the nuts off the old girl. Feels very wrong riding a big twin at 5000 to 7000 RPM for extended periods!! Got home after about 100 miles and looked in the wee bottle I had installed on the oil breather and to my surprise about 2ml of oil.

Thanks all for your suggestions - looks like the Norge manual recommendations for running in are complete and utter shitte! Thrash the arse off it right from the get go.

Will do another 100 mile in a similar vein over this weekend to make sure the process is completed.

Cannot thank you all enough for your suggestions - I am just surprised the dealer network did not suggest the same?

Cheers

Brent

This is worth reading and as a mechanic of almost 40 years it makes a lot of sense.  http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Using this method I have never had any engine use oil.  2 Buells and my Norge.  They want you to load up the engine not just revving the snot out of it.

[Don G]

Run her, that engine lives in the upper RPM range, its not designed to lug around. Why do you think 10-60 oil is recommended? These engines are meant to perform! :+=copcar DonG

[Ellisras]

My 2013 just came back from a dealer to fix the same kind of oil leak, apparently also form the airbox. I spent a lot of money to fix it, but it still leaks. No need to add oil, but enough to leave oil spots where it is parked. I drain the vent tube when I see oil in it. Oil leaks irritate me tremendously, but looks like it is part of the Norge's "character" - too bad.
My question is: why is there a plug in vent tube and why can't it stay open all the time?

[pyoungbl]

The 'vent tube' you mention runs up to the air box and is there to drain any oil that gets sucked out of the crankcase.  Remember that the air filter is upstream of the airbox...in other words, all the air in that airbox has had to pass through the air filter.  If you unplug the tube you are introducing unfiltered air into the airbox.  That unfiltered air is coming from what is probably the worst possible place, in terms of getting crud into the engine.  The tube would be sucking air that has been stirred up by the front tire and thus a great source for dirt and debris.  That's not what I would want going into my engine.  In most cases the oil in your air box is the result of too much oil in the crankcase.  Both my Stelvio and Norge ran best with the oil level closer to 'add' than full. 

[MLR]

I have a 2012 Norge & 3 liters is about 3/4 full on the dipstick. At this level I probably drain a table spoon every 750 miles or so. To me it seems to suck more oil the more I run it WFO. Which makes sense to me because I imagine the crank case pressure and intake vacuum will be higher at wide open throttle and high RPM. I am reluctant to run it any lower than this on the dipstick since .6 liter is 17% less than recommended. Every time I've had the lid off the airbox there has been an oil film near the intake boots but I guess I would rather have to clean the throttle bodies once in a while than take a chance on damaging the motor. The bike runs great by the way with 30,000 miles.