oil level confusion

[smokienutz]

has mention is this thread http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=154566 . i had a dead issue, turns out it was a fuse.(still cracks me up and sort off makes u mad at something so simple lol) and many many thanks to you all for the input. ok moving on . the oil issue, so far i have put 1 gallon of oil in it. last night (after the expensive fix lol) i started her up looking at my oil level.. letting her warm up. i look at the oil window nothing clear and clean. what tha?? o crap i kill her pop the oil cap had what was left in that gallon oil. (making it the full gallon). i added maybe a quart. now she says full of clean new oil.(of course). so i feel a little better. start her back, thinking maybe i haven't added enuff. but then i relized something, if i have low oil then my oil light comes on. i look no oil light. hmmm bike is still running at this time, look down. NO FRIGGIN OIL!!!! so i say it's late, i kill her and park her. this morning i go out to check on her start messing w/ my brakes take a gander over at the oil window.. and to all my bewilderment SHE"S FULL OF OIL!!! ok my thought is.. 1) gnomes are really jacking w/ my head or 2) i have gone crazy.. no oil (oil pressure should be up) but i have no oil!! ok lol i am leanning on y'all again.. it's blowing my mind lol.

 

[Nessism]

Do you have a service manual? If not, go to basscliff's web site and download one http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/.

To check the oil the bike must be on the centerstand while parked on a flat surface. Start up the bike from cold and let it run for a couple of minutes and then shut down. The oil level should be measured after 1 minute to allow the oil to settle. When the oil is hot it will expand and could read over full. Also, with the engine running you won't see the oil level in the window if the oil fill is to the correct height. Good luck and don't overthink things like this, get a manual and follow the procedure.

 

[gggGary]

Lets be sure we are leaving nothing out. Oil level is checked engine off, for at least a minute, bike on the center stand not side stand on a level surface.

 

[Baatfam]

i started her up looking at my oil level.. letting her warm up. i look at the oil window nothing clear and clean. what tha?? o crap i kill her pop the oil cap had what was left in that gallon oil. (making it the full gallon).

hmmm bike is still running at this time, look down. NO FRIGGIN OIL!!!! so i say it's late, i kill her and park her.

Lets be sure we are leaving nothing out. Oil level is checked engine off, for at least a minute, bike on the center stand not side stand on a level surface.

Yes....it sounds like you are checking the oil level while it is running...
You should check it with the motor off....

 

[chuck hahn]

That is correct...i usually check mine cold before ever starting. If your our riding and wanna check it stop at a gas station and fill it up or use the restroom or whatever.. thats should be enough time for the oil to full drain out of the upper end and give a very accurate reading i would say. And as stated with the engine off

 

[smokienutz]

ok cool. i see and i think i am getting it. yes the bike has no "regular" kickstand. i have to use the centerstand. and yes she is on a level concrete service. i didn't relize the oil gets sucked up to the upper part. brain is relaxing now lol. makes sense. last thing i want to do ever is run her out of oil or overfill!! i did read bifecliff's manual/site. that's where some of the confusion started, but this info now makes it better. ty again.

 

[chuck hahn]

well yeah..oil gets pumped up to the upper end to lube the cams etc etc...it takes a few minutes for it to all drain back down to the oil pan so you can get the best possible readings. And a side stand will probably be readily available here..lots easier for thjose quicky stops than lugging it up onto the center stand everytime you stop....