Modern Vespa

I consider buying a pre loved Vespa 300 and read a lot about the 300 HPE engine and it`s remakable higher oil consumtion than the 300 GTS engines before 2019.

If you can life with it, it`s you choice, but it will always bothers me. I`m no prophet but probably we will look back some years from now, and realise that this was not a design but a flaw.

The HPE is in my eyes not the same bullet proof engine as the older GTS, so I have peace of mind looking for an older GTS.

My '22 HPE didn't use oil.
I've thought it was 19 and a few 20 models only. ??

My '20 HPE GTS seems to use a little oil, but it's fairly insignificant and isn't something that I have to keep eye on ALL the time, moreso on longer highway rides.

Of course, my oil level sight glass engine cover makes keeping tabs on the slippery stuff a very easy and convenient way to monitor it.

A highly recommended addition.

My 2019 drinks like a fish but i still love it

I'm surprised that znomit hasn't asked if the fish is swimming in an oil spill

You should switch to cod liver oil. Your engine will get trashed but your cat will love you.

might help with river crossings

Scooter might attempt to swim away.

My 2020 did consume oil. It required frequent checks and some topping off. Ran like a top, tho. Nothing to be afraid of, merely to be informed of. By comparison, my 2023 GTS hasn't used a drop. As noted, my understanding was this issue stopped with the 2020 model year.

My 21 HPE does still use some oil and requires topping up occasionally. I check it every couple of hundred miles and have to put a few ounces in. The engine has a bit over 4k miles on it now and I am hoping that eventually all will settle in and oil consumption may drop off. If not it's no big deal to me. The scooter runs great!

I doubt this guy would help if it did
[NSR] Crazy cat people let's see your cats (Post 2699443)

There was recently a discussion in the German forum about whether Piaggio has made a technical change here, at least for later model years. The following was noticed:

Piaggio seems to have updated the part number for the oil scraper ring and one of the piston rings:

Upper piston ring: 1A011379
Middle piston ring: 1A013666 (current) replaces 1A011380 (old)
Oil scraper ring: 1A013667 (current) replaces 1A011381 (old)

Note: old numbers in a row xxx79/80/81 and both new SKUs xxx66/67

First of all: A new part number may indicate a changed component (but this is not necessarily the reason for a new part number).

So far, it has not been possible to determine when the new part numbers were introduced. From this it would be possible to deduce when Piaggio could have made a change in series production.

There is almost no source that mentions the "old" article numbers, only ScooterCenter mentions old and current article numbers:

https://www.scooter-center.com/en/piston-ring-lower-piaggio-oe-74.5mm-vespa-gts-hpe-300-zapma3600-zapmd310-vespa-gts-super-hpe-300-zapma360-zapmd3100-vespa-gtv-hpe-300-zapma3602-zapma362-zapmd3102-piaggio-mp3-hpe-300-zapta2100-zaptd2100-gp1a013666

https://www.scooter-center.com/en/oil-scraper-ring-piaggio-oe-74.5mm-vespa-gts-hpe-300-zapma3600-zapmd310-vespa-gts-super-hpe-300-zapma360-zapmd3100-vespa-gtv-hpe-300-zapma3602-zapma362-zapmd3102-piaggio-mp3-hpe-300-zapta2100-zaptd2100-gp1a013667

It would therefore be interesting to compare these parts from an earlier HPE engine with the current part numbers to see if there is a recognizable visual/technical difference.

I rode in the 2023 Scooter Cannonball Run on a 2023 Vespa GTS 300 HPE.

It started in San Clemente with less than 1000 miles on it.

I checked the oil every night and found that it was at the correct level every time.

I didn't need to add a drop in 3500 miles.

Bill

This thread reminded me to check the oil level on my 22 300 hpe, level was fine, Scooter now has just over 3,000 miles, have not added any oil since the 600 mile service....

My 23 had almost 11k miles, never had to add oil. It also gets better gas mileage (75) now that it's really broken in.

Something curious I saw on a Youtube video comparing different oils, is that oil does have evaporative losses. One of the experiments was heating two oils and seeing which oil had lost the least volume / weight.

It would be curious to know if the oil is actually burning or whether it's just designed to run hotter in order to meet stricter emissions targets?

Thanks for your replies guys, it helps me a lot!
It seems met the problem was more specific with the first HPE from 2019-`20.

Unfortunately, my '22 model HPE continues to consume lots of oil (50ml per 100-200kms). Vespa tell me the consumption is within the acceptable range. I continue to be pretty paranoid and have maintained logs of consumption since the first service. I periodically share these with Vespa Australia.

The good news is that the bike has always run beautifully and performance is awesome. My HPE has now done about 6,500kms. 🤞

Good analysis in this thread on probable cause so not unreasonable to suspect Piaggio made a production change without admitting fault.

2020 HPE Oil Consumption or Lack Of

Fix for an oil burner would be aftermarket piston/cylinder kit, with additional benefits of higher compression and aluminum/Nikasil bore.

My '22 uses oil when under heavy load like high speed highway driving or lots of full throttle accelerations. If you drive it like an "old man" you don't need to add a drop. This has been consistently the same for the entire 15,000 miles I have put on it. I have the sight glass but just know when I drive aggressively that I am going to need a top up.

I have a 2022 TEC and have no issues with oil usage, I change my oil every 5000 km and use 5W 40 oil because I,m in a warmer climate.

warmer? me several weeks ago:
Country riding in Australia (Post 2690804)

FNQ.

My oil consumption is definitely highest when I'm doing more highway/freeway riding.

What weight oil are you using?

Castrol Power1 (5W-40)

I would suggest when you change your oil next time, that you use 10w-40 or even better - 15w-40. It may help out on the consumption problem and unless you ride in temps well below freezing (-10F, -23C), your scoot won't know the difference.

I live here in South-Africa where it does not become as cold as in Europe. The Vespa agents in Johannesburg told met that they prefer to use only 10W-40 in all the Vespa`s they service.

I am using 5w-40

Here in my country we use for the Vespa/Piaggio 5W40 and us temperature is a regular between 60F and 95F or more. With 10W40 we find that some parts don't lubricate ideally at first start.

Perhaps others' experience is different, I'm just pointing out what has been ours.

As for oils, and which have not given us evaporation problems, is the Motul 7100 MA2 Ester 5W40 and the Ipone Katana Scoot 5W40

Thanks everyone for your advice!