Oil top up

younger06

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Mar 2, 2015
Messages
8,407
Reaction score
2,103
Location
Naas, Ireland
How much oil (and what grade) should my 2007 R1200GSA take when the level is down near the bottom of the inspection window??

Please don't be too hard on me!!!!
 
If you aren't sure what's in it, I'd add a bit of 20/50 semi synthetic as it won't do any harm at all until your next oil change.
 
After riding the bike leave it on the side stand for 5 minutes before putting it on the centre stand. This allows oil to drain from the oil cooler and provides a more accurate measurement.
 
After riding the bike leave it on the side stand for 5 minutes before putting it on the centre stand. This allows oil to drain from the oil cooler and provides a more accurate measurement.

Why not just put it straight onto the centre stand? Does the oil cooler not just drain anyway?
 
Why not just put it straight onto the centre stand? Does the oil cooler not just drain anyway?

Nope.
The oil cooler and lines hold quite a lot of oil (more than 500ml - ie more than the full range of the sight glass). This does not self drain when the bike is on the centre stand and when the oil thermostat closes, this oil is held there until next time the engine is up to temp.
 
Nope.
The oil cooler and lines hold quite a lot of oil (more than 500ml - ie more than the full range of the sight glass). This does not self drain when the bike is on the centre stand and when the oil thermostat closes, this oil is held there until next time the engine is up to temp.

Didn't know that.

But - in that case, do you actually want the cooler inventory to be included in what you see in the sightglass at standstill?

Al
 
Didn't know that.

But - in that case, do you actually want the cooler inventory to be included in what you see in the sightglass at standstill?

Al

The usual view is that it doesn't really matter as long as you always check the oil using the same routine so you're getting a consistent picture. It's technically possible to overfill if you don't allow the cooler to drain but in practice 500ml isn't going to break anything - it'll probably just end up in the air box.

The worst thing to do is to briefly run it when cold and check afterwards. The sight glass can go from full to completely empty if you do this which often leads people to panic and whack a load of oil in...

Mine is always parked on its side stand, so when I wheel it out of the garage I pop it on its centre stand and look at the sight glass.
 
I always put the bike straight onto the centre stand when I get off it, would this be keeping that amount of oil up in the cooler??

Tapatalked from my MotoX Dev Edition.
 
I always put the bike straight onto the centre stand when I get off it, would this be keeping that amount of oil up in the cooler??

Tapatalked from my MotoX Dev Edition.

Honestly, don't worry about it - it doesn't matter as long as you use the same routine each time you check your oil level.

Oh God - what have I started... :)
 
But - if it's a twin cam - the filler is on the right hand side and the sightglass is on the left...........

That could make a difference?

Al:D
 
Ok,sorry lads. I'll chuck 500ml in it to get it to it's service next month.

Cheers for all the help.
 
The worst thing to do is to briefly run it when cold and check afterwards. The sight glass can go from full to completely empty if you do this which often leads people to panic and whack a load of oil in...

Exactly what I did when I first had the bike. D'Oh!

But all it did was blow some blue smoke the next time I started it. Presumably some oil had trickled down a cylinder. Certainly A LOT of oil could have stopped the starter turning the engine, but that would have to be VERY over-filled. In the end, I dropped some oil into a clean tray and topped it back to the correct level.
 
As Matt says, it doesn't matter how you check it as long as you keep the same routine.

If I leave it on the centre stand, I have a quick look at the window and as long as there is oil showing, i'm good to go. I've only ever topped it up twice in 111,000 miles, and that was in extreme heat, so I know it works.
 
If your bike needs one litre every 1000 miles you have a problem
I did a 5536 mile trip and only put in less than 100ml and to be honest I didn't really need to do that either
 


Back
Top Bottom