| Author | Message | ||
     Buellnick |
I have an '08 scg. The oil always drains back into the motor after shutdown. This happens in about 2 mins. Checking oil is a scramble right after engine shut down and the reading is always a little different. I cannot get and accurate or consistent oil level check. The dealer replaced the checkball - no change. The dealer is talking with Buell Tech Services and their first response was to live with it as long as the oil is circulating back through the system upon start-up. This is an unacceptable answer and the dealer agrees. Dealer techs have never seen this before. The dealer is re-engaging with Buell to get a better answer - at least a better explanation. I'm going direct to Buell Customer Service next week... ANYBODY have this problems on their 2008-2009 bikes? The new bikes have a slightly different oil system... If anybody has a clue what might be the cause - please respond. | ||
| Spacewolf |
Yea mine does thatI think. I usually check it as soon as I get off the bike, and it seems to have settled a little after the first service. I just put it down to the oil system, it doesn't seem to be doing anything bad to the motor, and I give it quite a few herbs every now and then... | ||
| Big_b |
2009 model here every time I check my oil it's at a different level. sometimes it seems kind of low but then the next time it will be up in the middle to top area. I have added a very small amount of oil a couple of times when it has been below the lower mark and I only have a little over 500 miles. I agree the oiling system makes it hard to get an accurate oil reading, seems to be all over the place. | ||
| Buellnick |
Apparently, I am not the only one... Have any of you complained about the problem to the dealer or Buell Customer Service?? The oiling system on 2008-2009 bikes is routed differently. I think Buell Motor Company made a change to the timing system and rerouted oil to the cams without fully testing the whole system. I don't want to believe they made changes to the oil system and just "blew off" the impact on the oil level. The attitude of Buell Tech doesn't give me any warm and fuzzies. Please post similar issues on this thread. Especially, the results of complaints to the dealer or Buell. I'll keep you posted. So far, I have been dealing with the dealership. The dealer service techs were told to change the check ball and then told to do nothing more... FRUSTRATING to both the dealer techs and the customer.  | ||
| Buellnick |
ALSO...I think BMC knows this is an issue. The fix may be a redesign. Time will tell. In the meantime, I can't accurately or consistently check oil. | ||
| Ferocity02 |
I think the only way to get a consistent reading is to measure with the engine running, but it's probably not accurate. | ||
| Buellnick |
Too much movement of oil inside the swing arm when the engine is running... definitely NOT the way to check oil level. I think BMC may have missed something on the oil system redesign... | ||
| Akbuell |
This thread raised some questions for me, which caused me to do some research. And I thank you for that, as I learn a lot about my bike in the process. With my '08 TT on the sidestand, the fitting from the oil feed line to the engine is about 16 1/2in off the floor. The oil level in the tank is about 15 1/2in off the floor (cold), and would be about 16 1/2-17in off the floor (hot), so little or no oil would flow back into the engine with it shut off. Gravity won't allow it. And I am most interested in the checkball the dealer replaced. I can't find anything like that in the parts manual, and there is no mention of such a thing in the service manual. Can you provide more info? FWIW, when I check my oil: Shut the engine off, put the bike on the sidestand, and take off my helmet and gloves. Go get a paper towel, and remove the dipstick. Takes 2-2 1/2 mins. Wipe the dipstick clean, insert and tighten. Remove and read the level. Every once in a great while I get a reading that does not make sense; I just wipe the dipstick off and try again. The second reading is (has always been) good. Hope this helps, Dave. | ||
| Buellnick |
The checkball is in the oil filter mount assembly. It consists of a ball and spring. Th oil pressure overcomes the spring tension and oil flows. When shut off the check ball is supposed to keep oil from running back down to the bottom of the motor. I saw a picture of it in a service manual at the dealer. As for the height of the oil and oil lines...interesting measurement results. I will check it as soon as I get it back from the dealer. The heights could be different given the suspension and geometry differences between your TT and the Scg. Oil readings are different every time. The highest oil reading is with the first and then it starts to go down. Within two minutes the reading about 1/4inch on the dipstick. The dealer ran some comparison tests on other '08 bikes and found that my Scg is the only one doing it. The dealer hinted at an oil pump assembly problem but so far Buell Tech guys aren't acknowledging anything. Not pleased with the BMC approach to problem solving...and customer support. | ||
| Pdxbuell |
I have the exact same issue with a 2008 XB12s. I can generally jump off the bike and read the oil level with in the first 30-sec to 1 min before it drops. After 10 min or so it is only on the very end of the dipstick. Honestly this is my first motorcycle so I just took it, as that's how it is. I'll be watching to see how you get this fixed, so I know what to ask the dealer to do. | ||
| Buellnick |
The local dealer (Santa Fe HD/Buell) has offered to elevate this issue to Buell (corporate). I should know more this week. For all of those who have this problem, the individual at the dealer who is taking this issue forward to Buell would like to get the VINs of any affected bikes. More to follow... | ||
| Akbuell |
Thanks for the info. Looks like back to the books for me. And I expect you will get different numbers when you measure. After all, my TT has some 2in more ground clearance. The key item will be is the center of the working range on the dipstick below the level of the oil tank feed line at the pump. Interesting problem. I'll stay tuned. | ||
| Buellnick |
I'm trying to keep this issue in the forefront. BMC seems to be saying we should all just live with it. The oil "system" doesn't work like its supposed to... reading are all over the place. It makes no sense. Fix this problem and life goes on. I suppose "not fixing" the problem is an option because they can always blame an oil starved engine failure on the owner. BMC just needs to fix the problem. It doesn't sound like an overwhelming number of bikes out there. The dealer is going to try and get the attention of a higher level person. It seems the "worker level" Buell Techs are trying to hold the line on this for reasons unknown. |
