80 GS550e oil change and nothing in the sight glass?

[Bobbys 94]

Bought a 1980 GS550e from the original owner a couple of weeks ago and today I was replacing the clutch fiber discs and changing the oil at the same time. I drained what ended up being
3.5 qts of oil, it should only take 2.7 to fill according to the manual. I replaced the filter and removed the oil pan as well. Lots of crud in the pan. I believe most of the crud was 43 year old clutch plate particles no metal bits. Filled the oil with 2.7 qts of 10-40w oil and started the engine and let it run for a couple of minutes. Shut it off and waited 5 minutes or so and saw No oil in the oil level window on the side of the case. Did I miss something?

 

[Nessism]

Are you checking with the bike on the center stand? Is the sight glass sufficiently clear to see through?

2.7 quarts strikes me as not enough...but that's what the manual says. I had two different 550's in my past, and thought they used far more. My memory ain't the best, though.

If you are sure that the oil is under the window, and not over (an easy mistake to make), then the only reasonable path forward is to slowly add more oil and watch the sight glass closely.

 

[Bobbys 94]

Does the case have a measurement cast into it. Like 3800ml for instance?

Yes, 2400ml which is 81.135oz or 2.7 qts

 

[Bobbys 94]

Are you checking with the bike on the center stand? Is the sight glass sufficiently clear to see through?

2.7 quarts strikes me as not enough...but that's what the manual says. I had two different 550's in my past, and thought they used far more. My memory ain't the best, though.

If you are sure that the oil is under the window, and not over (an easy mistake to make), then the only reasonable path forward is to slowly add more oil and watch the sight glass closely.

Sight glass is clear and I'm checking it while on my lift, straight up.

 

[Nessism]

Just a thought.... The 2400 ml ...2.7 quarts.....may very well be for an oil change without draining filter cavity / changing filter.

My GS 1100E has 3200 ML embossed on case near oil fill cap. I changed oil and filter last week. Added 3200 ML.....no oil in sight glass. Proper amount (for my GS) With Filter Change is 3600 ML.

The factory Suzuki manual says 2.7 quarts when changing the oil along with the filter.

 

[Grimly]

It doesn't have a cooler (factory or aftermarket), does it?

 

[Bobbys 94]

It doesn't have a cooler (factory or aftermarket), does it?

No oil cooler, bone stock

 

[Bobbys 94]

I've done my own maintenance on my bikes for over 50 years and this just has me stumped.

 

[Burque73]

What would be the harm in adding oil until you see it in the sight glass? Seriously, where would excess oil go, out the breather into the airbox? The previous owner had 3,5 qts in there plus whatever the filter sucked up. They must have known it took more than expected.

I did a forum search for "sight glass" and a few threads came up where people said the same thing. Usually it was the position of the engine while being checked. One member had the engine upright, left to right, but without wheels it was tilted either too far forward or back.

 

[Bobbys 94]

What would be the harm in adding oil until you see it in the sight glass? Seriously, where would excess oil go, out the breather into the airbox? The previous owner had 3,5 qts in there plus whatever the filter sucked up. They must have known it took more than expected.

I did a forum search for "sight glass" and a few threads came up where people said the same thing. Usually it was the position of the engine while being checked. One member had the engine upright, left to right, but without wheels it was tilted either too far forward or back.

When I got the bike home after buying it I noticed the oil was above the full mark on the side cover, above the top of the window. I put about 50 miles on it before I did the oil service, you would think that the extra quart would have blown out of the breather into the air box but it was clean.
I do have the bike strapped down to my lift by the handle bars. Is it possible that the tilt forward is enough to cause this reading? It's late and I will relieve the straps in the morning to see if that's the issue, but I don't normally tie them that tight because it has the wheel cradle. A little more oil than specified shouldn't hurt anything but, a quart to much is Too much.
Thanks for everyone's help with this

 

[Bobbys 94]

Wasn't the tie downs so I added 10oz over the 81 oz recommendation and it's in between the L and F line. I can sleep now.

