QuestionI just bought an 86 1/2 (87) Suzuki Intruder 700. I drove it 200 miles to my buddies on Saturday and left today (Tuesday). I added two quarts of oil to my bike not noticing the "oil level". I then took off and got about 25 miles when my bike started smoking and I lost 1/2 its usual power. I was 5 miles away from a town so I drove to the town called my buddy and got a pickup ride back to my house. Is my bike screwed??? the oil cap on my bike said SAE 10W 40 and thats what I put in. What should I do?
AnswerJosh,
it sounds like the engine may have at least momentarily
seized a piston from lack of oil.
When you overfill an engine the oil foams up probably
from hitting the crankshaft. If it is full of air
bubbles, the engine doesn't get any oil or
oil pressure. The damage done is hard to say without
inspecting the engine.
First, drain the oil and see if you can squirt
a small amount of oil into the spark plug holes.
Try turning the engine by hand, with a wrench
or socket on the engine rotor or flywheel.
If it turns okay, try adding 2 litres of new oil
and start the engine. Let it idle and see how
it sounds. If it has any serious knocking,
you will need to have the engine checked out.
If it sounds ok, you can check the oil level
and try running it a bit.
You may want to change the oil filter soon
if it runs ok.
Check all your fluids and don't overfill ;)
