Changing oil and oil level check

[Hoomgar]

I'd like to add a question to this thread. I'm a new rider with my first bike, 80 GS550L. I check my oil on a level surface and on the center stand and the level is good. My questuion is: Is it normal to see no visable oil in the sight glass when the bike is running? Sometimes I let it warm up or idle on the center stand and I noticed this.

Yes. That is what happens as the oil is pulled into use by the engine being distributed to all the places it goes. As you have seen, when you shut it off, you can see the oil level come back up slowly. This is normal.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I'd like to add a question to this thread. I'm a new rider with my first bike, 80 GS550L. I check my oil on a level surface and on the center stand and the level is good. My questuion is: Is it normal to see no visable oil in the sight glass when the bike is running? Sometimes I let it warm up or idle on the center stand and I noticed this.

Yup. Normal.

[beby99]

for some odd reason, (they probably were bored) Suzuki put a dip stick on the twins.

Not all twins...my GR has the sight glass.

Personally... I wait about 10 minutes to check mine.

Mmmm...my manual says to heat oil to operating temps than shut off and
wait "1" minute than check oil level...fill to middle of glass if needed.

[Hoomgar]

for some odd reason, (they probably were bored) Suzuki put a dip stick on the twins.

Not all twins...my GR has the sight glass.

Personally... I wait about 10 minutes to check mine.

Mmmm...my manual says to heat oil to operating temps than shut off and
wait "1" minute than check oil level...fill to middle of glass if needed.

Bret, your bike isn't a GS

[beby99]

for some odd reason, (they probably were bored) Suzuki put a dip stick on the twins.

Not all twins...my GR has the sight glass.

Bret, your bike isn't a GS

Maybe not but it is a Suzuki :P

[Hoomgar]

Bret, your bike isn't a GS

Maybe not but it is a Suzuki :P

I knew it had some redeeming qualities :P

[DaveDanger]

I'd guess that it probably is normal to not see any oil in the sight glass while the engine is running. I have no idea exactly what the quantity of oil is that stays in passageways and such while the engine is running, but obviously, the oil pump is going to pick up some fairly significant amount of oil and begin pressurizing it throughout the engine. The level will therefore undoubtedly drop quite a bit in the window.

[syafi]

Isk isk now i knew why I got exxcess oil outside of the engine. I must reduce my engine oil then. before more damage are done.

[Bolder Biker]

I went back and re-read your first post Keith... and you're correct. (I know that you appreciate my validating your existence ) You were speaking more along the line of "not warm enough oil" not draining down properly. For some reason, I read that as "Get it warm, and check it quickly". (sigh) Does anyone have a wet noodle to flail me with?

No wet noodle handy but I did want to add that I have the "ES" version of the subject bike (i.e. same engine), and I have seen big differences in the "drained down" oil level in the sight glass, independent of how long I have waited. I have assumed (perhaps wrongly) that this might be related to oil staying up in the oil cooler, perhaps because of a sticky plunger valve or for some other unknown reason. Also, I believe that oil was used for cooling more than in prior engine models (a forerunner of the GSXR series) and oil passages were run through the exhaust side of the head. Maybe, oil staying up in the head could be a cause also. Whatever the reason, this engine model seems prone to incosistent oil levels in the sight glass. The strange thing is that I don't think I encountered this problem until the last couple of years.....and I've owned the bike over 22 years. :?

BB