Use the whole gallon at oil change time?

Banderboy

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Aug 27, 2018
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Lincoln, Ne.
I remember some owner saying he would just dump in the whole gallon at change time. Does anybody here do that? Sure would simplify things :)
I have no idea what complications can arise from overfilling.
 

RCinNC

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Nope. I just go with what the service manual says for the oil change. I have a plastic pitcher that I measured out 19 ounces. I dump in three quarts, then fill the pitcher to 19 ounces and dump that in, and I'm done. I don't know how it would simplify things, standing there holding a gallon jug and dumping that into a funnel, than to be able to jam a quart jug into the funnel and let it drain on its own while I'm doing something else.

I don't know what an extra half quart would do in the crankcase. Probably nothing. Seems like a waste of oil though, if you don't need it in there.
 

Sierra1

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Joshua TX
I agree the reasons why not to....but, when I change my oil....the oil light STAYS on until I put most of that extra quart into engine. In addition, the level in my window goes from nothing showing, to completely full with that small extra amount of oil. And yes, I do wait for the oil to settle after adding any additional oil.
 

richarddacat

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I really think Yamaha could have made just a bit more room in that crankcase so that an even 4qts would be the exact amount. I also wish they would have put the fill cap on top or on the foot pedal rear side.
I have put 4qts in mine without seeing any overflow problems, no blowback into the airbox. I usually try to fill where I barely see the top level in the site glass.

IF I were a machinist and since I’m not off-roading that much I believe I would make a small extension onto the bottom crank cover, much like the aftermarket BMW Airheads had back in the day. Just enough to tip the fill level to 4qts. It would be much more convenient and simpler.
 

OX-34

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........ an even 4qts would be the exact amount. ...........
4 quarts? Quarts?

Its a Japanese bike. They use the metric system and all that jazz.

Then there's that pesky 17mm sump plug...... too big for a 5/8th inch spanner, too small for 3/4 inch spanner, but just a little bit small for an 11/16th inch spanner, so that should work just fine.

There's a whole other world outside that wall.
 

~TABASCO~

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Contrary to other post, I lean my bike over and let it drain. Then let it sit on and off the center stand and then lean it over several more times. I let it drain and screw with it for probably more than an hour as I do other things. Once I am done with this and replaced the drain plugs I always end up adding more than a gallon of oil. Its often one gallon and then add another 1/2 to 3/4 cup of oil. This is after I start it and let it sit, Etc, Etc, Etc.....

So yes, I add more than a gallon each oil change on my own bike. After I'm done is sitting at 3/4 on the window.

(this is all due to probably all of the leaning and other mumbo jumbo I do to get all the old oil out)
 

WJBertrand

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I've found mine likes exactly 3.75 qts after changing both oil and filter. The initial check, as done per the manual, always shows the level dead nuts 1/2 way between the lines. Subsequent checks always look completely filled, i.e. cannot see the top surface without tilting the bike slightly to the left. No oil light issues.
 
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DamMechanic

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Dec 20, 2015
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Lewis County, WA.
I owned a Buell for a while and one of the ways to check the oil level was to check it while it was running. So I did the same thing on the Tenere with it on the center stand and with four quarts it’s between the lines on the sight gauge.
I’ve ridden 100’s of miles at 80 mph and above and some times 105 degrees out while doing that and never had oil blow into the air box.
So for me I don’t get to hung up on if it’s 3.74 quarts or 4. Get it close and ride.
 
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