Where the hell did the oil go??

[King Key]

Yesterday after going for a ride I checked the oil on the centre stand as usual and it was at the top of the glass.
Today I took it for an attempt at greenlaning and dropped it in the mud 3 times in 200 hundred yards No harm done except to my pride. Turned off the engine each time. When back on the tarmac road the oil level indicator was showing, I turned the engine off assuming the electronics had had a hissy fit, engine back on and the oil level indicator extinguished. About a couple of miles down the road the oil level indicator came back up again, so I stopped and after waiting a couple of minutes oil was visible only about 1/4 up the glass. Got home and poured in 3/4 of a litre of Castrol's finest to bring the oil back up to the top. Total length of journey today about 80 miles. So where the heck did the oil go, no visible leaks, I assumed it didn't end up in the air filter box (it would smoke wouldn't it?).

(1200GSA, 2012 4,500 miles)

Any thoughts??

 

[Wilsdorf]

I wouldn't have topped it up after 80 miles. I' expect that by having the bike over a few times the oil woudl move around and take time to settle. Also the level will be different from hot and cold. More importantly did you check the oil in the same circumstances?

The only other thing i have noticed is a lot more oil consumption in the first 10k-20k miles of almost every GS I have owned or know the owner. But 3/4 litre in 100 miles I have not come across before.

 

[birdseye]

Interesting puzzle. If that oil had gone into the combustion chambers you would have been putting out smoke like an old council bus and would have noticed. Did the bike always drop to the same side? Could you have filled up one rocker cover? Could you have a crack in a casting - have you checked round the oil filter / sump guard area?

 

[King Key]

I just had a good look, no visible signs of oil anywhere externally, dry as a bone.


Incidentally , I dropped it in the mud on both sides (just for good measure you see).

 

[Bem]

Any thoughts??

Just a few, some of which may even be relevant.

Don`t get too excited over the oil level as long as its showing in the window. As you found there is less than a litres worth between top and bottom. If it was over on either side then there are plenty of places for the oil to "slip away" and hide. Given enough time all things settle down. Go quietly to make progress. Polish after washing, whatever it is. Enjoy

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Any thoughts??

Yea ..... don't be a twat and drop it

 

[King Key]

Thanks Paul, I did it 3 times just to make sure the first two weren't mistakes.

 

[Bendy toy]

The oil level gauge is a sliding float so no surprise it threw a paddy after dropping the bike. The sump level drops after the engine has been running. It fills back again after the bike is parked up. I found out by over filling mine the first time I changed the oil.