| Author | Message | ||
     Pontlee77 |
When checking the oil when the bike is fully cold, what would be the maximum fill, up to the last X(top)or you leave your bike a bit lower? Thanks. | ||
| Hughlysses |
MUCH lower. The only way you could know for sure would be to fill it properly when hot (up to operating temperature), at which point the oil level should be about the middle of the X's on the dipstick. Let it cool down completely, and then check it again without cranking it. It may just barely show on the dipstick; the level is much lower with cold oil on these bikes. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
If I go to the garage and check the level with a cold engine, the dipstick is dry. As tricky as it is to accurately check the oil level on these bikes, I've grown accustomed to just adding the manual recommended amount of oil at each oil change and ignoring it until the next maintenance interval. If for any reason it starts running low (and hotter) I'm sure the increased fan activity will tip me off. | ||
| Xbimmer |
On my '06, I measure out 2.5 qts of new oil, half fill the filter, then dump the rest into the swingarm. With the bike on the sidestand and the front wheel straight ahead on a level floor the cold oil registers halfway between the tip of the stick and the first of the X's. Once warmed up the level reaches XX, which is fine with me, less puked into the airbox. | ||
| 7873jake |
Anything more than what has been described in the above three posts makes my catch can work more than I want it to. Once warm and idling, the XX method for checking/adjusting it keeps my catch can mostly dry. (Message edited by 7873jake on April 05, 2011) | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Just to clarify, being a dry sump engine means your swingarm aka "oil tank" can be well below the recommended level and the engine will still be 100% supplied with oil. The downside is that these air cooled engines use oil not only to lubricate, but also to cool. If your oil level gets low, it still performs it's primary function of lubrication at 100% effectiveness, but since there is less "extra" oil to sit in the swingarm for a while and cool down, it becomes less effective at cooling the engine. Not trying to state the obvious for anyone who already knows this stuff. It's just that not long ago I was new to Buells and air-cooled dry sump engines, and would have severely freaked out if the oil didn't touch the low mark on the dipstick.  | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
My owner's manual say to check it warm, with the engine turned off and on the side stand. There should definitely be oil on the dip-stick when it's cold. I check all the time when it's cold... as long as I see oil... it's usually just at the tip... I'm OK. Later in the riding day, I'll check at a gas stop. Carry the leftover half a quart as backup and never need to use any unless I've done more than a thousand miles. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I think one of the reasons that these things are so weird to check is that the tank is shaped funny in there. It makes it very sensitive to tilting in any direction. The damn thing scared me when I got it. I kept putting half a quart in when I got gas. Finally, I calmed down and saw that I was just overfilling it....over and over and over! | ||
| Tootal |
Some of the check valves in these bikes don't exactly stop all flow back to the engine and after it sits the level will go down giving you a false reading. This is why many of us check the level with the engine hot, on the side stand and idling. I know that's not what the book says but the book also gives you the wrong torque spec. for the drain plug! Try this procedure, it does give you a more accurate measurement. | ||
| Someday |
+1 what Tootal said. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Don't you get a face-full if you open it while it's running? | ||
| Rwven |
No facefull at all. Not a drop in fact. I usually check mine with the engine running. | ||
| Road_kill |
+1 on what Tootal said. The most consistent readings are when the engine is hot, idling, on the side stand (or JUST after engine is turned off). I checked my oil last night before a ride; only a touch of oil on the end of the stick before engine start. The bike has been sitting two weeks. After 50 miles of fun, XX's covered on the stick while bike on side stand running. Same measurement for a couple of minutes after shutdown (within a half an X). After that, the oil level drops off for the next several minutes in an unpredictable manner. No surprise give the amount of air is coming out of the oil. Remember, without those marvelous little bubbles in the oil, it can't clean the engine well. If any of you see a consistent oil level on you bikes cold - good for you. I'm jealous. For me, it ranges from a dry stick to just below the X's. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I think the 08-up owners (with their fancy new oiling system) found that checking it hot and running is the ONLY way to get consistent readings on their bikes. | ||
| Nobuell |
+1 Hughlysses, With my 08xt, it is the only way to get consistent readings. The oil level drops quickly upon motor shutdown. | ||
| Nobuell |
By the way, I fill to the "XX" when hot and idling. | ||
| Mnviking |
Seems like if you fill it past the double X, the excess oil just blows out your breather and into your airbox. | ||
| Nobuell |
Mnviking, That has been my experience. When changing oil, 2.5 quarts will put it right at the XXs. | ||
| Mnviking |
That's exactly what I've seen. The owner's manual is spot on when it comes to this, I think. | ||
| Jonny5 |
Just got my "new to me" '06 Uly home from the dealer tonight - put about 20 miles on it. Got home, ate supper and then went out to the garage to check the bike out some more. With the bike totally cold, the oil level was all the way to the top of the dipstick! I think tomorrow I will do an oil change and put in some redline 20w50. This is what I used to use in my Blast, is it OK for the Uly? Is it possible that having the oil so full damaged anything? -J5 | ||
| Hughlysses |
With the bike totally cold, the oil level was all the way to the top of the dipstick! With the bike totally cold, the oil level was all the way to the top of the dipstick! That is definitely WAY over-filled. It won't damage anything, but you may find a lot of oil in the airbox if you look. Redline 20W-50 should be fine for your Uly. | ||
| Jonny5 |
Thanks Hugh. J5 | ||
| Mnviking |
I ran redline in mine at first. Top end of the bike sounded like crap. Been running 20w50 Amsoil full synthetic ever since. Much quieter top end, and the oil is in much better shape by the time an oil change comes around. | ||
| Kakimoto |
am really appreciative reading these valuable tips and comments. Thank you all. | ||
| Mnviking |
That's what we're here for brother.  | ||
| Pontlee77 |
when engine is hot it shows 1 and a half from maximum, when cold i can see 3 x | ||
| Mnviking |
Each bike is going to be a little different, but it sounds like it's in-line with what it should be. If you put to much oil in it, the motor is going to bleed it out thru the breather system. Check your air filter after a nice ride. If there's oil in there, you put too much oil in your bike. |
