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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Oil levels... /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1370456864 Message started by Doug on 06/05/13 at 11:27:43 |
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Title: Oil levels... Post by Doug on 06/05/13 at 11:27:43 Today I took off the turn signals to install some new ones... and I did a check up on everything I know to check. I see that the oil levels in the window are higher than they should be when the bike is leveled... I haven't put any oil in... What could be the cause of this? I did install the raptor component a few days ago... might I have done something wrong in the process? |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Dave on 06/05/13 at 11:49:06 Did you start it and let it run for a bit before you checked the level? Oil can drain back into the sump from the oil passages and filter over time. I am not sure it woudl make a lot of difference.....but the manual cliams you should run it before checking the oil level. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Routy on 06/05/13 at 15:58:44 There has been much discussion here on oil levels. Some of us run the recommended oil levels while on the side stand, rather than on the level. And from the last I knew, not one has ever leaked or blowed oil from running the higher level. If however, the higher level is caused by gasoline in the oil, it should be changed out. Gas in the oil is usually cause from a leaking float valve. (needle & seat) I for one, had better see the oil level somewhere in the window, while on the side stand, and before I ever start it. Your thoughts may differ. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by apache snow on 06/05/13 at 16:04:15 My thoughts do differ. Over filling can cause the oil to foam. Foamy oil does not pump well by the oil pump. The engineers who designed the engine ran thousand of miles of test to see what worked well. I don't believe they pulled the oil level recommendation out of the air just to put something down. I follow the recommended oil level. Others have free will to do as they see fit. :) AS |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/13 at 17:05:50 Over filling Can cause oil to foam,, So far, everyone who has added oil till it was on the lione AND on the stand Has NOT foamed the oil, because thats not enough to get into the crank, |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by 87 savage on 06/05/13 at 17:06:33 727521602766140 wrote:
Doug, the question is: Is the oil level higher than it was the last time you checked it? If so then Routy is right on track, the float needle is not fully seating and allowing the float bowl to overfill and seep into the crankcase. Do you leave the raptor in the on position all the time? |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/05/13 at 17:13:37 If its "Makin oil",, Its gas.. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Rembrandt on 06/05/13 at 18:01:49 I'm still trying to get the hang of holding the bike upright while getting down to eyeball the oil level in the window. It was a bit low when I added last night, but still visible in the window. I tried pouring oil in slowly and did get a bit above the top mark, but the window above oil line is still visible. This is with the bike both upright and engine warmed up a bit as recommended. I imagine this is still within the safe zone and doesn't fall into over filling range. Thoughts? Is there some tolerance either way on oil level? |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Routy on 06/06/13 at 03:36:23 As I posted above, there is a lot of tolerance. I dropped my bike because of Suzuski's rediculous way of checking the oil. I now check it on the side stand. Or you can hassle the 2x4 trick etc etc if it would make you feel better. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by jcstokes on 06/06/13 at 03:40:44 Get a block of wood six to eight inches square and about two and three quarter inches thick, put it under the stand, the bike should be close to vertical then. According to the handbook you should run the engine for a few minutes and then stop it for a few minutes before checking the level. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/06/13 at 05:07:25 According to the handbook you should run the engine for a few minutes and then stop it for a few minutes before checking the level. & To Me, that makes exactly NO sense.. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Dave on 06/06/13 at 05:23:55 746B6D6A7770417141796B672C1E0 wrote:
The only thing I think this does....is make sure the oil filter and passages are full of oil when you check the level in the sump. If the bike is parked for a long period of time, the oil can slowly flow past the oil pump and drain most of the oil out of the passages, top half of the oil filter, and all the lines leading up to the cylinder head. By startng the bike and running it a few minutes the air is purged out and the lines and filter are filled. Shutting it off and letting it sit for a few mintues won't allow these passages to drain - but it will allow the foam to dissipate and the oil thrown around the inside of the engine to settle down. Not sure if it makes much difference on a bike that is run regularly. Out of curiosity I will have to look at my oil level now that I haven't ridden since Monday night......then start the bike and shut if off.....and see if the level changed....I bet it doesn't make 1/16" difference in the window. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Routy on 06/06/13 at 05:33:22 Maybe they just want you to get the exhaust really hot to make just one more hazzard while checking oil ! ::) |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Dave on 06/06/13 at 05:40:18 757A607B67617270787661130 wrote:
Now that is a thought. I have had 3 really nasty burns from hot chrome exhaust pipes.....2 of them occurred while chaning oil. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Doug on 06/06/13 at 12:50:05 I appreciate the advice guys. I am having difficulties starting her up to check if that's the cause. I have to take her to a mechanic so I can drain the oil, because I can't get the darn plug unbolted. When I do that I'll see what's up with the starting problem. I know it's not the battery. I just got done fully charging it today and tested it, but she still won't start. Just a simple click is all I get. I think I need to clean the carb. -couldn't hurt- ...and then I guess check the starter solenoid. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Dave on 06/06/13 at 13:14:07 3A3D69286F2E5C0 wrote:
OK.....There is a long line of guys behind me waiting to ask these questions....but I got here first! How did you test your battery? What is the voltage after the charging? What is the terminal voltage across the battery terminals when you push the start button and hear the click? |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/06/13 at 13:26:44 Why cant you get the plug out? Put the wrench on with the wrench pointed to the front & push down, Youre sure youre on the right bolt head? Goin the right way? Right size wrench? |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Rembrandt on 06/06/13 at 15:51:48 Are these bikes known to burn oil? How often and how much do you find yourselves adding between changes? Is there a mileage when they start to generally consume more oil? |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/06/13 at 16:51:21 You get one on the slab & run it 70 & its gonna suck some oil. Mine doesnt use oil hardly at all just riding around town for the first 1,500 or so miles on an oil change. After that, it starts using a bit. Once I see oil consumption high enough to be a hassle to keep up with or enough to make it scary to go on the road & run hard, I change it., |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Rembrandt on 06/06/13 at 18:28:33 Thanks for the info Justin. What is the year and mileage of your bike? I'm riding an 06 that started with 2270 miles a month ago. I've got just over 4100 on it now. It seems to just now starting to use a bit of oil...I was surprised I guess since I've been checking, to see that I was down a bit on oil two days ago...nearly to bottom of window when bike is upright and engine warmed up first as recommended. The oil was new upon purchase. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Digger on 06/06/13 at 20:58:00 5F4046415C5B6A5A6A52404C07350 wrote:
I agree, and here's why: Two cases. The first case is that you go out to the bike, that's been sitting outside all night, to check the oil level. You do what the book says and start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes. You interpret "a few" to mean two. You shut it down and wait the prescribed three minutes. You then take your measurement. Did I mention that the outside air temperature was -10 deg F when you did your check? Two minutes of idling in this case will change to oil from having a consistency of asphalt to that of molasses. Your check will seem to indicate that the engine oil is low, everything else being equal. For the second case, the factors remain the same, except that the bike has been sitting in the hot sun all day. The outside air temperature is 120 deg F. For this case, you will most likely get an accurate oil level reading. What do I do? Well, if I want to check the oil level, I just check it before the first startup of the day. Works for me! |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/06/13 at 21:09:23 32050D0212010E0414600 wrote:
Its an 05. 20,000 miles now., Were I you, Id change oil & watch it. Keep up with how much time you ride in 5th & close to wide open & see if oil use doesnt go up. Then watch when it gets around 2,000 miles on the oil & see if oil use doesnt go up when youre just gettin around town. For me, "Gettin around town" includes some nice roads that let me see 70 for short bursts. Not even a minute/ burst, |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Gyrobob on 06/07/13 at 05:10:46 I check the oil at the end of a ride. -- Pull into the garage. -- Get off the idling bike. -- Go around to the right side. -- Get on my knees and bend down to peer at the window. -- Pull the bike up to vertical, balancing it there to see the actual level while running. I keep the oil level so it fills about a third of the window. I have tidied up this procedure somewhat, so I don't actually have to get the knees of my pants dirty. -- A few years ago, my current wife broke a cheap mirror, which I took to the workshop. -- I smoothed out various pieces and gorilla-glued stiff copper wire to a few of them to use as inspection mirrors. -- Now I keep one of those at the RYCA-bike parking spot so all I have to do is stay on the idling, vertical, bike, and use the mirror to see the oil-level window. |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Routy on 06/07/13 at 07:03:10 You check oil while engine is running ? Amazing ! :o |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/07/13 at 07:44:36 I know it aint so, but dang if he didnt pretty much say he does.. GB,, wassamattachew? |
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Title: Re: Oil levels... Post by Gyrobob on 06/07/13 at 17:36:00 7B746E75696F7C7E76786F1D0 wrote:
2F3036312C2B1A2A1A22303C77450 wrote:
Yup. See reply #16 here: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1283793450/15#15 The big advantage here is that the oil is being checked real time, at real temps, with all the various expansions of metal and oil in effect. -- Checking the oil when cold, or when the bike is on a sidestand, is using a test that checks on situations that should turn into an acceptable level when the motor warms up. --- That kind of thing is a prediction of sorts. --- You HOPE the oil, motor, and clearances behave properly as it all warms up. -- Checking the oil while the motor and all its oil is fully warmed up checks on what is actually happening,.. a much more relevant piece of info. |
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