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Oil Check Technique

Minty__UK

Minty__UK

Joined Jul 2007
34 Posts | 0+
UK
I've been wondering, is there a nice easy/reliable way to check oil levels on late model RSVR's ?

According to what I've heard, the sequence should be :-

1/. Take it for a 20 minute blast
2/. Put the bike on it's stand
3/. Check the level in the sighting tube - aiming for about 3/4's of the tube to be full.

Well, I've tried this on average once a week since getting the bike, but the oil level only reaches about 5mm from the bottom of the tube.

This has been the same either side of it's first service. I've got no warning lights on, so I don't think I'm low on oil, but I'd really like to be able to check it properly.

Thanks for any advice !!
 
Run the bike at about 4000rpm standing up and level - Should give a good representation...
 
Thanks matey - I'll give that a go when it stops raining !! :(

Should the wheels be on the ground, or dya reckon it'll be ok on a Abba stand ?
 
wheels on ground and level and plumb to get accurate reading, half way up is fine any more and it will be in the airbox, 4000rpm with warm motor is spot on
 
if its 5mm from the bottom of the tube, it needs about a quarter litre, they do seem to go through some oil.
 
Checking oil

I have a 2001 mille R and I struggle to see the oil level without taking off the side panel - any tips. I've tried using a torch but maybe I just need specs!:eatcorn
 
Sorry to regurgitate an old thread but being a newbie in the RSV world i have a quick question along the checking oil level theme!!

I have only had the RSV a couple of weeks and it was serviced prior to collection and i presume the oil was changed! Anyway to check the levels after going on a fairly long run the only way i could get an accurate measurement seemed to be to take the side panel off to get a good view and sit with the bike upright for about 5 mins and then get someone else to check the level on the indicator tube!!

After waiting the level in the tube was still only about an inch from the very top and so a couple of inches above the max level!!

Do i need to wait longer for the oil to settle...is having the oil level so high very bad news.......am i going to have to drain off some of the oil (that going to be a pain right?)??

Thanks for any help, as you may be able to tell i'm not that mechanically minded!
Cheers
 
Firstly it's all explained in the owners manual how to check the oil level. As explained above there are 2 methods. 1. Ride for 20 minutes, stop safely on level ground, switch off and immediately hold the bike upright and view the sight tube, the level should be no more than 3/4 up the sight tube. 2. As Badger and V8 say, warm the bike up and hold the engine revs at 4000 rpm when bike is level and upright. Again no more than 3/4 way up the site tube

I use the first method as i've got into the habbit of checking the oil level when returning home from a ride out.
 
Last edited:
boomer said:
I have a 2001 mille R and I struggle to see the oil level without taking off the side panel - any tips. I've tried using a torch but maybe I just need specs!:eatcorn
Click to expand...
The easiest way to see it is take the side panel off :thumbup I'm not taking the peeee but it is the easiest way
 
So from the looks of things i have too much oil in my bike....its only an inch from the very top of the tube!!

Is that very bad, will it just spew it out somewhere until the desired level is reached....am i going to have to carefull unscrew the drain plug to lose some or is there an easier way (can you siphon oil?)??
 
Ah well, it'll get sucked up into the airbox, if you lift your tank and open the airbox, you'll see how much oil is in there. Clean it all out but be carefull of the throttle body openings. You'll probably need to replace the airfilter due to oil contamination. If you can get hold of a syringe and a bit of plastic tubing you can suck some out through the oil filler cap opening on the oil tank.
 
Had the same problem with my air filter the guy who had the bike put to much oil in the bike but luckily it was a K&N air filter so it just needed cleaning i used a foam fillter cleaning kit easy job.theres also a short clear pipe on right hand side of the bike on bottom of air filter box where you can drain off any oil that maye colect in air filter box.
 
Just to add my personal experience, without the bike on a stand I don't feel at all happy holding the bike upright with one hand while trying to get low enough to view the sight glass, I check mine on an Abba stand after a ride. My oil is usually close to the max mark and I haven't found any oil in the air box to date. My bike uses oil as well. Good to hear others have found this as the dealer told me they don't use any which then starts you worrying!!
 

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