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Checking oil level

Gregory

Gregory

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
How long after you run the bike should the oil make it's way back down in the crankcase window area? Minutes? Hours?

Seems like mine takes FOREVER....

I am planning a moderately long trip tomorrow and am a little concerned.

 
I never really looked, but fairly quickly as it is pulled back down via gravity...

by the way is your bike level say on the center stand, not tilted using the side stand

either check while its on the center stand or have someone hold it level while you check the sight glass...

.
 
if its nice and hot, 15-20 minutes will be ample, although 10 minutes will do if you want a rough idea.
 
GateKeeper said:
I never really looked, but fairly quickly as it is pulled back down via gravity...

by the way is your bike level say on the center stand, not tilted using the side stand

either check while its on the center stand or have someone hold it level while you check the sight glass...

.
Click to expand...

yeah, also if you have no centre stand make sure the bike is dead vertical, if leant over even slightly it will give a false reading
 
I always check on the center stand. In the time it took me to come inside and write that last email, then go back out to the shop... the oil level was only showing at the "L" mark. I just started it again for a minute and turned it off... so I will wait about 15 minutes for the next check.

BTW, if I over fill it, is there any risk or downside to that?
 
Gregory said:
I always check on the center stand. In the time it took me to come inside and write that last email, then go back out to the shop... the oil level was only showing at the "L" mark. I just started it again for a minute and turned it off... so I will wait about 15 minutes for the next check.

BTW, if I over fill it, is there any risk or downside to that?
Click to expand...

not if you slightly overfill it. that will be ok. if you fill it to the brim then expect to get very oily and slippery haha :lol:
 
I re-checked after 30 minutes and it was still right at the "L" mark or a smidge above it.

The thing is, I topped it up to the full mark a week ago, and havent ridden very many miles since then.

It doesnt smoke and there are no leaks where I park it either.

Very strange indeed.
 
Gregory said:
I always check on the center stand. In the time it took me to come inside and write that last email, then go back out to the shop... the oil level was only showing at the "L" mark. I just started it again for a minute and turned it off... so I will wait about 15 minutes for the next check.

BTW, if I over fill it, is there any risk or downside to that?
Click to expand...

If you're engine is hot and your oil level is at the full mark you should see oil start coming up in the sight glass within a couple of minutes. It should give it's very close to highest reading within about 10 minutes. If you're at the "L" mark and that's the highest it indicates it will probably take as much as 10 minutes to reach and see that. If it stays at "L" mark you need to bring your level up to just below that full mark.
If you overfill it, there are relief holes in the cylinder that will blow out excess oil (at least on my 1100) and your breather will blow oil into your air box (should you have one) which may then go into your carbs and get burned with the gas.
That oil has to go somewhere.
Now you need to check it on the centerstand on a level surface.
 
Thanks guys I will definitely keep an eye on it. Maybe it wasnt warmed up enough to drip back down. I will check it in the morning and see if it is over the full mark that I filled it to this evening.

My concern was that whatever channels the oil comes back down into the crankcase with are somehow clogged up or something.

I am riding to Austin tomorrow and Chuck is going to take a look at my bike anyway so I will see what he thinks.
 
Gregory said:
Thanks guys I will definitely keep an eye on it. Maybe it wasnt warmed up enough to drip back down. I will check it in the morning and see if it is over the full mark that I filled it to this evening.

My concern was that whatever channels the oil comes back down into the crankcase with are somehow clogged up or something.

I am riding to Austin tomorrow and Chuck is going to take a look at my bike anyway so I will see what he thinks.
Click to expand...

The pan should fill up, the hotter the engine the quicker it fills.
 
The oil expands when its hot too, keep that in mind.
 
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My '79 'S pulls a little trick on me every now and then . Sometimes during a loong ride , and sometimes after a short one .
NO oil in the site glass .
I know it has the right amount of oil as it doesn't burn any and has no leaks .
Next time I check it , the level is good .
I don't know why it does it , and it only happens occasionally , but I freak out each time it happens .
The first time , I drained the oil and the volume that came out was as I'd expect if it was "full" .
I have erred on the side of caution and added more oil (overfilled) and oil then leaked out from behind my points plate . Freaked out again but when I got the level good , the leak stopped .
These old girls have some quirky quirks .

Cheers , Simon .
 
The checking method is in the factory service manual. Some of you guys are deviating from the correct process.

Engine cold
Bike on centerstand, and parked on flat pavement
Start engine and run for several seconds. Just long enough to get oil flowing throughout the engine.
Shut down engine and wait one min.
Check oil level.

Do NOT:
Check when engine is hot. Oil expands and will give you a bad reading.
Run engine then wait 10-20 mins. for oil to drain back.

Follow the Suzuki procedure and the oil level will be where they intended. Make up your own measuring method and the level will be different. It's not likely to matter a whole lot, but why not follow the procedure as dictated?
 
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Greg..also if you do an oil change and fill it to the F mark and start it it will read low after it settles. This is because the oil filter has to soak up some oil and the sump itself will retain some oil. I always check mine when cold and if its maybe 1 or 2 mm below the F mark i consider it good to go.
 
And one other thing...if it hasnt blown up by time you get to that McDonalds meet up spot...its never gonna!!! HA HA
 
Thanks guys much appreciated.

I will do the "Cold Run - Wait a Minute Test". It may be that I have been running too low on oil all along... even though I thought I remember adding the right amount of quarts when I changed out the filter.

I will probably feel much safer about whether the old girl is up to snuff after you take a spin on her Chuck.
 
Wait till ya jump on the Cooley Greg. She is dialed in REALLY nice. Youll be shocked at the snap the old girl has.
 
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