| Author | Message | ||
     Iugradmark |
I have read the process for checking oil in the bike but am curious as to the relationship of the oil level when cold v. warm. Should there be more oil showing on the dipstick when cold or less? | ||
| Thunderbox |
There will be considerably less when the engine is cold. The main reason to check when hot and just after you ride is so all the oil from the sump has been pumped back into the reservoir where it can be measured properly. This is the nature of the dry sump engines. The oil will expand slightly also and this is why you check the automatic transmission on a car when hot also. But you are dealing with a lot more oil in a transmission about 13 litres. As apposed to 2.5 in the Uly engine. | ||
| Oldnotbold |
I always check it hot (right after a ride). I was very careful not to over fill when I did the oil change. It will still show from about 3/4 to overfill depending on how hot it has been during the ride. Dennis | ||
| Kc69xlch |
how level the ground you are on has alot to do with the accuracy of your reading. i try to check it at the same gas station everytime so as to get a consistant reading. | ||
| Packdog |
I have a sportster in addition to my Uly. I learned long ago that if the oil tank is topped off, it will "use" oil until it is about 1/4 inch from the top mark. Oil actually ends up building up in the air canister (ham can) - a well documented issue on sportsters. The oil level will stay steady at that level forever (unless the bike is actually using or leaking oil). What I find curious is that checking my oil when cold and when hot (the correct way is when hot) the level is not significantly different for the sportster. Yet on my Uly, there is a huge difference between the hot and cold checks. To satisfy my own curiosity I will check Thunderbox's sump/reservoir hypothesis by taking the Uly on a short ride - but not long enough to warm up the oil significantly. What he says sounds right, so I suspect this will confirm his statement. I wonder if a Uly is actually overfilled, will the oil just be sent to the airbox and pool there - similar to the way it does on the sportster? | ||
| Hooliken |
I had a friend find out about this the HARDWAY on his Heritage. Checked the oil before a ride when it was cold. Added a quart of oil because of a low reading. Ended up puking above mentioned added quart all over rear tire and rear brake system. Bad juju!! |
