Engine Oil sight glass.

[transman]

A basic newbie question :-

Any other vehicle I`ve had, you dip the oil with engine cold so as to allow oil held high to drain back into sump.

BMW say to look at the sight glass after a long run, bike on centre stand, wait 5 minutes, then check sight glass.

If you look again some hours later, the level in the sight glass has risen considerably.

What is the logic ( if any) in checking oil level after 5 mins, doesnt seem quite logical------------or, however, is it me being illogical ?

Advice would be helpful !

Regards, Transman

 

[sockpuppet]

Probably to stop someone checking them the engine is cold. Thinking half full is fine and then when its running not much being left in the sump.

I would say "trust them they built it" but I get a feeling if I did that I'd be forced to eat my words.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Mate

If you search for oil sight glass checks you`ll be here until next Christmas. The oil sight glass will tell you different levels according to engine and oil temp and how long you`ve left it.

The 5 mins will give the oil enough time to cool and get back to the sump so an accurate reading can be sought.

Don`t worry too much as long as you can see oil in the sight glass. Just because it`s at the bottom doesn`t mean it needs oil because next time you check, the level may be at the top

In my experience, if you top the oil level up everytime it is at the bottom of the glass, you`ll overfill so take a mean average of three readings. Works for me but mine has never needed oil in it`s 37,000 miles.

Does that make sense?

 

[motobiker]

From hot - ten minutes on the sidestand... then Ideally overnight on the centre.

but 10 - 15 mins (minimum) is fine.

any other method shows wildly different levels which are at best entertaining and at worst - deeply worrying.

 

[Gabby]

With fully hot engine: On centre stand and after 5 mins if your somewhere between middle and top your fine. Truthfully anywhere between 3 mins and 15 is ok.

Logic is you will have to wait a long time for all the oil to drain down and ages for heat expansion to go away. So they have timed it to make it convenient!

After 5 mins if your somewhere between bottom and middle put 250ml in.

From bottom to top is 500ml.

 

[motobiker]

Motor oil doesn't expand enough to notice. (common misconception - that)

side stand first maximises flow to the lowest level - particularly from the oil cooler. and then time on the centre stand allows the oil to 'find its own level'

It's far too easy to overfill the engine if you don't have an accurate and consistent 'reading' - after just 5 minutes I've seen completely empty and over-full. both of which were complete nonsense of course... the true level being just above the centre mark. which is where I like it.

 

[david a hall]

If you check the oil with the bike on the sidestand it will never need any, but besure its pointing north and you have the blood of a freshly sacrificed virgin smeared on your torso, or its not a true reading!!!!

 

[Gabby]

.Just follow the instructions in the manual. Page 95 then you can't go wrong.

No mention of side stand - that's a wives tale. Unless you’re in the Southern hemisphere! Next you will be telling us not to leave it on the side stand as all the oil drains into one pot...LOL !

"Hold the motorcycle upright or place it on its centre stand. Wait 5 mins after switching off the engine at operating temperature.

Oil level varies with the temperature of the oil. The higher the temp the higher the level of the oil. Checking the oil with a cold engine or after a short ride will lead to misinterpretation"

BMW's words not mine.

 

[GrinningGSer]

See... seven different replies. This thread could run ad infinitum

 

[motobiker]

.Just follow the instructions in the manual. Page 95 then you can't go wrong.

No mention of side stand - that's a wives tale. Unless you’re in the Southern hemisphere! Next you will be telling us not to leave it on the side stand as all the oil drains into one pot...LOL !

"Hold the motorcycle upright or place it on its centre stand. Wait 5 mins after switching off the engine at operating temperature.

Oil level varies with the temperature of the oil. The higher the temp the higher the level of the oil. Checking the oil with a cold engine or after a short ride will lead to misinterpretation"

BMW's words not mine.

And of course - complete bollox but never mind eh. They said similar in the owners manual for the 1100 - written in 96. that was complete bollox too. Though they did say give it 10 minutes then... which was still wrong.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

With fully hot engine: On centre stand and after 5 mins if your somewhere between middle and top your fine. Truthfully anywhere between 3 mins and 15 is ok.

