[doug80638]

Agreed. Adding that much oil is definitely compensating for a problem that really should be addressed directly.

My fear would be that adding too much oil could result in cavitating and result in harming the engine.

Oil pressure is up, so the pump itself would seem to be OK. I have to believe that something is amiss at the sump (pickup loose or to high?).

[NMKawierider]

Yeah I was always told if the crank throw hits the oil surface, that's bad..cavitation, foaming..other things. I run mine a hair..or two.. above the top mark on the stick..but that's about it.

[davidpaul]

500ml take's the oil level to the top of the dip sick hole/tube so i don't think the oil is high enough to be near the crank, when the engine is running the oil level will drop as the oil is pumped around the engine and the gearbox gears will also pick up a lot of oil.
As I rebuilt the engine and paid a lot of attention to keeping the gasket paste i used to a absolute minimum, I can't see what would of happened in the engine to stop the oil returning to the oil pick up, if i had used instant gasket i could see that some may have worked it's way to the screen and maybe blocked it.
The pressure relief valve is such a simple design i don't think there's  anything wrong with it, and filling the engine with more oil wouldn't fix a faulty valve.
The holes and passage ways that allow the oil to return to the oil pick up are too big to have become blocked.
As I have already had a crank bearing fail I would now suggest that there's been something wrong for a long time, but during the rebuild nothing looked to be wrong.
As CF Moto have engine issues i would say the problem may be down to the design rather than anything broken or blocked.
At the minute the extra oil was a test first I added 500ml which made a difference so adding another 500ml was to see if it would improve some more but as it has turned out it has nearly cured the problem completely.

[NMKawierider]

I keep having this vision of somehow pulling-in air on the intake side...that the higher level either covered or allowed the pump not to pull the vacuum required to pull-in that air. It would be funny if it were something like..the oil filter cover o-ring or a warped cover all this time.

[Hrc630]

It’s a very plausible idea !!

95% of the time this engine seem to be very good. I have seen 2 with over 20,000 km with absolutely no mechanical failure. The design an conception seem to be good. The vast majority of failure are related to air filter. For the other failure the idea of NMKawierider can be good . 

For me the idea of adding oil is not good since 95% of the engine run fine with the standard oil capacity.

[NMKawierider]

Well in any case, if it is air, and it's being pumped to the rod bearings..its taking it's toll on them....and the pump.. some.

[davidpaul]

I think you maybe missing the point guys, at this point I'm happy that I've managed to get a consistent oil pressure reading, which is good for any engine.
I really don't want to take the engine out again and not being funny but how many of you guys have rebuilt their engines, if I didn't leave her idling for longer than i would normally I wouldn't have known there was a problem with the oil flow/pressure, there's at least one person on here that has the same problem with the oil light flashing on and off on idle.

[davidpaul]

Another point, if it was the oil filter cover was drawing in air from outside of the engine surely it would do that regardless of the oil level inside, in my view the problem is between the oil pump and the sump/pick up.
Another point is mine has done nearlly 7000miles, it took nearly 6000miles for the bearing to fail, I understand a majority of these only do a few hundred miles so how do you know yours wont fail in the future.
If all of our's had done the same miles it would be fair to comment on how good they are, but as most will never get to 7000miles it's not a fair comparison to says most are fine.
I have a friend here in the uk thats had a simular bearing failure due to the drive gears of the oil pump stripping there teeth, he's now taken his engine apart for the second time and is sick to death of CF Moto.
Just my thoughts.

[Hrc630]

Mine have flashed 2 time but I have remarked its after I have made the reset for oil change each time.

I have ride 6 hours since that an let my engine idle 2 hours last week with no flashing. Absolutely no engine noise, compression and leakdown test was perfect. On mine I am sure its an electronic glitch caused by de reset or by to much snow in the engine compartment that have caused an electrical glitch

[Hrc630]

You are right on the mileage.
I only have 3700 miles.
I have seen a lot of Cf over 10,000 km with no problem but I have no idea how hard these guys have run them.

I will keep an eye on mine as the mileage go up.

Does your engine have a different sound before that failure?

I will check my oil pressure this week end with a gauge...

[davidpaul]

Mine started with a rattle which i thought was coming from the cvt until it failed completely (heavy knocking) but she still managed to keep the oil light off right up to the point she wouldn't run any more, she ran well right up to the time she stopped, the end came very quick from a light rattle to heavy knocking within 1/2 mile.
Mine had the odd flash of the oil light before but i was hoping that good oil would keep her alive, I was concerned by the oil light coming on but I just thought it was something to keep an eye on.
It is odd that the same bearing failed on 3 engines that i know of, and that was the bottom end on the rear cylinder.

[davidpaul]

What may be interesting if someone else who has seen the oil warning light when the engine is running is to test their oil presure with an oil gauge, or anyone who has a Z8 to see what their readings are like.
At the moment we have no info on presure other than mine.


After looking at an expoloded diagram it looks like mine is missing a cover that forms part of the channel that drains oil from the wet clutch to the oil pick up, but theres no way of checking unless the engine id completely stripped

[Hrc630]

As soon I have time I will take my oil pressure.
Do you have a pic of the missing part in your ?

[davidpaul]

I've tried to add a picture of the item but can't, I will have another go later

[REDRIDER]

What may be interesting if someone else who has seen the oil warning light when the engine is running is to test their oil presure with an oil gauge, or anyone who has a Z8 to see what their readings are like.
At the moment we have no info on presure other than mine.


After looking at an expoloded diagram it looks like mine is missing a cover that forms part of the channel that drains oil from the wet clutch to the oil pick up, but theres no way of checking unless the engine id completely stripped

I have had mine flash. More when I first got it then the dealer fixed something.. they said there was slag somewhere. Since it has flashed twice, once after a hard braking and once on an incline at idle. oil is always full and clean. It has Rotella T6.
Where's the oil pressure port? I'd have to get a gauge but they are pretty cheap and I wouldn't mind knowing what is really going on.