Motor smart, oil stumped!!!

[tkent02]

I usually tear the old oil filters apart to look inside. They almost always look brand new, rarely have anything in them at all. Once in a while a little metal dust, never seen one anywhere near full, where it would actually impede oil flow. According to that I could leave them in a lot longer.

I change them anyway.

I wouldn't not do an oil change because I didn't have a filter at the moment, but other than that I change them every time.

 

[BillGS550LZ]

None of these will effect oil level. It's just not that critical.

Fill it to somewhere near the window and ride.

After running the engine there's a considerable amount of oil accumulated in the head, that oil has to gravity drip its way back to the case though the cam chain tunnel and through the very narrow space between the valve tappets and bores.

So oil viscosity, temperature and wear have no effect on how fast and how much of this oil gets to the bottom of the motor in "one minute". Very interesting.

 

[tkent02]

No, it's just not that critical.

A mm or two up or down doesn't matter at all.

 

[BillGS550LZ]

Warm the oil up to drain it when changing, yes. But not just to check the level. (What OP said he was doing.)

For me, following the same procedure regardless makes the most sense. Think about it, stop for gas (engine warm), check oil.

Wait too long and most if not all oil has drained into the case, so per the manual run engine for a few seconds then shut it off, wait a minute then check oil (I've never done this with a car and never had a problem but I guess it is the way these motors were designed).

So I see nothing wrong running the motor before checking oil, except I prefer to let engine warm up more than just a few seconds. To some of you living in Florida, Texas, etc., this may not be necessary, but for me in subzero temp my oil gets as thick as molasses and it takes a lot longer than a few seconds to get it flowing. I supposed I could follow a different process sumer vs winter but the thought gives me a headache.

 

[bwringer]

Call me a rebel...

Call me a rebel...

I change oil cold because I don't like burned fingers.

As long as you're changing the stuff once in a while, it's not going to make a whole lot of difference in the amount of crudniks in the oil.

 

[BillGS550LZ]

Thank you all for sharing your collective wisdom and experience and for indulging the oil topic yet again.

Off topic but the weather man promises great northeast ridding weather tomorrow, 67 and sunny .