Checking the oil

[Kendan]

Hey all. Quick background: I recently brought my bike in for its first service, and am concerned about the amount of oil that I should have in the engine. I had purchased some Redline synthetic oil for my previous bike that I didn't end up using (bike got traded), so I provided this to the dealer to use for the service, 6 quarts / 946ml bottles. Since this should be more than what was needed I told the dealer I'd take back the excess oil. The remaining bottle still had about 700ml when it should have only 200ml left when I got it back. According to the manual, an oil and filter change requires 5.4L of oil (5.7 quarts I believe), so the dealer would have only used about 5.0L max. So thinking they didn't put enough in, I checked the oil a few times and its on the full mark. (Annoying how small the range between full and add on the dipstick)

Is there a trick in checking the oil level to make sure you get the right reading? The manual is pretty basic in its description, Stop engine, level bike, check oil. Straightforward. On a couple previous bikes, like my Kawasaki with a semi-dry sump, you had to wait about a minute after turning the engine off before you check the dipstick. My BMW was 5 minutes before checking the sight glass.

I'm thinking that maybe when they (dealer) did the change, they didn't remove one of the drain plugs and not all the oil was drained out??

Also, I'm assuming there is no reason not to question the 5.4L needed for the oil/filter change as per the manual? I am tempted just to do another oil change myself and then I'll know for sure that the correct amount is put it.

Thanks all.

 

[rocketjohn]

I sit on the bike so it can be held straight up. Then I check the dipstick. Since that's how you ride I reckon that's how to get an accurate reading. But being a dry sump setup one can never be too sure that the same amount of oil has returned to the tank on each shutdown. So I take a slightly low reading with a grain of salt.

 

[1olbull]

This is my second dry-sump bike. My knowledge here is based upon over 120,000 miles and 12 years experience.
Doing the Watusi dance counterclockwise about your motor beneath a clear full moon while smoking peyote and offering prayers to the oil gods is definitely the best way to get accurate readings you can trust!

I usually check my levels when cold.
I always replace the oil filter.
I dump in 6 quarts of Mobil 1 20W-50 Full Syn.
Start and idle the engine for 5 - 10 minutes.
Call it GOOD then RIDE-BABY-RIDE!!!

 

[CanberraR3]

This is my second dry-sump bike. My knowledge here is based upon over 120,000 miles and 12 years experience.
Doing the Watusi dance counterclockwise about your motor beneath a clear full moon while smoking peyote and offering prayers to the oil gods is definitely the best way to get accurate readings you can trust!

I usually check my levels when cold.
I always replace the oil filter.
I dump in 6 quarts of Mobil 1 20W-50 Full Syn.
Start and idle the engine for 5 - 10 minutes.
Call it GOOD then RIDE-BABY-RIDE!!!

Now that's funny. And good advice.

 

[warp9.9]

I would not worry about it warm the engine up shut her down and sit holding the bike straight up and check the oil. If it is between the lines your fine. You can not drain all the oil out of the engine unless you pull all 6 plugs in the sump pan. Unlike Bull I warm mine up before I drain her so the oil is thinner. The same when checking her as I want to make sure I have the correct oil level and circulation at operating temperature. The Rockets oil system is pretty wild once you chase the track down for each pump especially as it travels thru the sump ported section to reach its path. The scavenger pump is a double pump each stage is drawing from each separate screen. This means if one screen has not oil then the other still sucks as they are isolated from each other one the suction side provided the sump gasket is installed right. The pressure side is a wee bit different using the anti leak down valve (when not running) as a one way flow valve when the engine is running. the pump pumps constantly and pressure is controlled by a relief valve located on top of the pump. once pressure exceeds the valve spring it bleed the excess oil of into the transmission area spraying the gears as the oil returns back to the sump. So I would suspect at idle the the pressure is down so the relief valve stay closed until the engine rpm climbs moving more oil. Same thing these pump vary in rpm with the engine. A note for all who is interested. The oil does not go thru the filter until it has passed thru the pressure pump down thru the sump plate ported area and into the large steel oil pipe crossing over to the filter. After the filter the oil travels to the oil galleys and drilling s thru the crankshaft. (this is a short pathway explanation) There is a pre-filtering for large particles in the sump screens and the the pressure pump screen.

 

[1olbull]

I just don't like to burn myself on hot pip0es and/or hot engine!

 

[warp9.9]

I just don't like to burn myself on hot pip0es and/or hot engine!

Now there is the problem Bull. Myself being so scrawny I can not just grab my Rocket by the exhaust and turn it over to pour the oil out. I have to get on the garage floor and use a 10 mm Allen on a ratchet Thank God you told me the engine is hot Now I can cook some bologna whilst I work


I thought you carried burn cream on the back of your bike since the Hubb?

 

[1olbull]

Now there is the problem Bull. Myself being so scrawny I can not just grab my Rocket by the exhaust and turn it over to pour the oil out. I have to get on the garage floor and use a 10 mm Allen on a ratchet Thank God you told me the engine is hot Now I can cook some bologna whilst I work
I thought you carried burn cream on the back of your bike since the Hubb?

Wise-ASS little fu*ker!!!
Hope to see you next month?

 

[rocketjohn]

Hmmm...cooking baloney on the exhaust....I wonder if blue-job would clean it up afterward?

 

[Kendan]

Have to say I like this forum. I ask a question regarding oil and it ends up on how to cook bologna on a Rocket. Lol. This is good stuff. Now I'm craving a bologna sandwich in the worst way.

Thanks for the input tho. Some good info on the oiling system, its good to know. Turned out the dealer accidently used some of their stock oil before the tech realized i supplied my own. No biggie. I have more Redline at home so if I'm feeling adventurous I'll just swap it out. And nice to hear the oil checking procedure is straightforward unlike a couple of my previous bikes.

Sunny day, blue skies, time to ride.