Logic is you will have to wait a long time for all the oil to drain down and ages for heat expansion to go away. So they have timed it to make it convenient!

After 5 mins if your somewhere between bottom and middle put 250ml in.

From bottom to top is 500ml.

Why would you top up if the oil is half way up the sight guage? The sump is plenty big enough even when the oil is at it`s lower level.

My oil is generally halfway and I`ve never had to top up.

 

[motobiker]

Why would you top up if the oil is half way up the sight guage? The sump is plenty big enough even when the oil is at it`s lower level.

My oil is generally halfway and I`ve never had to top up.

I've seen posts over the past 11 years from people who have done this.. topped up when unecessary - based on false readings, who have overfilled to the extent they have had a litre of oil in the air box!!!

And then they complain because they followed the handbook to the letter.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I've seen posts over the past 11 years from people who have done this.. topped up when unecessary - based on false readings, who have overfilled to the extent they have had a litre of oil in the air box!!!

And then they complain because they followed the handbook to the letter.

My point exactly

 

[Gipsy]

Mate
In my experience, if you top the oil level up everytime it is at the bottom of the glass, you`ll overfill so take a mean average of three readings. Works for me but mine has never needed oil in it`s 37,000 miles.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but you are offering advice on how to assess the oil level on your bike, and yet you've never had to top up! You are lucky to have a bike that uses so little. The method you recommend is suitable for you. For others such as me, with a bike that uses a fair drop of oil, a reproducible method such as in the handbook is vital.

 

[markg0vbr]

side stand 10 Min's then centre stand over night for me, mine uses 2lt over the course of six thousand miles and it doesn't very much. do what you like man Its you bike and you will have to sort out the result of any mishap

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but you are offering advice on how to assess the oil level on your bike, and yet you've never had to top up! You are lucky to have a bike that uses so little. The method you recommend is suitable for you. For others such as me, with a bike that uses a fair drop of oil, a reproducible method such as in the handbook is vital.

All the bikes are different, I know my bike sideways so I`m only saying what I do as another method. I`ve had it from new and ran it in hard and I`ve really had no oil usage. Perhaps I`m just lucky. Saying that, my 65,000 mile 1100 doesn`t use any either

I know of a couple of people who are so freaked out about perceived oil usage that they nearly sh*t themselves if the oil level moves more than a couple of mm from where they think it should be. On a recent trip to Ireland, I had to stop a mate of mine putting in oil after the level dropped to just above the sight glass on his 1200. I persuaded him to ride to the first fuel stop, checked again and the level was normal. He would have stick 500ml in and the engine would have been overfilled and his airbox nicely lubed.

I`m not saying I`m right or wrong and some bikes undoubtedly use oil but maybe don`t just stick some oil in before you`ve checked it a couple of times. Oil level at the bottom of the window will not damage the engine but each to their own and the handbook is undoubtedly the correct method.

Saying all that, I check mine before every ride just in case

 

[Paul Wakefield]

The critical bits of advice are:

a) the oil must have been right up to running temperature when last used (ie. min 5 miles, pref 10 miles - depending on external temp and where you are using it)

b) level surface

c) if oil level suddenly vanishes, don't panic unless you can see it all over the back wheel. Just take another reading in due course.

 

[transman]

Hi All,

Many thanks for many and sometimes varied answers. All have helped in some way, and the upshot seems that if you can see the level anywhere in the sightglass after the 5 minutes has elapsed, there is no cause for concern.

Regards, Transman

 

[Gabby]

Hi All,

Many thanks for many and sometimes varied answers. All have helped in some way, and the upshot seems that if you can see the level anywhere in the sightglass after the 5 minutes has elapsed, there is no cause for concern.

Regards, Transman

Yeah that's about it - shame most of the replies you have had have been bollox and just complicted matters

 

[motobiker]

Yeah that's about it - shame most of the replies you have had have been bollox and just complicted matters

so telling the OP to top up his oil when there's absolutely no reason to isn't bollox and complicating matters?

you are funny!!