Checking oil level on a 1984 GSX750ES

[Ian W]

Hi peeps, I heven't currently got a manual so I need to ask you fellow Suzy fans .

I want to check the oil level on my 1984 GSX750ES. The question is, do I check the oil level with a cold, or hot engine? I presuming it's the latter. But just in case..

Could you please confirm.

Thanks in advance, Ian.

 

[p_s]

It doesn't matter as long as the engine is off & hasn't been running for 2 minutes.

 

[Ian W]

Wow that was quick .

Thank you very much.

That means the oil level is extremely low .

Better top her up.

 

[posplayr]

make sure the bike is level. It can have make a big difference in level. Salty Monk carries a small level to stick on the back of the cases to make sure.

 

[tomcat24551]

It doesn't matter as long as the engine is off & hasn't been running for 2 minutes.

I disagree with this!

Consider the following: Last Thursday I rode my '79 GS 850 for 150 miles and checked the oil level just before I parked the bike on the side stand. I checked it by holding the bike straight up while checking the level with an inspection mirror on a long stem. It was just slightly above the "L" mark. (This was 10W-40 motorcycle oil that had just been changed the week before.)

Two days later, in preparation for another ride, I thought I'd check it again and just add a little for good measure. Well lo and behold, the oil would not even show in the glass no matter how long I held the bike straight up. So I added some oil--I think not over 4 oz.--till the level was just slightly above the Low level again. Then I went for a ride of maybe 30 miles or so.

When I returned home, I checked the oil again in the same way, in the same place in the garage. This time the level was up fully to the "F" mark--any higher and it would have been overfilled! Overfilling is just as bad as underfilling.

Just now, I checked it again cold in the same way, in the same place in the garage. This time it's down to a little above the "L" mark again. The bike had been parked on the side stand.

This phenomenon has also been confirmed to me by a buddy who rides a 1980GS 1100E.

Bottom line: Check your oil hot at the end of a ride and add it then if you need any. And when you change oil, do not refill it to the "F" mark while cold. If you do, it'll be way too full when hot.

Tomcat

 

[p_s]

I disagree with this!

I have never noticed a difference on my 550. Where did the cold oil go? This is why I always use the centerstand to check the oil level.

 

[tomcat24551]

Where did the cold oil go? This is why I always use the centerstand to check the oil level.

I think the oil must drain into the stator case. But the point is that when it's hot, the oil flows back and forth much more readily.

I used to always change, refill, and check the oil with the bike on the centerstand. That's when I noticed that the sight glass was unreliable. After a couple of episodes where I had filled the crankcase up to the "F" mark--and then had to suck out enough oil later to get it back down to the "F" mark--I decided to only fill it to the "L" mark, ride it reasonably till hot and then top up to about half-full. (This bike shifts better when cold if it's not full of oil to the "F" mark)

I know the manual says to check it on the centerstand, but usually, when I check the oil these days, the bike is not on the centerstand. Just on a level place and straight up. This bike is mean to get on the centerstand and besides, I figure you ride with both wheels on the ground, not with the rear wheel hiked up in the air. It works for me.

Tomcat

 

[rphillips]

I was told by the dealer, when I baught my 1st bike, 77 GS 750, to always check the oil not on the centerstand, but with both wheels on the ground & holding the bike level. I found out a year or so ago, all the manuals say check oil on level area with bike on centerstand. Not a big difference either way, but the most accurate is by the book. Barely above the full line or barely below the low line won't hurt a thing. And to disagree with tomcat, I don't want it either way, but I'd much rather have oil overflowing from the filler cap, than no oil at all. Blown seals aren't near as bad as a blown engine. Just my opinion

 

[Nessism]

Bike on centerstand is important, and park on level ground. It shouldn't matter if the engine is hot or cold, if hot though wait a couple of min. for all the oil to drain back.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi all,

It's not really rocket science. That's why you have a range, from "Low" to "Full". Anywhere in between is OK. But that's why you check your level often, to keep it more near "Full". I always measure on the center stand.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[salty_monk]

As Pos says.. I carry a small spirit level in my Skunk (No centre stand) to check the oil, it makes a HUGE difference if you're a few degrees out. I defy anyone to get it level whilst on two wheels, holding & trying to look at the glass without one....

I looked at a bike recently with no centre stand - the guy swore it was full to the top with oil, I said you sure? He said "yes I held it level & checked it" - I got out the level, he was actually about 200ml short of the L line. (Makes sense, you have a tendency to pull the bike towards you a bit as you look at the glass).

Hot or cold doesn't really matter but I tend to do mine cold.

Dan

 

[Duro5341]

It does make a difference if the oil is hot or cold......when my bike is cold the oil level is right on the F mark, and when it's warm all you see in the sight glass is oil.....This is on the center stand, as per the manual

I personally check is when it's cold, and sat overnight......The factory manual does not say hot or cold....so I do it the same way your supposed to check it in a car

Thanks
Cameron

 

[reddirtrider]

It's not rocket science for gawds sake. Centerstand or on two wheels, if you have the bike level, which is very easy to tell if you balance it with one hand kneeling beside the bike while looking at the sight glass, makes no appreciable difference. I put in enough oil to be near the center, hot or cold, and I'm done.

 

[Macmatic]

It's not rocket science for gawds sake. Centerstand or on two wheels, if you have the bike level, which is very easy to tell if you balance it with one hand kneeling beside the bike while looking at the sight glass, makes no appreciable difference. I put in enough oil to be near the center, hot or cold, and I'm done.

