I know its been beat to death before but I never ran into having a full sight glass of oil until today? I changed my oil the other day after sitting the winter months. I did not change the filter as i only had about 1500 miles on it since putting the bike away so I just put in fresh oil. Used the recommended amount for not changing the filter and the level was good after running and checking. I used the bike today and checked the oil and it was at the low level so I added a little bit. I run the bike and now its a full sight glass. I mighty vac about 1/2 of the small container full on the vac thru the oil fill plug and all is well. I don't get this thing??
Oil level
- Thread starter tiogajoe
- Start date
That sight glass will have you chasing a rabbit.
Fortunately, by design, the dry sump system has a fair sized margin of error.
Fortunately, by design, the dry sump system has a fair sized margin of error.
CAMTEX
New Member
Check it exactly the way the owners manual says and it will be fine, of course if you over filled it you may have to drain some out. Don't over think it just go by the manual.
CDMartin884
New Member
Did you really mighty-vac oil out of your engine? I thought I was obsessive. Oil sight glasses are NOTORIOUS for causing distress to those of us with OCD. The difference in the level of oil in the sight glass is literally cc's of fluid. You will need to heat the oil up to over 160 degrees for a while to get a good oil reading., in other words go ride for 30 minutes, then come back and put the bike on the center stand. Wait, and you should see the sight glass filled. To prove the point, after doing this, let the bike sit and get cold (Overnight), then crank the bike up and let it run for a few minutes. Once you turn it off, look at the sight glass . . . :-[ low oil in the sight glass. Be thankful you don't have an Oilhead ::025::
My oil light is always coming on. I just ignore it and it goes away in about 30 seconds.
CDMartin884
New Member
Don't feel bad, the first time I changed the oil on my R1100GS, unbeknownst to me, I didn't run the engine long enough to dump the oil out of the oil coolers. Needless to say, I buttoned everything up, oil was dead center in the sight glass, I was proud. Went for a run, got back and the sight glass was totally full ::010::. I immediately pulled the drain plug and measured the amount of oil that came out, imagine my surprise when there was more than I had put in ::025:: Called my mechanic buddy and was like WTF . . . he then explained the oil in the oil cooler dumped because it hit its operating temperature, which caused it to have to much oil in it. And here i was thinking I had the first motorcycle that actually made oil ::26::
And here i was thinking I had the first motorcycle that actually made oil ::26::
CAMTEX
New Member
Well if the oil light comes on you have a problem. This is a very easy bike to get the oil right the first time...
From the Owners Manual:
To check the engine oil level
1. Place the vehicle on the centerstand. A slight tilt to the side can result in a false reading.
2. Start the engine and warm it up for ten minutes until the engine oil has reached a normal temperature of 60 °C (140 °F), and then turn the engine off.
3. Wait a few minutes until the oil settles, and then check the oil level through the engine oil level check window located at the bottom-right side of the crankcase.
From the Owners Manual:
To check the engine oil level
1. Place the vehicle on the centerstand. A slight tilt to the side can result in a false reading.
2. Start the engine and warm it up for ten minutes until the engine oil has reached a normal temperature of 60 °C (140 °F), and then turn the engine off.
3. Wait a few minutes until the oil settles, and then check the oil level through the engine oil level check window located at the bottom-right side of the crankcase.
RED CAT
New Member
If you over fill and have to dump some, simply drain from the front drain plug. There will only be about 5oz that will come out. Then check your level again. ::001::
My bike is still new (only 50 miles on it) and my sight glass is always full....sitting cold running, warmed up....always full. I'm considering draining some oil out as it seems the dealer over filled it.
Nimbus
New Member
For those of us with some OCD traits, this bike is full of paradoxes that can't be reconciled. For instance the manual tells you to run the bike "for 10 minutes until the oil has hit a normal temperature of 140." It doesn't say "for 10 minutes or 140." And who knows what the oil temp is since we have a coolant temp reading? I can warm the bike up to 180 in my garage in 4 minutes on a hot humid summer day. It doesn't ever see 170 on the 20 minute ride to work when it's 25 degrees out so...WTF?
So, I basically just keep buying the Yamalube gallons and have marked where the bike is 'full' on the last gallon (measuring until the engine hits about 180 on a warm day) and use that as the standard.
So, I basically just keep buying the Yamalube gallons and have marked where the bike is 'full' on the last gallon (measuring until the engine hits about 180 on a warm day) and use that as the standard.
CDMartin884
New Member
A bit of common sense goes a long way with this bike. If you change the oil and use the appropriate amount of oil predicated in the manual, you don't have any leaks, drips, or weeping at the seals, then don't worry if the sight glass level changes. I have just over 4K on my bike, the oil level after a good ride, 100 miles or more, has been consistently at the top mark in the sight glass. Its been colder here lately, and after the same type of trip, my sight glass was showing a bit over the half mark. I don't have any leaks or drips, so I figured new engine burned a bit of oil. Went for a run Sunday, about 200 miles in 85 degree temps, and when I got home the sight glass was back where it had been just above the top mark. : So it didn't burn any oil, but the chasing the sight glass will just drive you crazy.
::021::
So it didn't burn any oil, but the chasing the sight glass will just drive you crazy.::021::
If you only added a bit to top off (and therefore know that at worst you're only slightly overfilled now according to the sight glass), I'd just let it go. It's just not that critical. You do want to be conservative with adding oil though - it's only about 0.5 qt between the bottom and the top of the glass.
- Mark
- Mark
You will never, ever, get a consistent reading for a dry sump oiling system.
I had a Yamaha Road Star Warrior and the fill was under the seat. It would never be even CLOSE until I took it out and rode it for ten minutes.
My Harleys are the same way.
I had a Yamaha Road Star Warrior and the fill was under the seat. It would never be even CLOSE until I took it out and rode it for ten minutes.
My Harleys are the same way.
Re: Re: Oil level
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Well I found this out last weekend. Added the exact amount required and ran it for a few minutes. Oil was just visible in the sight glass. Let it sit over night and started it up the next morning, let the water temp get up to 150, turned off let sit for 20 min, and oil level was the same. So I added enough to get it just the low level line and rode to work and back home. Now the sight glass is completely full.kballowe said:
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::010:: ::010:: ::010::
::021::
Change the oil, put in the recommended amount, ride some , ride some more, ride again.... change oil, repeat.
With that, I sometimes put my bike on centerstand after my commute to work, or home, and look at it after a few minutes. So far, so good...
::021::
Change the oil, put in the recommended amount, ride some , ride some more, ride again.... change oil, repeat.
With that, I sometimes put my bike on centerstand after my commute to work, or home, and look at it after a few minutes. So far, so good...
eheal6520
Member
Warm it up, drain and fill with the recommended amount. Warm up the new oil. If the oil light is off when it is running and you can see ANY oil in the site glass when its off, then ride until the next oil change. Don't overthink it. 24k and climbing!!!