83 850 Oil Weight & Capacity - Sorry at work

[mortation]

Sorry guys I am at work and I dont have my book. I want to pick up some new oil and change it when I get home. Can anyone tell me what weight oil I need to get and the qty I should grab? Thanks!

[Nessism]

Suzuki recommends 10w-40. Many people deviate for personal reasons including the ever popular Rotella 5w-40 synthetic (what I use) and Rotella 15w-40 deisel engine oil (good choice if going with dino oil). If you do lots of riding in the heat, 20w-50 is a good choice. four quarts should do it.

[GLDIVER]

Personally I prefer to stick with a motorcycle oil designed for use with wet clutches, but that's just me. You will need 3000ml, just over 3 quarts. So as Nessism said, you will need 4 quarts.

[mortation]

OK I am gonna go with 4 quarts of 20w-50 Thanks!

[Nessism]

Personally I prefer to stick with a motorcycle oil designed for use with wet clutches, but that's just me. You will need 3000ml, just over 3 quarts. So as Nessism said, you will need 4 quarts.

Nothing wrong with using motorcycle oil. It's a good bit more expensive than regular oil though. Regarding clutch slippage, there is no concern unless using an oil that has friction modifiers as denoted by an "Energy Conserving" label in the round circle on the container. My understanding is that such oils are only available in low viscosity's, such as 5W-30 and such, so this concern should be moot unless one chooses to significantly deviate from Suzuki's recommendations on oil weight.

[bwringer]

4 quarts of anything 10W-40 to 20W-50.

Got an oil filter? Here are the numbers for the most commonly available. I highly recommend the Wix/Napa filter -- very nice quality, with a nice o-ring. I've used the Frams many times as well, but they are visibly rather cheesy, and the o-rings are iffy. Pep Boys sometimes has the Purolator (decent), and Advance auto usually has the Frams. Autozone stopped carrying motorcycle oil filters for some silly reason.

Fram: CH6000
Wix: 24931
Napa: 4931
Purolator: ML16800

[mortation]

Hmm manual says 3 quarts I put in 4 and its just barely at low. Should I add more? Oil filter and O ring were already replaced at the beginning of the year before it was running.

[GLDIVER]

It should say near the oil filler plug how much you need. I believe it's 3000ml given that a liter is .9** of a quart you should need just over 3 quarts. Not sure why you would be low after 4 quarts. You did put the drain plug back in right

[mwitt]

OK, now this brings up a question about checking oil level. I've assumed that you can't check the oil when the bike is on it's side stand. it would show lower than actual. Is that correct?

[Nessism]

OK, now this brings up a question about checking oil level. I've assumed that you can't check the oil when the bike is on it's side stand. it would show lower than actual. Is that correct?

On the center stand is the proper position. Run engine and let drain down for 5 min. then check.

[49er]

On the center stand is the proper position. Run engine and let drain down for 5 min. then check.

Correct. Check after 5 mins, then check again after sitting over night. You will be surprised at the increase in the level after it has sat for an extended period. The middle of the sight glass seems about right. Some will argue that the bottom of the glass prevents clutch drag on some models.

[BassCliff]

Oil me up!

I must be careful. I'll put in three quarts, run it for a few minutes and then fill it up to the "full" line in the sight glass (sometimes using almost 4 quarts). The next day after my commute, it's over full (measuring when on the center stand). Use just a little over 3 quarts, less than 3 1/2 quarts. Then add after a ride if necessary. YMMV.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[49er]

i wonder why that is? i had the same thing happen with my 1100GK. where does the oil go initially that it takes almost 4 qts. to fill but is overfull after a ride? i only made that mistake once, now i put in like cliff says.

When you remove the cam cover from our 2 valve engines, there is always plenty of oil sitting around the cam lobe/valve bucket area. I think it takes a while to drain back bown to the bottom of the engine. Also, some oil may be trapped inside the bottom of the clutch basket. When we fill our engines, the oil flows over and into the clutch basket assy. When the oil and engine are both cold, it would take a while before the oil flowed out the botom of the cluch assembly and into the sump area. I think this is why we often overfill our engines.

[Nessism]

Someone with an owners manual should varify but I thought you were supposed to wait 5 min. for the oil to settle. It will continue to go up a little if you wait longer but if it's okay at the 5 min. mark you are good to go.

[BassCliff]

Greasy kid stuff

You'd think I'd know all this by now, but I looked it up to be sure. :-D

My 850 Suzuki shop manual says to use a little more oil if you change the filter too. I always change the filter. Looking at the capacities page: 2.8L to fill the crankcase after an oil change, 3.6L with a filter change, and 3.8L for an overhaul.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff