Rocket727
.020 Over
The warranty ended on my 06 Rocket yesterday and I did my first (DIY) oil change Friday (two years and 9,136 miles) . I wanted the dealer to do the others during the warranty period just so there would be no finger pointing if something went wrong. I think oil changes have been previously discussed but I'll pass on my experience. I used the R3 service manual and followed it verbatim including specified torque settings. BTW, I had exactly three (3) liters of 4t -15 W40 left from the previous dealer oil change, which they would have kept had I not asked for it. That's almost $45 worth of oil.
The following is the sequence with some bewilderment:
Purchased 4 more liters of the 15W40 and R3 filter at Raleigh, NC Triumph dealer @$73.61
Started bike and ran until fan came on. Engine was good and warm.
Steadied the bike level on bike jack, leaving all drain plugs accessible.
Removed and reinstalled, after completely draining oil, the three drain plugs one at a time, per the manual. Tilted bike fore and aft gently to make sure oil was drained and visually checked that tank was empty..
(Didn't change my crush washers this time but I will next change)
Removed the old and installed the new R3 oil filter.
Filled the oil tank to max mark. Took exactly three (3) liters.
Hmmmm..manual says you should have to add at least 1-1.5 liters after running engine. That only comes to 4.5 liters. What about the 5.4 liters it's supposed to take for an oil and filter change???
Called the Raleigh service department and asked about this discrepancy. He gave me a wishy- washy answer but said run the engine till the tank is empty and add two liters then ride the bike for about ten minutes and check the dip-stick with the bike idling and level. He said I should have to add a little more oil, maybe as much as .4 liter which checks with the book.
Did all of that and checked the level after riding it and it showed above the fulll mark with just 5 liters. No matter how I check the oil, it is about 1/4" above the max mark on the dip-stick. That is with a total of 5 liters.
This obviously is what the dealer in Roxboro, NC (where I bought the bike) did on the previous oil change. That's why I had exactly three liters left in the 4 liter container. He used 4 plus 1 for a total of 5 liters and my oil level has been checking 1/4"above the max mark.
The unanswered questions:
Why does the service manual say you should have to add 1-1.5 liters after running the engine when that's no where near 5.4 liters.??
Why does the dip-stick read 1/4'' too much with just 5 liters??
Which is right , the 5.4 liters or the dip-stick??
Why do you get different answers from different Triumph dealers??
Does it hurt to have the oil a little above the dip-stick or maybe if the dip-stick is wrong do I actually have enough oil ??
BTW, this isn't my first experience with oil level problems. My 03 ToyotaTundra manual calls for 6.5 quarts for an oil and filter change but it takes 7.1 to bring it to the upper mark. My dealer agrees and says it's that way for all Tundras but I've never been able to get a service bulletin out of the dealer or Toyota.
Anyway, that's my R3 oil change.
The following is the sequence with some bewilderment:
Purchased 4 more liters of the 15W40 and R3 filter at Raleigh, NC Triumph dealer @$73.61
Started bike and ran until fan came on. Engine was good and warm.
Steadied the bike level on bike jack, leaving all drain plugs accessible.
Removed and reinstalled, after completely draining oil, the three drain plugs one at a time, per the manual. Tilted bike fore and aft gently to make sure oil was drained and visually checked that tank was empty..
(Didn't change my crush washers this time but I will next change)
Removed the old and installed the new R3 oil filter.
Filled the oil tank to max mark. Took exactly three (3) liters.
Hmmmm..manual says you should have to add at least 1-1.5 liters after running engine. That only comes to 4.5 liters. What about the 5.4 liters it's supposed to take for an oil and filter change???
Called the Raleigh service department and asked about this discrepancy. He gave me a wishy- washy answer but said run the engine till the tank is empty and add two liters then ride the bike for about ten minutes and check the dip-stick with the bike idling and level. He said I should have to add a little more oil, maybe as much as .4 liter which checks with the book.
Did all of that and checked the level after riding it and it showed above the fulll mark with just 5 liters. No matter how I check the oil, it is about 1/4" above the max mark on the dip-stick. That is with a total of 5 liters.
This obviously is what the dealer in Roxboro, NC (where I bought the bike) did on the previous oil change. That's why I had exactly three liters left in the 4 liter container. He used 4 plus 1 for a total of 5 liters and my oil level has been checking 1/4"above the max mark.
The unanswered questions:
Why does the service manual say you should have to add 1-1.5 liters after running the engine when that's no where near 5.4 liters.??
Why does the dip-stick read 1/4'' too much with just 5 liters??
Which is right , the 5.4 liters or the dip-stick??
Why do you get different answers from different Triumph dealers??
Does it hurt to have the oil a little above the dip-stick or maybe if the dip-stick is wrong do I actually have enough oil ??
BTW, this isn't my first experience with oil level problems. My 03 ToyotaTundra manual calls for 6.5 quarts for an oil and filter change but it takes 7.1 to bring it to the upper mark. My dealer agrees and says it's that way for all Tundras but I've never been able to get a service bulletin out of the dealer or Toyota.
Anyway, that's my R3 oil change.