checking oil level - quick q!

[ericthebrave]

is it ok to check the oil level on the centrestand, or is this likely to give a reading higher / lower than normal.

If i always check it on the cntrestand though,will this not be ok, or could the reading be so far out that it may be really low in oil when the glass maybe says half full. If you see what i mean!!

cheers

 

[Paul Wakefield]

You SHOULD check it when on the centrestand on level ground.

Oil level checking is an art form (which takes no time at all when you've sorted out a routine that suits you); when you have a spare couple of hours, do a search on this site and settle in for a long read.

Paul

 

[Mouse]

The most important thing to remember is to check the oil when the engine is hot, after a proper run. A quick trip round the block won't do it, you'll get a low reading and be tempted to overfill it.

When adding oil just add a small amount (say 100ml) and then check it again after your next run. As long as you can see oil in the window you are not going to harm the engine.

 

[JayGee]

As long as you can see oil in the window you are not going to harm the engine.

Another truism from Mouse, when I first got the bike I was obsessive about checking the oil but now a quick look and if i can see oil it's OK, I never fill over 1/2 way up the glass as overfull is just as bad as too little. Does seem strange to have to check it between services but then it's not a H***a

Just remember, be optimistic, the glass is half full, not half empty!

 

[Andy Davies]

Just remember, be optimistic, the glass is half full, not half empty!

So from an Engineering perspective, twice as big as it needs to be!

Andy

 

[swebb]

Overfilling really as bad?

So if over filling is as bad as under... just what damage is done?

I was under the impression the excess would be burned off? (providing we're not talking huge amounts of overfill.

(sits back awaiting the avalanche of responses)

 

[Mouse]

If you only overfill by a small amount then you are correct that no harm will be done, apart from a bit of oil being sucked into the airbox and burnt.

If you massively overfilled it then bad things could happen, like hydraulic lock of the pistons, but I think you'd have to put in quite a lot extra.

Although it's possible that, if the bike is left on the sidestand, and overfilled with oil, the excess could get into the left hand cylinder and either lock it or just gum up the plugs and stop it working properly. That's pure speculation on my part though. As far as I have seen, the 1200 doesn't normally suffer from the "oil running into left hand cylinder when on side stand" problem

 

[JayGee]

So if over filling is as bad as under... just what damage is done?

I was under the impression the excess would be burned off? (providing we're not talking huge amounts of overfill.

(sits back awaiting the avalanche of responses)

A small amount under won't make any difference, a small amount over will burn off, but either way there's no big problem. I usually put about 200ml in when I top up and try to keep it about 1/2 way up the sight glass. It still uses some oil at 16000 miles despite being riden quite hard, always take a litre with me on foriegn trips but have only bought 2 litres since new so it's hardly an issue.

 

[GSmonkey]

Bring the bike in off a good run when its nice and hot. Put onto the centre stand, leave 5 min. Come back and top up to the top of the window.....simple. If you do it when the bike is nice and hot, you don't have to wait long for the oil to take its level in the sump.

 

[Mick_rw]

Have a query....

why does everyone insist the oil must be hot to check it........my 1150GS manual say normal operating temp or cold.....I always check mine when it's cold.....or is this a 1200 rule?

 

[GSmonkey]

why does everyone insist the oil must be hot to check it........my 1150GS manual say normal operating temp or cold.....I always check mine when it's cold.....or is this a 1200 rule?

If I remember the manual on the 12 says check hot, as there is can be a difference of up to 10mm on the level between hot and cold. If you remember this, you can check/topup cold, just never to more than halfway on the glass.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Whatever the manual says, cold can give some very strange readings on the 1150 or 1200. Try a 2 mile run from cold and then check it. 9 times out of 10 it will not have any oil in the sight glass.

Paul

 

[VAL. H.]

Just jumping in for a moment

Whatever the manual says, cold can give some very strange readings on the 1150 or 1200. Try a 2 mile run from cold and then check it. 9 times out of 10 it will not have any oil in the sight glass.

Paul

Hi Ya Paul Hows the RT?

See you on a ride out somewhen Val. H.

Err? Cheers folks. He's rite you know

 

[Dahoum]

why does everyone insist the oil must be hot to check it........my 1150GS manual say normal operating temp or cold.....I always check mine when it's cold.....or is this a 1200 rule?

1200 manual - page 111

Check the oil level at regular intervals.

Always check the oil level when the engine is at normal operating temperature, because the difference between the oil level indicated when the engine is at operating temperature and the oil level indicated when the engine is very cold can be as much as 10 mm.

After switching off the engine at operating temperature, wait at least 5 mins for the oil to drain back into the sump.

easy eh?

 

[GSmonkey]

Whatever the manual says, cold can give some very strange readings on the 1150 or 1200. Try a 2 mile run from cold and then check it. 9 times out of 10 it will not have any oil in the sight glass.

Paul

...thats different to checking it when cold *after* a good run.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

...thats different to checking it when cold *after* a good run.

Quite right. I should have said if the oil isn't hot during the last run.

Hi Ya Paul Hows the RT?

RT is going great. The major issues of the moment - will I need to get it serviced before our trip to France at the end of April and shall I have another set of Road Pilots or switch to Continentals? Decisions, decisions.

Paul

 

[Mick_rw]

Yes...

Whatever the manual says, cold can give some very strange readings on the 1150 or 1200. Try a 2 mile run from cold and then check it. 9 times out of 10 it will not have any oil in the sight glass.

Paul

must admit sometimes the readings are all over the option, will try checking from now on when at normal operating temp and see what happens. What I normally do is garage it up and leave it overnight then do a first parade before I move it out of the garage.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

So if over filling is as bad as under... just what damage is done?

I was under the impression the excess would be burned off? (providing we're not talking huge amounts of overfill.

(sits back awaiting the avalanche of responses)

Too much oil may also blow oil seals which is not a good thing.............

Andres

 

[Anikin]

HOT or COLD checking is both okay. Riding the bike around the block & then checking is not. The solinoid valve to the oil cooler only opens at the proper oil temp. Should you try to check the level with half warm / cold motor the oil cooler is full of oil and you will see a low level on the sightglass.

 

[Bigtwin]

When you change the oil, re-fill by measuring carfeully the oil you put in - the missus best Pyrex measuring jug is great for this, and gives your pancake batter a nice nutty edge into the bargain.

Give it time to settle - an hour or more to be sure.

Then set the bike up in a way/place you can replicate (centrestand on the level if poss).

See where the oil is now. Use observation for future reference.