Oil consumption after E cams?

[dustycowboy]

I was wondering if swaping SM cams for E cams could increase oil consumption because I noticed that my DRZ is burning much more oil than it was since I did the mod. Yesterday I did a 300 miles trip (mostly offroad), pretty easy on the throttle, and found that about 200ml were missing (went from top to bottom mark on the dipstick).

 

Thank you for your help!

[Melkor]

I've got about 1500 miles on my E cams. haven't noticed any extreme oil usage.  I ride lots of throttle on mixed country roads and highways  I like speed..

all the cam does is open and close the valves.  If every thing else is in spec,  that shouldn't cause excessive oil consumption.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Melkor

[dustycowboy]

all the cam does is open and close the valves.  If every thing else is in spec,  that shouldn't cause excessive oil consumption.

 

excessive oil consumption... DRZs are notorious for their oil consumption... My worries were about the increase in oil consumption since the mod because that's the only thing I did to the engine. Clearences were in spec.

[Noble]

First I have heard about this notorious oil consumption.

[ROUNDEYEHELMETHEAD]

The only scenario I can think of where a cam swap would result in increased oil consumption would be if one or both exhaust valves were shimmed in such a way where there was less than zero clearance, resulting in exhaust valve not fully seating and letting oil by

[Melkor]

excessive oil consumption... DRZs are notorious for their oil consumption... My worries were about the increase in oil consumption since the mod because that's the only thing I did to the engine. Clearences were in spec.

ex·ces·sive

ikˈsesiv/

adjective

adjective: excessive

1. more than is necessary, normal, or desirable; immoderate.

    

       

    

   Didn't mean to strike a nerve,  My DRZ-S  with E intake and  exhaust Cams does not use more oil than it did with S cams.  I thought that was what you were asking.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Melkor

[jjktmrider]

Valves being held open has no effect on letting oil by , they don't seal off any oil passage . My Z doesn't need any oil added between changes , they haven't been known for .

[Solid LT1]

Hotter cams increase valve lifts.......maybe your valve stems had crud on them that took out the valve seals?

[dustycowboy]

Thank you for your help guys!

 

If the cams are not to blame, then what can cause such a sudden increase of oil consumption?

[Bassit]

I'm interested in the answer as well, my 01 (also with E cams) uses a fair amount of oil, no leaks or smoke on start up.

I was also under the impression that drz's used a fair amount of oil.

[William1]

No, E cams swaps will not change oi consumption. Wear, change in riding style (longer runs at WOT), long wheelies, dropping the bike continually, a slowly failing check valve in the oil return.

 

If you really think it is consuming more suddenly, you can

1. put the stock cams back and see if the consumption returns (which I really, really doubt will change)

2. Drain and measure the amount of oil that comes out.

 

1 qt/1,000 miles is considered normal, so 100 ml/100 miles is normal too. My DRZ only consumes oil after hour long 100 mph highway runs and stunting wheelies for miles at a time (in a closed course performed by a professional-disclaimer)

[dustycowboy]

I put the stock cams back in. With the E cams, I was spending much more time in higher rev than I was used too. I do mostly trail riding and the lack of torque at low rpm was bugging me to the point I also put a bigger sprocket on my dirt wheels set to comprensate. Today I will change the oil and report back in a few days (because it will be raining this weekend).