oil level AGAIN !!

Dave, my understanding, and what I do, is get the engine nice and warm, turn it off and get it upright (Abba stand in my case), and wait 5-10 mins and check the level then.

Mine seems to use about 750ml every 2000 miles or so (and I ran it in by the book).

If yours is half full cold that suggests it's overfilled to me, but I can't explain why it should then be empty in the window when warm.

Griff's coming to mine on Thursday so I'll ask him the definative answer :thumbup

To check the oil level,the engine should be nice and warm,...ideally,check it just after a ride.With both wheels on level ground,stand the bike upright and the oil should appear after a minute,or two in the sight tube.To top up,add small amounts at a time until the oil is halfway up the tube.

DAVE B said:

i know this has been done before but could someone give me the definative answer to oil level checks ?
From cold first thing in the morning the oil level is precicely half way through the window. Go out for a good 20 minute ride, stop and check level with bike upright and engine not running, nothing shows in the window, is this the right way to do it ? do you have to wait 10 minutes or so ?
If i am low how much should i put in at a time ?
Snetterton coming up on friday so don't want to risk being low :thumbup

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put the bike on a paddock stand with the wheels as level as possible
start the engine and leave to idle (dont touch the throttle) til the fan has been on twice
and top the oil up to within an inch from maximum

1. Note oil in line. As soon as the engine starts, the oil will drop and leave the tube?? = Too low! Watch your oil light signal come on or maybe be smart and not start knowing how low is low.
2. Note oil in line. As the bike sits, the oil is strong enough up top in the tank, to push itself through the oil pump blades and fill the engine sump.
3. Note oil in line. As you start the bike, it should remain in the tank, drop some, then begin to return that oil level to the proper line. The sump side is returning that oil just below that yellow dot [when hot].
4. Note oil line dots. As you look at your plastic cover, those yellow dots match the min-max levels off the cover. Top off oil only when the engine; Went over to the post office, stopped at the market, got more gas and came home; now the bike should be checked hot, upright as stated. With a finger wide of air in that tube, down below the max mark is fine. I think you're safe there.

Within seconds, the oil pressure is up and the light is off. As for waiting for the fan to tick over, that oil expansion is minimal at most. To read the min-max marks is just that. You have plenty of oil in the tank if you read the level in the middle. Remember to read it as; my lower yellow painted dot is how low is safe [when hot] remember. The higher yellow dot says, when hot, stay below or at this max level.

I would not bring spare oil with the ride. You'll never deplete that much oil down to the low yellow min dot. Yes, an engine will use or evaporate oil at a minimum. But to bring spare oil on a trip that is how long? If you are going on tour, sure, spare oil is a good idea. If you are out for some weekend trip 200-300 miles round trip or one way, I doubt you'll see that level move before you get back home.

Here are two main oil depleters;

Valve Guides: Upon start up, you see a puff of smoke? Worn valve guides. Upon lift, like coast down a hill? You are back on the gas, see a bellow of smoke out of the pipe and it cleans up, no more smoke? Worn guides and or dry, damaged guide seals.

Ring wear: Upon start up, you see a puff of smoke that never stops? Rings are worn. You see the air box all smoking from the head breather? Rings cannot hold compression, causes poor fuel ignition to poor kinetic energy to get the fuel pre-heated. That puff of smoke is pushed past what compression was made; now down past the cylinders; into the crankcase; pumped into the air cleaner housing or the crankcase venting is now more a closed loop so that vapor is burned off.

So, if we know there is a minimum of oil being burned off like the oil on the wall with that flame front; is nil oil burn. Rapid loss, sans a leak on the ground, are the two most common oil losses you better bring a case of oil then.

Hmmm. I think I need an oil top up then.

DAVE B said:

Today,from cold ( oil halfway in viewing tube )
start and leave on tickover, at 97 c fan comes on and goes off at 93 c, leave running on tickover and again at 97 c fan comes on and goes off at 93 c. Turn engine off and leave for 10 minutes, return to view and oil level still halfway through viewing tube..
This ok ? I'm hoping so but am gonna take some spare oil to Snetters just in case !!

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Dave, that's exactly how i do mine

All sounds normal to me

The key is leaving it long enough for oil to return to the tank and having the bike perfectly level

Keith B said:

To check the oil level,the engine should be nice and warm,...ideally,check it just after a ride.With both wheels on level ground,stand the bike upright and the oil should appear after a minute,or two in the sight tube.To top up,add small amounts at a time until the oil is halfway up the tube.

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what he said. :yes