| Author | Message | ||
     Bishopjb1124 |
So here is the deal. Changed the oil in my 09 uly, put 2 1/2 quarts in. Rode it about 490 miles checked the oil and it is not showing up on the dipstick. 1. Were did it all go to? 2. Is it ok to ride? I am tempted to drain it and see how much is in it. 3. How do I check the oil properly.? Jimmy | ||
| Bculy |
If you drain it and measure it, there will be 2.5 qts. That is typical of the the '08+ (not sure about he '10). It is a little freaky, but it is what it is. I always measure my oil when draining for this reason. | ||
| Kellaupat |
I have to check my 09 almost immediately after turning off the engine to see oil on my dip stick. This has been a topic for quite a while, with lots of speculation to what happens. Oil will drain back in to the engine from the tank when the engine is turned off. It may be the design of the newer style oil pump in the 08+ models..I think. I had bad oil anxiety when i bought my bike too. Unless you see puddles of oil on the ground and your leg and swingarm are getting sooty while riding, you are OK. Just check it immediately after a good ride. | ||
| Kellaupat |
And by the way, I will practically have my drain plug out at the instant i shut down the motor to be sure all of the oil is drained when i do an oil change. Seems to be good, I never overfill. | ||
| Dr_greg |
I (and a number of others) check oil when engine is idling. Works fine. --Doc | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I always add a little. Always seems to be just about 3 quarts. I know that the 2.5 quarts is still in there but I still add the other half quart just to make the dipstick look right. | ||
| Smokey3644 |
2.5 quarts and checking the oil right away when I park, oil is at the second x, I was worried at first but got the scoop here, thanks. | ||
| Nvr2old |
I like the procedure in the 2010 owner's manual. If you haven't seen it, check it out on the Buell website. | ||
| Dennis_c |
If I remember right you check the oil when its hot. It makes a big diference when hot. over cold on the dipstick. | ||
| Blasterd |
When I switched my bike off Friday after I got home and the fan shut off I could hear the oil bubbling in the engine, I have never heard any of my other Buells do that??????? | ||
| Dio |
The bubbling you hear is most likely from the gas boiling, not the oil. Both of mine do it regularly. | ||
| Hangetsu |
I had (have) the same problem with my 09. It first freaked me out, then frustrated me, then I learned to live with it. Here's how I make sure there's enough oil: 1) make sure you put a few ounces in the filter before you screw it on. 2) Put the rest of the 2.5 quarts in the tank. 3)Go for a 10 minute ride and get things good and hot. 4) check the oil IMMEDIATELY after shutting off the engine. 5) If you don't see any on the stick, add just a couple of ounces & run the engine a few moments. 6) Repeat step 5 until you have oil covering 2 to 3 X's. I always have to add three or four ounces above the specified amount after an oil change to get it showing on the stick. It's just the way these are. Don't stress. | ||
| Someday |
Check with engine running. | ||
| Tootal |
+1 Dr. Greg and Someday. Check with engine running. Even my 06 would give me strange readings until I started checking it while running. Problem solved. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
One of the reasons that we got my son an 07'. No trouble checking the oil on 06/07. Gloat. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Here's my philosophy on the dipstick. If you check your oil and there is no oil showing on the dipstick you should add some. If you see none on the dipstick there is no way of knowing how much is in the engine. If you see any oil on the dipstick you are fine. The lack 2 or 4 ounces is not going to kill your engine. The dipstick is a very crude oil level estimation device. I'm not saying that you should ignore apparently excessive oil consumption. I am saying that one should not be obsessive about oil levels. | ||
| Froggy |
Every Buell except for the 2010 1125R with its sight glass has a problematic oil check procedure. The on the 2010 1125R, you just take a glance, and vol-la! | ||
| Xbeau12s |
I have no problem at all checking my oil on my 07 XB12X also. The manual says to check it on the sidestand when hot. I usually ride it for a few hours, get off and check. It's always where it should be. Never had a problem with my 2004 XB12S either checking it that way. | ||
| Buewulf |
When I changed the oil in my '06 for the first time, I took it for a 300 mile ride after. Checked the oil when I got back home (engine fuel-boiling hot on side stand) and not a drop was on the dipstick. Freaked out, drained the oil from swingarm and filter and measured exactly 2.5 quarts. I check it with the engine running now. | ||
| Nobuell |
Buewulf I only check my 08XT with the engine running for that very reason. I always get consistent readings that way. | ||
| Ulyssesmatt |
I check my oil when I am done riding, not before. If I don't find a big puddle of oil under the bike in the morning then I assume it's still in there. +1 to everybody who told you to check it on the sidestand. | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Didn't use the Uly this morning, because when I started her up the oil light didn't shut off?? I bought this bike about 1000km ago and I seem to remember the previous owner said that he had changed the oil in March? anyhow. what do you think? | ||
| Buewulf |
The previous owner of my bike said he had changed the oil about 1000 miles ago when I bought it. He probably did, but I changed the oil when I got it home anyway just because one never knows for sure. Plus it gives me a reference point from which to monitor oil consumption. I'm assuming you haven't changed the oil since buying it and don't have a reference point. So the big question is whether or not your issue is related to volume or circulation. Add some oil gradually with the bike running until the light goes off keeping up with how much oil you add. If it does great! Your pump is pumping, go to step two: Change the oil. Drain the swingarm and filter and measure exactly how much was in there (minus what you just added to make the light go off). Now you know at what level the pressure light activates and how much you would need to add to get it back to spec in the event this happens again. Refill it with fresh oil to the proper level. Now that you have filled it with the proper amount of oil, get a reference point of where the oil is on the dipstick with the engine fully warmed up and running. Monitor it for oil consumption. | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Wow! Thx Buewulf thats some great, simple, and easy to follow advice. I will do part 1 tonight, and if all is well do the change on the weekend. Also, perhaps circulation could be a cause, it was only 3 celsius when I started it this morning. MMcC | ||
| Buewulf |
Glad to make a contribution! I doubt the temp is causing any circulation issues, though it could be. I'd be more worried about a lack of circulation caused by a bad oil pump. In all likelihood, you just need oil, though. | ||
| Mattmcc00 |
Ok so I added in about 4 table spoons of 5w-30 (thats all I had, and without transportation was the best I could do). When I started her up the oil light turned on, then off, then on, then off, then came back on after 2 mins of idling. So I added in another 2 tablespoons of 5w-30. Then I started her up and the light turned off. Ok so thats good news, now I can go to the store and buy proper oil, a filter, some loctite, and a new o-ring (just in case). But, no... something else is very wrong, The big has lost most og its power I have to openb the throttle 3/4 to aviod stalling in first gear! also, even when I crank open the trottle wide open there bearly is any power, feels like I am running on 1 cylinder. Bike backfires upon releaseing the throttle. I think I should probably move this into its own thread. |
