Hi - 1982 GS1100G - I have a very small engine oil leak and am waiting for the riding season to be over to change the gasket so I have been keeping a close eye on the oil level. Parked the bike after a 15 minute ride. Looked at the sight glass 10 mins later and it showed no oil. I mean zero. Left it alone for 90 mins. Checked again and still no oil. Bike ran fine and there was no indication of anything leaking more than the regular few drops. Oil pressure light functioning and turned off when cranking engine. Ran the engine a few seconds and shut off. Oil then filled up the sight glass. Anyone have any idea what happened?
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No Oil in Sight Glass
- Thread starter Jim R
- Start date
Is the bike on the centerstand while checking? If not it needs to be. Anyway, what you describe sounds like the oil over the sightglass. Check oil from a cold start, run for a minute or two, shut down and watch the level as it drains back to the sump. If it goes to the top of the sightglass you have the answer.
Yes. Always on the center stand. I only park it on the center stand because I am frequently checking the oil. I'm not sure you understand what I was describing. After riding, the oil didn't drain back down. It showed zero oil even after 90 mins of sitting (on the center stand). When I started it briefly and shut it off, THEN the oil came back down and showed in the glass. I can't figure out where it was hiding.
I do - oil that's so clean you don't see it, particularly if it fills the glass.
In any case, I've frequently sat on the right side of the bike and tipped it toward me to see the oil.
Steve
GS Whisperer
Check the API seal on the back label. If the bottom half says "Energy Conserving", drain it and put something rated for a motorcycle wet clutch in there.
Not too many 10w40 oils have that Energy Conserving rating, but they are starting to show up.
Either way, most automotive oils are not rated for use in a motorcycle, mainly because a lot of the additives that make it work in a motorcycle have been legislated out of the oil. Some are gone entirely, most are greatly reduced, either way, it's not good in a bike.
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Not too many 10w40 oils have that Energy Conserving rating, but they are starting to show up.
Either way, most automotive oils are not rated for use in a motorcycle, mainly because a lot of the additives that make it work in a motorcycle have been legislated out of the oil. Some are gone entirely, most are greatly reduced, either way, it's not good in a bike.
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Very Peculiar,JimR! I havent got an 1100G; just a 650G and not sure how similar they are excepting the sight glass and MAYBE yours shares sump oil in the shaft's output secondary gears?...some bikes keep this oil separate, I think.
But on mine, it's a matter of not-much oil to show or not-show in the sight-glass so it's not much that's getting held somewhere..There's diagram in my manual of the oil's circulation...which might help inspire someone's idea..though, again, this isn't your bike...still, it'd have to be above the sump screen if it's getting held back and that's where my imagination ends I'm afraid...the vanes of the pump don't seem likely-they can't be such a tight fit ..the bypass? is a springpressure thing...hmmm
I hate the sightglass altogether. It's there because the design puts the clutch right under the fill hole and a straight stick can't be inserted but I wish they'd made a better effort.
But on mine, it's a matter of not-much oil to show or not-show in the sight-glass so it's not much that's getting held somewhere..There's diagram in my manual of the oil's circulation...which might help inspire someone's idea..though, again, this isn't your bike...still, it'd have to be above the sump screen if it's getting held back and that's where my imagination ends I'm afraid...the vanes of the pump don't seem likely-they can't be such a tight fit ..the bypass? is a springpressure thing...hmmm
I hate the sightglass altogether. It's there because the design puts the clutch right under the fill hole and a straight stick can't be inserted but I wish they'd made a better effort.
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Do you have an oil-cooler on this bike? that would do it maybe.
I had this issue on and off with my 77 GS750. Sometimes it wouldn't show oil on the sight glass. I always made a habit of checking it 5 minutes after a ride. It would always show up then. Not sure where it went to hide, but there was always enough oil in there.
G
Guest
Guest
can you see oil in the sight glass when its on its wheels and held vertical?
the service manuals for the old ones the don't really spell it out, the GS1150 and the GSX13000 are definitely checked with the wheels on the ground and the bike held vertical. if its on the center stand the sight glass is clear. (unless you ad about 3/4 of a quart, then its over full)
the old 850 i checked on the wheels( it had no center stand), but i think the 400 had a dipstick? (or was it the other way round)
the service manuals for the old ones the don't really spell it out, the GS1150 and the GSX13000 are definitely checked with the wheels on the ground and the bike held vertical. if its on the center stand the sight glass is clear. (unless you ad about 3/4 of a quart, then its over full)
the old 850 i checked on the wheels( it had no center stand), but i think the 400 had a dipstick? (or was it the other way round)
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I checked several different factory services manuals from different GS bikes and every one of them said the proper method to check the oil level involves 1) bike on the centerstand, 2) oil cold 3) run the engine for several seconds (to distribute oil throughout the engine), 4) shut down engine and wait one minute 5) check level and adjust to the F mark.
Oil expands when hot so checking when the engine is hot will show a higher level than when the engine is cold. The oil will drain back to the sump faster when the oil is hot too. I'm not sure what the exact difference between the hot and cold levels are though. An experiment would be easy enough to accomplish though.
Oil expands when hot so checking when the engine is hot will show a higher level than when the engine is cold. The oil will drain back to the sump faster when the oil is hot too. I'm not sure what the exact difference between the hot and cold levels are though. An experiment would be easy enough to accomplish though.
G
Guest
Guest
This happens to my '79 S now and then .
The first time I was on a 12,000 km trip and I freaked out .
Topped up the oil and had it spew out from behind the points .
Freaked out again .
Dropped the oil and put the correct amount in , all good .
The old girl just wasn't happy about something . Neither was the bike .
One of life's little mysteries .
When it happens now , there's no evidence of oil spew , we carry on .
Cheers , Simon .
The first time I was on a 12,000 km trip and I freaked out .
Topped up the oil and had it spew out from behind the points .
Freaked out again .
Dropped the oil and put the correct amount in , all good .
The old girl just wasn't happy about something . Neither was the bike .
One of life's little mysteries .
When it happens now , there's no evidence of oil spew , we carry on .
Cheers , Simon .
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