Nah, it isn't rocket science but it is a PITA! My bike has burns some oil and when I was living in Atlanta I was about as likely to ride 500+ miles in a trip as I was to ride 50 so I always try and keep a close eye on the level. Every gas stop and every "water stop" I check and I now usually use a small line level I keep in my tank bag when I'm not in my own garage. You can get one at any hardware store for around a buck...

But having the bike level isn't the problem for me, its being able to trust the sight glass! I feel the OP's pain. I can check the oil cold after sitting overnight and it'll be fine, or low, or high now and then. And then I can go out and ride and let the bike sit for 5min or so while I fuel up and get a drink and it'll be low...or high...or OK. Sometimes I'll come home and check the oil and it'll be kind of low but then when I check again later its come up significantly and then other times it looks high on the initial check and settles down. I've had it be kind of low and done a short ride out to breakfast or something and then had it show as near full when I came home too. Every blue moon on leap day it stays almost exactly the same between post ride checks.

In short I've learned at at least on this GS I just can't trust a quick look at my sight gauge to tell me how much oil I have regardless of how level the bike is or how long its sat. So all I use the site glass for it to make sure I've got some in there and I try to keep it in the window. I'd prefer to keep it in the upper half but I usually end up somewhere in the middle to lower half and then add some.


Is there any sort of check valve that could keep oil up in the motor? I assume there is one to keep the cooler full...

/\/\ac

 

[Griffin]

Hot or cold, just keep the oil level somewhere in the window (preferably between the lines, but your bike won't blow up if the oil level is a bit to one side of one of the lines) and it'll be ok. Oil level will vary slightly depending upon how long ago the engine was run and how hot it is, but if you have the proper amount in the bike, you will always see both oil and the air above it in the window.

Some of us have owned our bikes for years (decades) and put tens of thousands of miles on them. I think most of them would agree with me when I say the oil level to the mm isn't what's critical to long engine life, but changing it frequently with quality oil is.

 

[reddirtrider]

Hot or cold, just keep the oil level somewhere in the window (preferably between the lines, but your bike won't blow up if the oil level is a bit to one side of one of the lines) and it'll be ok. Oil level will vary slightly depending upon how long ago the engine was run and how hot it is, but if you have the proper amount in the bike, you will always see both oil and the air above it in the window.

Some of us have owned our bikes for years (decades) and put tens of thousands of miles on them. I think most of them would agree with me when I say the oil level to the mm isn't what's critical to long engine life, but changing it frequently with quality oil is.

Couldn't have said it better myself - and I tried. :clap:

 

[Stefnwolf]

Nah, it isn't rocket science but it is a PITA!

But having the bike level isn't the problem for me, its being able to trust the sight glass!

Totaly agree with this, the glass is unreliable.
Sometimes it takes DAYS for mine to settle down, other times the oil shows up in an hour or so, but there is never any in the sight glass within 5 minutes of stopping.

I know the correct amount of oil is in there, and that she doesn't leak or smoke, so I'm fairly confident the level will remain OK as I don't do any long journeys. However, I'm paranoid about the level going UP, without me realising it. (I've had gas leaking problems in the past).

I always use the centre stand, so the bike is effectively always upright. Now I know there is a huge great hole in the centre of the motor with a camchain in it, so theres not much chance of the oil hiding up in the rocker box. Logic tells me that very soon after stopping, the hot oil will settle to the lowest point - the crankcase - so why does it not show up in the glass for such a long time.

Maybe the holes that allow oil into the sightglass area are bunged up, making it difficult for the oil to get in there, but they look OK from the outside. I'd already decided to have the clutch cover off this winter and investigate the possibility of fabbing a dipstick you could put in the filler hole (not permanently, just to check level).
Anyone ever tried this?

 

[reddirtrider]

Totaly agree with this, the glass is unreliable.
Sometimes it takes DAYS for mine to settle down, other times the oil shows up in an hour or so, but there is never any in the sight glass within 5 minutes of stopping.

I know the correct amount of oil is in there, and that she doesn't leak or smoke, so I'm fairly confident the level will remain OK as I don't do any long journeys. However, I'm paranoid about the level going UP, without me realising it. (I've had gas leaking problems in the past).

I always use the centre stand, so the bike is effectively always upright. Now I know there is a huge great hole in the centre of the motor with a camchain in it, so theres not much chance of the oil hiding up in the rocker box. Logic tells me that very soon after stopping, the hot oil will settle to the lowest point - the crankcase - so why does it not show up in the glass for such a long time.

Maybe the holes that allow oil into the sightglass area are bunged up, making it difficult for the oil to get in there, but they look OK from the outside. I'd already decided to have the clutch cover off this winter and investigate the possibility of fabbing a dipstick you could put in the filler hole (not permanently, just to check level).
Anyone ever tried this?

Using the center stand does not guarantee the bike to be in an upright position, unless it's on a level floor such as a shop. That's one of the reasons I took my center stand off - it's not needed to check the oil. Balance the bike by hand. You'll be able to easilly tell if it's upright.

The holes for the sight glass are too large to get bunged up.

Funny, I've never experienced this high/low effect you guys speak of. It may be off a little bit from measurement to measurement but never enough for concern. As long as it's within the sight window I'm happy. If there's consecutive measurements where the oil shows up low I add some.

 

[Ian W]

Er, ok lads.

The oil expands when hot. So therefore I was just wondering if was best to check the level when it was cold.

I've had bikes before, were the manual had said to check the oil level when the engine is up to normal running temperture and others to check the oil when cold.

I haven't got a centre stand and unless both wheels pretty much touched the floor while on the stand I wouldn't trust the reading if the bike was on it.

I always make sure the bike is level.

Thanks for your responses .