| Author | Message | ||
     Advoutlander |
After reading several different posts on here about how to check the oil level I am confused. Do I check the oil level when the engine is running, an hour after it has been ran or when it is cold? | ||
| Tootal |
The most accurate way is to ride for at least 20 minutes to get it hot. Park it on the side stand on level ground with the engine running. Check the level. If you shut off the engine it will sometimes flow back giving you a low reading which means you add some oil and then your overfilled and it will end up in your airbox. Also most of us that have changed our oil and added exactly 2.5 qts. of oil notice that once it's hot and running the level is at the second X on the dipstick. The Dos Equis method. | ||
| Ourdee |
I go for a 30 minute ride, drain the oil, then add 2.5 qts. Bingo, it's at the right level. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You don't have to have it running but you do need to check it before the engine has been off for more than a couple of minutes. I used to add oil over and over and over. I didn't realize how fast the oil drains back into the engine when it's stopped. | ||
| Uly_man |
I just did a oil and filter change. Engine not very hot, put in 2.4L, warmed it up and it was just over the bottom of the XXXXX marks. After a good run it was just over the bottom of the dip stick which is 150ml to the bottom of the XXXXX marks and about 300ml to the middle of the dip stick XXXXX marks. | ||
| Tootal |
If it covers the bottom two X's then your normal for most bikes. | ||
| General_ulysses |
The factory '06 manual does not say to have the bike running or just turned off prior to checking oil. It does say the bike should be fully warmed up for the most accurate reading though. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The manual also has helpful advice like torquing the oil drain plug 90000 foot pounds of force. | ||
| General_ulysses |
Is the manual incorrect in the procedure it gives for checking the oil? If so, I'd like to know about it. A typo is one thing, a completely wrong procedure is another. | ||
| Yan |
out of curiosity I ran a test on Sunday. Parked the bike with engine running and checked oil. Then turned the bike off, waited for a minute or so and checked again. Same level. My guess there isn't much difference. It seems to me that the main point is to have the oil level checked while the oil is hot, same deal is with my wife's G650GS, both bikes have dry sump, so maybe the 'hot oil check' has to do with the fact that most of the oil is stored in an oil reservoir rather than in the sump. | ||
| Motorbike |
The oil level on my 08 XT is all over the place, even with the oil hot. If I get home from a ride, take my helmet and gloves off and check it, it might be halfway into the X's. I screw the stick back in and check it again and it might be at the lowest X. Check again it it will be different again. No consistency at all. The only way to get good readings on my bike is to check it hot, with engine running, on sidestand. Always reads between XX and XXX. I have exactly 2.5 qts. in the sump from the oil change I did last fall before storage. Only 370 miles so far this season and I checked the oil after riding last Sunday and it was between XX and XXX. Supposed to snow 1-3 inches again Wed night and Thursday here in MN. Can you believe it! This last weekend was the first time I had the bike out for the year, first weekend that the weather didn't suck. | ||
| Uly_dude |
I feel your pain with the crappy weather Motorbike. We got 4 nice days(including today)all spring. Thanks for the oil checking summary. That's about what I find to. | ||
| Tootal |
It seems the 08+ were the worst offenders as the problem wasn't really discussed until the 08 models were out. I did find my 06 suffered the same issue occasionally but it wasn't as widespread. Must be a ball check that's leaking by. Anyway, best to leave running while checking then you know for sure. | ||
| Uly_man |
"Must be a ball check that's leaking by". I do not know if this engine has one but what I DO know is that the oil filter has a none return valve in it. I can not say I have noticed a change in oil level with the engine running or not on either bike. If the oil level changed, with the engine off, that would suggest oil is running back from the engine to the swing arm and, given that the high point is the hydraulic cams/shafts, that would not be good. | ||
| Motorbike |
