Noise after oil change

I've got a 2003 VFR 800 which has approx. 16,000miles/26,000kms.
After buying the bike last year, riding, then storing it for the winter, it was time for my first oil change this spring. The previous owner had synthetic in it, and after reading as much as I could on this great site about oil & filters, I changed it using Castrol automotive synthetic 5W-40, and went with a Purolator Pure One PL14610 filter.

Ever since the oil change, I've had noise coming from the motor (valves?) - more noticeable after it's warmed up, and only noticeable at low rpm as I'm coming to a stop or idling (probably due to less wind/road noise). A "fast ticking" sound is the best I can describe it (which changes in speed with the motor). I've not ridden it very hard, but mostly short 7 minute trips to/from work - usually in the 25-45°F range.

Any suggestions?

 

some bikes dont like some oils... can manifest in symptoms like yours, or clutch issues (gabby, slippy) etc... cant speak for the filter, but would suggest changing to a Motorcycle Oil and changing brands.

 

Trying a different oil might be an easy way to see if it is oil or filter related, especially if it wasn't doing it before the oil and filter change and now it is. Of course unless something went amiss during winter storage. If it's at 16,000 miles I believe it is due for valve clearance check and adjust anyway.

 

I know this. You need to realign your chain, and rear tire. Oil may have loosened up O rings, or may have let dirt and grime go, so its more noticeable, but without a doubt, the clicking is the individual links, hitting the sprocket tooth, and slipping into position. Not to scare you… cause it could be ever so slightly off, and the interference is minor. But with new oil, it slaps into position, instead of rubbing into position. While you are at it, be sure to check your oil, and ensure its gear oil, or chain oil that’s compatible with the chain…(some O-rings are made of aceteal, and some are made of polyamides, or polysolfones)

Easy. No problem. Just re-align.

 

Hey i had much the same issue with mine, when i first picked it up (2002 approx same mileage) I had ridden it for only a couple weeks with the oil that was in it when i got it.. was very noisy when it first started or warmed up.. i have now put in some 15w40 as suggested by my mechanic and not only does it sound better but it feels biter overall when riding..

 

Thanks for the replies....I've picked up some Mobil 1 10w40 synthetic motorcycle oil that I will be trying next oil change (or sooner).

 

After changing to the Mobil 1 10w40 synthetic MX4T oil, and back to a Honda OEM filter, the noise continues....I'm stumped, since this noise was not present at all last year before the oil/filter change.

It seems odd that if it is my valves, that they would suddenly start making noise after an oil change (previous owner also had synthetic in the bike).

 

Did you start it up, after storage, before the oil was changed? If not, could it possibly be a fuel injector? They sound a lot like a noisy valve, with regard to the ticking sound. They live in the same area, and operate at the same frequency.

 

Yes, I started it twice during the winter storage, and heard no unusual noise, even though I allowed it to warm up. I just had a friend listen to it with his stethoscope, and he said the sound was more prominent in the front right exhaust area, so assumed it was an exhaust valve. I'm now going to take it to a shop and get them to check it out....especially since it has 16k miles on it, and it's due for that inspection anyway.

 

Find out what brand and weight oil and oil filter the orig. owner used. Then I would go back to it and ride the bike for a hundred miles or so and determine if the noise goes away. I would not start to tear into the motor until you have at least done that. Like someone said earlier some bike seem to like certain oils and that is it! I had a Ford
Escort GT bought new and never abused. I always used 10-30 Mobil one . I switched to Pennzoil 5-30 non -syn oil and the valves became very noisy. Switched
back to 10-30w Mobil one and problem solved. eddie

 

Something they seldom take time to do in shops but a careful owner SHOULD do every time is to pre-fill oil filter about 2/3 full before mounting it on motor.

Yes, you might spill a few drops, but it will prevent several seconds of destructive dry- running before crank bearings recieve full oil pressure.

No race motor is ever started with a dry oil filter!!!

 

Ok, so others I think have said it, but it's not a good idea to use automotive oil in a bike. The friction modifiers don't treat the clutch well. Either to back to regular bike oil, or use synthetic bike oil. I think your manual tells you what spec the oil has to be.
Cheers
John.

 

avoid using any oils labeled "energy conserving" !!

 

Unfortunately the previous owner doesn't know the brand of oil that was used - other than it being synthetic.
After 500 miles with the Purolator Pure One filter and Castrol Syntec automotive 5W40 oil, I've changed to Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle 10w40 oil, and Honda oil filter (neither oil was energy conserving).
The ticking sound remains with either oil/filter combination when engine is at low rpm & warm, so I will go ahead with the 16,000 mile valve inspection next.

 

Do NOT put AUTOMOTIVE OIL IN MOTORCYCLES

PERIOD.

 

I based my decision to use automotive oil after reading the article in the VFR technical section here . But, as I said, I've gone to motorcycle oil, and noise is the same.

 

I just had the 16k mile inspection done on the bike (which includes valve inspection), and the bike no longer ticks. So, I guess it was all a coincidence that the noise started after an oil change. Thanks for all the replies!

 

Thanks for the follow-up! It's always nice to know what the problem was. Glad it wasn't anything serious.