 

[Nessism]

Sight glass is clear and I'm checking it while on my lift, straight up.

It needs to be on the center stand. The rear wheel will be above the front, so in effect, the bike will be aimed downhill.

 

[Bobbys 94]

It needs to be on the center stand. The rear wheel will be above the front, so in effect, the bike will be aimed downhill.

I can do that Ed. I'm waiting on parts to arrive so I have time to let the lift down and put the center stand down. But just my thought is the sight glass is towards the rear of the clutch cover so if the rear wheel is up and the bike is aimed downhill that would cause the oil to flow forward away from the sight glass, IMHO.

 

[Cipher]

I can do that Ed. I'm waiting on parts to arrive so I have time to let the lift down and put the center stand down. But just my thought is the sight glass is towards the rear of the clutch cover so if the rear wheel is up and the bike is aimed downhill that would cause the oil to flow forward away from the sight glass, IMHO.

You are correct......................the oil level should be checked with the bike upright on a level surface.
ask a friend to help.

 

[rphillips]

When I started riding, 45 yrs. ago, my dealer always said check while holding bike up straight and on both wheels, checking on the center stand would be inaccurate. Several yrs. back I read here at the GSR to check while on center stand. After all these yrs. I decided to read the manual, Sho' enough, all manuals I've read say check while on center stand, except the ZRX, those stupid thing don't come from factory with center stand. PITB to change oil, change tires or even oil the chain. Go figure... Just me, next oil change I'd got to top it off to exactly full first, then catch, drain, and measure exactly how much comes out.

 

[Bobbys 94]

What is a little hilarious about this whole thing is, I've done many nut and bolt restorations over the past 40 or so years and I NEVER had issue with how much oil to put in the crankcase or how to check it properly. The day I bought this bike I ordered a shop manual and read the owners manual cover to cover before touching the bike.

 

[Grimly]

I'm not sure of this, so it's just a guess, somebody who knows might pop up with a definitive answer.
I wonder if the PO fitted a later side case (if they fit, that is) that might be windowed for a higher oil level.
Similar thing happened to my XS - it shouldn't have a windowed case, but a PO fitted one. Makes oil checking much easier, and the dipstick still works fine.

 

[Bobbys 94]

I'm not sure of this, so it's just a guess, somebody who knows might pop up with a definitive answer.
I wonder if the PO fitted a later side case (if they fit, that is) that might be windowed for a higher oil level.
Similar thing happened to my XS - it shouldn't have a windowed case, but a PO fitted one. Makes oil checking much easier, and the dipstick still works fine.

Going by my research on Partzilla the clutch cover is unique to the GS550 line. The GS650,750 and 850 all have the clutch activation going through the clutch cover on the right side and the GS550 works via push rod from the opposite side of the engine.

 

[Grand Rouge]

Soooo.... after 19 posts......what do you have as far as oil volume? I checked oil levels on both of my GS 1100E's this morning as well as my Honda ST 1300. Checked first on center stand. Then, without assistance handy, I lifted the front wheel on each until rear tire touched the floor. Placed some wedges under front tire to maintain proper position. Motorcycles now thought / think they are on 2 wheels...errrr...becaue they are / were. Additionally, a magnetic spirit level was placed longitudinally on each tank with machine on center stand and bubble centered. Center stand to 'both tires on floor position' moved bubble a wee tad of course. Most importantly, the observed oil level in each window did not change enough to be of any significance..... we are talking less than 1 MM. All this talk of center stand, 2.7 quarts...manual says that includes filter etc..... is BS. Fill the fkg thing with oil, observe and adjust the level as / if required.....and get on the open road. Remember too, the folks who write the 'owners manual' are not infallible. End of rant.

 

[Cipher]

The suggestion to put the bike on the centre stand is a very wise legal dept warning.
The difference would be negligible but the bike wont fall on you or your pet parakeet.
The notion that it came from the engineering department is insane.
The ultimate accuracy issue is that the bike be level fore and aft and side to side. Even a slight lean drops the oil level low or high.
ALso warm the engine and allow for sufficient drain back time prior to checking.​