After changing my oil hot and letting it drain completely out overnight, I always add exactly 2.5 Qts. I take the bike out, get it hot and check with the engine running and it will be right between XX and XXX. If I shut the engine off and check again, multiple times, it will be anywhere from the tip of the dipstick to XXX. I've never seen it higher than XXX. If it is reading low with the engine off, that would indicate that the oil is staying in the engine and not returning to the swingarm. I just don't understand why it does this, and has since brand new. I am not concerned about it anymore because I always check with the engine idling and it doesn't seem to use any oil. If that changes or if it starts making funny noises, I will worry. Thanks. | ||
| Nobuell |
My 08XT is the same as motorbike. The only consistent is hot and idling on the side stand. | ||
| Biffdotorg |
I guess I will chime in on this one as well. If I had not changed my own oil in my 08 XT, I would be seriously concerned. I just changed my oil Sunday. 2.5qts including what I put in the filter. I could barely get it to read on the dipstick. So i put in a few more ounces. At this time it actually touches the dipstick. As everyone has said, anything more than the 2.5 and it will be blowing it out in the airbox or burning, so I took a run with it last night. After a complete warm up, it still barely reads on the dipstick. My question is, the manuals says to put 4oz in the filter when changing. I have never measured, but rather filled the filter up and screwed it on. Is that wrong? I assumed the holes around the edge were return holes and not for airflow! HA! Opinions and advice are always appreciated. I may have to try checking it while running. I had just never tried that as I assumed it would blow oil all over. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I check my 06 both cold and hot. If it is above the min when it is cold then it's fine by me. If it checks around the min when hot then I'll add a bit to bring it up. My bike has been real good in regards to oil consumption. Broke it in hard when it was new. | ||
| Motorbike |
Biffdotorg, The oil in the swingarm is very stable when checked hot and engine idling. It will not spray out at you because it is a dry sump system. The oil is bing pumped to the engine and back to the swingarm but it is not coming back at high pressure or volume so no problem. Try it and let us know the results. Now, on the other hand, do not try this on any small engine with splash lubrication. I really wish I had a video of the time I pulled the dipstick while the engine was running on my Dad's Cub Cadet 14 HP garden tractor when I was a kid! What a mess! That oil was hot too! (Message edited by motorbike on May 07, 2013) | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Biffdotorg, the blue maintenance manual says to fill the oil filter 4oz or about half. Not the entire filter. | ||
| Biffdotorg |
That's what I read as well in my owners and service manual. Of course, my best guess at 4oz was about the capacity of the filter. Do you think I have harmed anything by filling it? Thank you! | ||
| Uly_man |
ALWAYS fill the oil filter. And as much as you can or it will put air into the engine. That is normal for any cart filter on a bike. This is just SO basic. | ||
| General_ulysses |
I filled mine all the way up on my last oil change. I see absolutely no reason not to. The only reason I can think of why the manual suggests only partially filling the filter is because they're trying to prevent residual spillage as you spin the filter onto the threaded receptacle. It's a non-issue, I say fill'er all the way up. When I started my motorcycle after the oil change, the oil light went out immediately with no engine rattle sounds before achieving oil pressure (i.e. like what happens when you have a dry filter after an oil change). | ||
| Redtail |
Don't the 08's and up have a larger oil pump and cooler that might hold a tad more oil = tad less in the tank? The oil tank draws from the bottom and dumps in from top. | ||
| Biffdotorg |
I ran it last night while changing the oil on my Apex. I checked it while it was running and it was at the perfect level. It did drop as soon as the engine was off. Since I put in over 2.5qts, I am not going to worry about the level anymore. It has what it needs. I only wish my Yamaha snowmobile oil changes were this easy! It took quite some time to just get the front end apart to get at the oil filter. I get to do the Phazer tonight. Then off to bed they go for the summer! Thanks guys! | ||
| Uly_man |
Its just me but I like to keep some oil in the engine, even if dirty, on a change so I replace the filter right off rather than wait for the oil to drain from the filter block. You can use the worlds best oil but it is of no use if it is not at the point it needs to be to lube the parts. |
