Checking oil level on a 1984 GSX750ES

[reddirtrider]

Hot or cold, just keep the oil level somewhere in the window (preferably between the lines, but your bike won't blow up if the oil level is a bit to one side of one of the lines) and it'll be ok. Oil level will vary slightly depending upon how long ago the engine was run and how hot it is, but if you have the proper amount in the bike, you will always see both oil and the air above it in the window.

Some of us have owned our bikes for years (decades) and put tens of thousands of miles on them. I think most of them would agree with me when I say the oil level to the mm isn't what's critical to long engine life, but changing it frequently with quality oil is.

Couldn't have said it better myself - and I tried.

[Stefnwolf]

Nah, it isn't rocket science but it is a PITA!

But having the bike level isn't the problem for me, its being able to trust the sight glass!

Totaly agree with this, the glass is unreliable.
Sometimes it takes DAYS for mine to settle down, other times the oil shows up in an hour or so, but there is never any in the sight glass within 5 minutes of stopping.

I know the correct amount of oil is in there, and that she doesn't leak or smoke, so I'm fairly confident the level will remain OK as I don't do any long journeys. However, I'm paranoid about the level going UP, without me realising it. (I've had gas leaking problems in the past).

I always use the centre stand, so the bike is effectively always upright. Now I know there is a huge great hole in the centre of the motor with a camchain in it, so theres not much chance of the oil hiding up in the rocker box. Logic tells me that very soon after stopping, the hot oil will settle to the lowest point - the crankcase - so why does it not show up in the glass for such a long time.

Maybe the holes that allow oil into the sightglass area are bunged up, making it difficult for the oil to get in there, but they look OK from the outside. I'd already decided to have the clutch cover off this winter and investigate the possibility of fabbing a dipstick you could put in the filler hole (not permanently, just to check level).
Anyone ever tried this?

[reddirtrider]

Totaly agree with this, the glass is unreliable.
Sometimes it takes DAYS for mine to settle down, other times the oil shows up in an hour or so, but there is never any in the sight glass within 5 minutes of stopping.

I know the correct amount of oil is in there, and that she doesn't leak or smoke, so I'm fairly confident the level will remain OK as I don't do any long journeys. However, I'm paranoid about the level going UP, without me realising it. (I've had gas leaking problems in the past).

I always use the centre stand, so the bike is effectively always upright. Now I know there is a huge great hole in the centre of the motor with a camchain in it, so theres not much chance of the oil hiding up in the rocker box. Logic tells me that very soon after stopping, the hot oil will settle to the lowest point - the crankcase - so why does it not show up in the glass for such a long time.

Maybe the holes that allow oil into the sightglass area are bunged up, making it difficult for the oil to get in there, but they look OK from the outside. I'd already decided to have the clutch cover off this winter and investigate the possibility of fabbing a dipstick you could put in the filler hole (not permanently, just to check level).
Anyone ever tried this?

Using the center stand does not guarantee the bike to be in an upright position, unless it's on a level floor such as a shop. That's one of the reasons I took my center stand off - it's not needed to check the oil. Balance the bike by hand. You'll be able to easilly tell if it's upright.

The holes for the sight glass are too large to get bunged up.

Funny, I've never experienced this high/low effect you guys speak of. It may be off a little bit from measurement to measurement but never enough for concern. As long as it's within the sight window I'm happy. If there's consecutive measurements where the oil shows up low I add some.

[Ian W]

Er, ok lads.

The oil expands when hot. So therefore I was just wondering if was best to check the level when it was cold.

I've had bikes before, were the manual had said to check the oil level when the engine is up to normal running temperture and others to check the oil when cold.

I haven't got a centre stand and unless both wheels pretty much touched the floor while on the stand I wouldn't trust the reading if the bike was on it.

I always make sure the bike is level.

Thanks for your responses .