Oil level all over the place? Your thoughts ?

[~TABASCO~]

Changed my oil the other day... But want to pick your brain... I added oil until I saw it in the middle of the glass... I then started it for about 8-10 seconds... I then added more oil till it was in the middle of the glass... After going for a ride and turning the engine off the oil settles down to half way on the glass, after a minute or so..................... but anytime is sits for hours its past the top of the glass like its really full?

Is this normal on your bike aswell...... If you go out an look at it after sitting for hours, is the oil in the middle of the glass?

 

[markjenn]

I think there is another thread about this already.

My suggestion is to adapt a very consistent way to check the oil with the engine up to temp that allows enough rest time to drain fully back to the sump. And don't trust sight glass readings while you're pouring oil in - there may not be a straight path from the filler to the sump.

At oil changes, don't fill until you see the leve you want. Instead put in the amount specified and then go for a ride, long enough to get the oil up to temp. After riding, let it settle for awhile, then check and put a small amount in if needed. Check later after another ride. If you put the spec'ed amount in after an oil change, you've got plenty so there is no big worry if the sight glass doesn't appear immediately full.

BMW R-twins seem to have similar oil check issues and one thing that seems to help is to always check with a hot engine and leave the bike on the side stand for at least five minutes before putting on the center stand. Some theorize that the engine "hides oil" if you immediately check it upright without allowing some drain time on the side stand. Now the S10 OM seems to indicate that you should run it on the centerstand and then shut it off before checking, so perhaps it is different. I'm going to try both methods and see what happens.

Final thought: Most motorcycle oil sight glasses don't have very much capacity between the top and the bottom marks. On the BMW R-twins, it's 0.4 qt from top to bottom. I don't know what it is on the S10, but if you're just adjusting the level within the range of the sight glass, a little goes a long way. This is not like a Chevy V8 where you "throw a qt in" if it reads low.

Hope this helps,

- Mark

 

[Rynn Storm]

Changed my oil the other day... But want to pick your brain... I added oil until I saw it in the middle of the glass... I then started it for about 8-10 seconds... I then added more oil till it was in the middle of the glass... After going for a ride and turning the engine off the oil settles down to half way on the glass, after a minute or so..................... but anytime is sits for hours its past the top of the glass like its really full?

Is this normal on your bike aswell...... If you go out an look at it after sitting for hours, is the oil in the middle of the glass?

For me, it only works via the manual. Given a cold (or cool) engine, center stand, start it up and wait until the temp is 140, turn off, wait a few minutes, dead center. But if I go for a ride and turn off, the oil level completely fills the window and doesn't go down even after hours. But if I start the engine and warm it back up to 140 then it drops back to half way again. Thus the trick is to start with a cold/cool engine and follow the manual.

 

[markjenn]

For me, it only works via the manual. Given a cold (or cool) engine, center stand, start it up and wait until the temp is 140, turn off, wait a few minutes, dead center. But if I go for a ride and turn off, the oil level completely fills the window and doesn't go down even after hours. But if I start the engine and warm it back up to 140 then it drops back to half way again. Thus the trick is to start with a cold/cool engine and follow the manual.

My bet is that you're slightly overfull with this method, but I agree that it matches the process in the manual. In any event, I think one needs a consistent way to check the oil during a mid-day gas stop during a 500-mile day on the road and I'm not going to be taking an hour break to let the bike cool so I can start with a cold engine and bring it up to 140 again sitting on the centerstand. So my plan is to stop the engine with it fully warm, wait a few minutes, put it on the centerstand and if the oil is visible in the sight glass, call it good to go. If this means it shows slightly underfilled with the method in the manual, so be it.

- Mark

 

[roy]

Dry sump motor this is the norm. I drain when completely hot right after a ride in. Then drain completely. Fill new filter all the way, install. Measure out the 3.59 US qts and pour it in. Let it run and top off as needed all while still hot. Next morning it will show low, I do not worry, crank go ride and first check it will be where it was on the initial fill.

 

[tomatocity]

I did the opposite and was not adding enough oil. As others have said and fill the correct amount. The window level will take care of itself. Look at "Oil Change" for good information.

The oil filter holds more oil than what is in it. Always change the oil filter.

 

[colorider]

I think there is another thread about this already.

There is:

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=1494.0

Look at "Oil Change" for good information.

I even stickied it!!!!

 

[Rynn Storm]

My bet is that you're slightly overfull with this method, but I agree that it matches the process in the manual. In any event, I think one needs a consistent way to check the oil during a mid-day gas stop during a 500-mile day on the road and I'm not going to be taking an hour break to let the bike cool so I can start with a cold engine and bring it up to 140 again sitting on the centerstand. So my plan is to stop the engine with it fully warm, wait a few minutes, put it on the centerstand and if the oil is visible in the sight glass, call it good to go. If this means it shows slightly underfilled with the method in the manual, so be it.

So if I follow the manual and it is in the center, how did I overfill it? IMHO, unless I see oil dripping from the bike or some physical damage to the guard, checking once in the morning (when the engine is cool) is enough during a big trip. Not like the ST burns oil like some other to remain nameless bike.

Possbile the type of oil makes a difference. I'm still on dino oil as I'm still breaking it in...

 

[markjenn]

So if I follow the manual and it is in the center, how did I overfill it?

Certainly by the manual, you're not. So any overfill is with respect to the more common-sense method I presented, not in an absolute sense. I just think you're taking the manual process a little too literally. I don't think Yamaha would design an oil level checking system where you can't check the oil level except by a laborious process starting with a cold engine and coming up to exactly 140 deg running on the centerstand - the process in the manual was done to come up with a consistent process that satisfied the need to have the engine warm and the bike on the centerstand. But suit yourself, you're certainly not doing anything wrong.

Probably what's most important is simply that you be consistent.

- Mark

 

[hANNAbONE]

Plug in the correct amount and call it a day.

Check it after a few rides...so if she used some - you can top it off.