01 RSV..is checking the oil really this tough?

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Mr_Chow

Mr_Chow

Joined
Oct 5, 2008
Messages
205
Location
Green Bay, Wi
:dunnoSo its almost riding reason here in Wisconsin and my trigger fingers are iching badly! Here's my question:

Before I put the bike away, I spent a good hour or so trying to figure out how to check the oil level since I wasn't seeing any through the fairing in that little hose. I guess its supposed to be half way up the tube. After reading the owner's manual it still doens't make a whole lot of sense.

1. Is this a dry sump system?

2. What is the proper way that you guys have found that works? Are there any little tricks? or does the bike have to be ridden prior to checking the oil level...seems a little outragous if that's the case..what if its low??

3. When changing the oil, since the bike is supposed to be ridden before the oil can be checked, do you guys use just 4 quarts of 15w50, or 4 1/2 or 5???

This is my first Aprilia (only owned for about 5 months) and I'm not familiar with this...please help!
 
warm the bike up andthen stop and immediatly look at the tube whilst bike upright it should be about 2/3rds up the sight tube.
 
Yes it's dry sump mate. Check it when it's nice and hot. Can't remember the oil quantity (probably use a bit less than recommended to start as some gets left in the cooler) - should be in the manual - check the file vault at the top of the page.
 
another thing that helps is to take the fairing off it's easier to see the tube
 
The correct method as recommended by Aprilia is to take the bike for a good ride for at least 20 minutes to make sure everything is up to temperature then stop somewhere safe and flat. Switch off the engine and immediately check the oil level in the sight tube. As Areessmille says, no more than 2/3 the way up the sight tube
 
LEGS said:
The correct method as recommended by Aprilia is to take the bike for a good ride for at least 20 minutes to make sure everything is up to temperature then stop somewhere safe and flat. Switch off the engine and immediately check the oil level in the sight tube. As Areessmille says, no more than 2/3 the way up the sight tube
Click to expand...

Legs has it spot on, just to add though - make sure the bikes held upright when you check it, it makes a small difference to the actual level.

Don't overfill it either, as long as it's visible in the sight tube your fine, overfill it and it'll start blowing oil in to the air box and that gets messy.
 
thanks guys this is all good stuff. I think Aprilia Recommends using 15w50...is full synthetic ok?? I'm thinking about buying a case of the AGIP racing oil
 
There's no real need to use fully synthetic motorcycle oil unless you do track work but at the end of the day it's up to you. Aprilia recommend 15w50 semi synthetic oil for use in the rotax v twin and that's good enough for me.

There have been some reports of clutch slip when using fully synthetic oil however there's never really been any hard proof of this. The general concensus is to stick with a high quality semi synthetic 15w50 motorcycle oil
 
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so are most out there using the 15w50, or are there other common weights? I tried searching but the search engine kinda blows. Semi or full synth??
 
Mr_Chow said:
so are most out there using the 15w50, or are there other common weights? I tried searching but the search engine kinda blows. Semi or full synth??
Click to expand...

I always use 15/50 semi synthetic and have had no issues at all.

Just make sure the API is at least SG rated on the back of the container.
 
Just come back from doing an oil change on the RSV and the clutch is slipping now and again................. just checked all aswell on paddock stand directly from the ride and its at the full mark.

Would this cause the clutch to slip and if yes do I have to now drain oil to get at the clutch plates FFS

ps dont know why I bother
 
15/50 semi synthetic


I have just adjusted the clutch lever aswell as the little grub screw was loose and so i had hardly any free movement between the rod and the piston thing .

When I came back from the ride, at idle the oil sensor pressure light was flickering ffs just been out to the bike and checked again and its fine.

Could this be due to overfilling?

ps sorry to hijack the thread
 
The only way to check to see if you've over filled the oil is to correctly check the oil level after a riding the bike for at least 20 minutes and checking immediatley after switching the engine off. The oil pressure sensor light will only come on due to low oil pressure, so if it's flickering a bit at idle but goes out when the engine is revved then there's not too much to worry about.

If you've just adjusted the clutch lever grub screw and now your getting some clutch slip, are you sure you've adjusted it correctly?
 
LEGS said:
what oil did you use?
Click to expand...
Aparrently.
Motul comes highly recommended in tests against Silkolene and the other top brands and they found it to outperform them in lots of areas. £ for £ value.

I will stick with the Motul brand for now.

It has been Highly Recommended down here from tests done a few yrs ago.
 

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