ZL 600 Oil Problems

[greensnow22]

I have a 2000 ZL600 that uses way too much oil especially when compared to the 2001 ZL600 I own. I have checked everything I can think of, even giving up and bringing it to my dealer to no avail. They couldnt find a problem suggesting replacing the oil pump, without any promises it would help. This oil pump (3005-695) was used only for one year, on a few EFI sleds. It can't be found on ebay (looked all summer) and list for over $350 new OEM. Does anyone know what is different with this pump. Was there a known over oiling issue with 2000 ZL600 EFI sleds? Can a different pump be used? Any and all help would be appreciated.

 

[mezz]

A good friend of mine & I had the identical sleds from 2000 to 06. They were both Gas Guzzlers, moreover, his was a Gas & Oil guzzler. I pre-emptively had a ring job done on mine at 3500 mi & I put on just shy of 7000 miles on mine before selling it to my Now son in-law whom rides it quite hard & has blown it twice.

My friends sled is now his brother-in-laws & has not done a stitch to the motor & it still runs like a champ, it still uses the oil, but still running well. Unless it's an unusually High amount of oil, & your fouling plugs hand over-fist, I think I would leave well enough alone. Short of a new oil pump, the only thing you could do is incrementally dial back the pump boss so it's not drawing as much oil, but, do it in small increments & compare the oil usage from previous. I think I would prefer to have too much oil than not enough.-Mezz

 

[mikedrh]

You should always be very cautious when making changes to a factory set up. The factroy, at least in the last 10 years or so, spends a ton of time making sure that what they put out there is a reliable piece for the average rider.

Not that you can't improve on the set up they use or the fact that they can miss the set up by a bit for your particular riding style BUT, I find that once I start tinkering with a machine it never seems to stop and sometimes turn it into a tinkering nightmare.

I have machines that are just going to be tinkering machines but the one I ride everyday I leave alone. I pull the cord, ride it, do some maintenance and it's never left me walking. People who know me, and have the same machine, will ask what I'm running for jets, I say "don't know don't care" as long as it runs good and stays that way I won't even bother to look.

Like mezz says "make small changes", keep track of them and don't make to many. A good rule of thumb is "when performance goes up, reliability seems to go in the opposite direction".

 

[tyeeman]

What's your deffinition of way too much oil?

 

[greensnow22]

tyeeman,

about one quart to 70 miles / average 1 to 25 ratio / almost twice as much as my one year newer ZL 600 following it trail riding. Not necescary trying to fix it, but find out if was a common thing for 2000 ZL600.

Thanks

 

[ezra]

is the 2000 cable run oil pump thought so if so it is a adjustable cable.
most cats run pig fat oil I have turned down my last 4 cats oil pumps they run better if running closer to 50/1

 

[ezra]

btw I think the 2000 is a 2 speed pump idle to 5/8 throttle and 5/8 to full throttle so your cable could be to tight turning pump to full oil at say 1/2 throttle.
so if a cable loosen cable if shaft you got to pop shaft off carb and give 1 full turn and re hook to carb go on a long run and check usage

 

[whitedust]

Adjust oil pump cable but be careful don't lean out & go boom most zl600s I rode with were pigs on gas & oil but they held together ok.

 

[maj16]

I had the same motor and the same oil consumption with the same issues. I ran it that way and carried cheap oil with me. Most gas stops were "check the gas and fill the oil"!

 

[Team Elkhorn]

Cat must have been running everything rich in 2000. When I bought my 2000 ZR 700 new, it used more than twice the gas and oil of my 1997 and 1998 Cats, (more than a gallon of oil a day)! I had my dealer turn down the oil pump and drop the jets two sizes halfway through the first season. That sled was great after that. I miss the low end grunt of that old school 700.