OIL CHANGE hints & suggestions

[~TABASCO~]

That's my understanding too Fred. I don't think there's anything we can do to affect the level of oil in the engine, that's dependent on what the pump delivers and how much drips off and accumulates in the crankcase when the engine is shut off or when running how much the scavenge pump returns to the tank (assuming that's how the oil gets from the crank back to the tank?). This is not my first dry sump engine as my old Norton Interstate also had such an engine. Instead of being cast into the crank case though, there was a separate oil tank under the right side of the seat. That bike had a dip stick attached to the oil tank cap to monitor the level. As long as there's adequate oil in the "tank" to feed the lubrication system and enough volume not to overheat/overwork the oil that's there, things should be jolly. I was concerned about over-filling the tank as on my Norton that would cause the oil to overflow when it fully thermally expanded and dump oil, potentially in front of the rear tire. How does the Tenere handle over filling? Does it spill over into the crank case?

I've noticed over the years that when I see a bike with to much oil, they always have excessive oil in there air box. Coming from the vent off the top of the valve cover, and oil vapor being drawn in from the vacuum of the motor into the air box. I check the 'bulb' (lower left side of the air box) for oil / water / condensation and that's gives me a good idea. This 'bulb' should be kept clean and checked relatively often for over all general maintenance.

Over filling the oil reservoir tends to lead to a lot more oil in the air box in my experience.

 

[WJBertrand]

OK, then it sounds like excess oil must be spilling over into the crankcase and pumping / blowby forces are sending it to the intake system. So if that's the case then over-filled oil is having a similar effect on the Super Tenere as it would in a wet sump engine. Better than dumping it front of the rear tire I suppose.

 

[racer]

Chiming in again. I just changed my oil and filter this morning. Put the bike on the center stand, drained both plugs and reinstalled them, no tipping or leaning. Removed the oil filter. Opened a fresh one gallon bottle of oil and poured out 4/10's of a quart of oil into another container, leaving the recommended 3.6 quarts in the bottle. Filled the oil filter half full of oil and installed it, then dumped the rest of the bottle in the crankcase. Started the bike up and rode around the block, came back and put it back on the center stand and went in the house and had a cup of coffee. Went back out and checked the oil sight glass and it was right between the the marks. Easy peasey. Racer

 

[msch]

I do the same that Tabasco does. In addition, I reinstall the old oil filter and both plugs and turn the motor on for a few seconds. Take the oil filter and plugs out and additional oil comes out. I repeat this twice. No damages is produced to the motos since the circulating oil protect it well. With this procedure I take at least half a quarter on addition of what Tabasco says. The purpose of getting the most of old oil out is to avoid old contaminated oil to mix with the new oil.
Sorry for my English since I am Spanish speaker from Chille, South América.