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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing ?
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Message started by blod on 12/15/24 at 02:54:35

Title: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing ?
Post by blod on 12/15/24 at 02:54:35

I have two new to me Suzuki motorcycles, a 2004 Savage and a 2019 DR200. Both of these bikes have the same oil level windows to check the level.

When I bought both bikes the oil levels were mid way between the minimum and maximum marks. I have not started the bikes since I bought them and now the oil levels on both bikes are not visible at all, there is no oil to be seen. Both bikes are oil tight.

Can anyone tell me what's going on ?

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by JOG on 12/15/24 at 03:11:37

Did you stand them up?
If you put a Harley logo on them,, yeah..

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by blod on 12/15/24 at 04:13:02

Yes I have stood them up, it makes no difference.

I think it might have something to do with the brass monkey temperatures and lack of dip sticks.

I don't trust the windows now, and probably never will. They are flucking useless with a sidecar on the RHS in any case.

I don't get the Harley comment.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by blod on 12/15/24 at 04:37:06

I just found this suggestion with a google search.

Make sure the proper amount of oil is in the bike then set it on the side stand. Remove the oil filler cap and thread the tie-tie through the open until you hit bottom. Pull and check the level on the tie-tie. Take a punch and mark that spot. Mark another spot 1/2" below the first and you have a good working range.

I'm going to change the oil on both bikes when the weather warms up, so that is what I will do.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by JOG on 12/15/24 at 08:11:00

A HD logo on anything invites oil to leave. It doesn't even hafta drip out,where it can be seen. Surreptitiously placing one on someone's car might just run them out of oil. It's like Voo-Doo ,man.

I've never seen the oil level go down without running it . The Savage Can have its oil level increase without running it. When that happens it's the petcock,letting gas flood the carburetor and drip into the engine.

The Zip-Tie idea for checking oil is a great idea. I'm gonna give that a try . I'd think that Otta work for any bike with a window.

I'd sure like to know the answer to your novel problem.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by Dave on 12/15/24 at 08:18:28

The oil window works fine - what could be simpler and more reliable than a liquid showing you the level through a window? It is pretty much foolproof - a liquid just flows and levels out and has a flat surface.

The only requirement for it to work properly is the ground be reasonably level in the front/rear direction - and that you stand the bike upright to read the level.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by ohiomoto on 12/15/24 at 08:59:42

I've noticed that it can take a minute for the oil to register in the window on cold mornings. I'm sure you realize the oil pools up in the left side of the cases because the bike leans that way when on the sidestand.

That won't be a problem when you put a sidecar on it because the bike won't be leaning, but as you pointed out, it will be difficult to read.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by JOG on 12/15/24 at 09:04:28

Speaking for myself, it's not The Window that doesn't work so good. It's the
Gettin down There and standing the bike up and getting eyeballs lined up and getting the light good enough and getting back Up.. I can sit on a stool,pop the fill, and check it if I can use a Zip-Tie.

While we're on the topic
Howcummizzit I'm supposed to run it, kill it, wait an unspecified amount of time, then check it?

Why not just check it?

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by blod on 12/15/24 at 09:17:56

48737E6978746F69727A77681B0 wrote:

I have no doubt that the oil windows work fine when they do. The problem is that is sometimes, for some unexplained reason they do not work fine.

Empty previously half full window.

http://https://i.imgur.com/5bT62N5l.jpg

It takes some wiggling to get the cable tie past whatever it is that's blocking it, but it's quite doable and repeatable with practice.

http://i.imgur.com/feW48vKh.jpg (https://imgur.com/feW48vK)

The serrations on the ties hold the oil in place, they are perfect for the job.

http://https://i.imgur.com/LmOux2qh.jpg

The oil in the Savage looks new.
http://https://i.imgur.com/DdRIfMdh.jpg

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by blod on 12/15/24 at 09:27:09

The Suzuki DR200S with exactly the same problem.

No oil in the previously half full window.

http://https://i.imgur.com/4M64gyyh.jpg

Cable tie in.
I like the oil capacity marking. All manufacturers should do that on their engines.

http://https://i.imgur.com/ed8Sjikh.jpg

Cable tie out.

http://https://i.imgur.com/w3SPrLRh.jpg

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by oldNslow on 12/15/24 at 10:10:54

"I have not started the bikes since I bought them and now the oil levels on both bikes are not visible"

Start the bike and warm it up. You are supposed to check the oil with the engine warm.

Per the owners manual:

"1. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a few minutes.
2.Stop the engine and wait three minutes.
3. Hold the motorcycle vertically and inspect the engine oil level in inspection window.The engine oil should be between the L and F lines."

ie. in the middle of the window.

It's about 20 degrees F right now where I live, the roads are covered with deicing salt and my bike hasn't been started for about three weeks. I'm pretty sure that if I went out to the garage stood the bike up and looked I wouldn't see any oil in the sight glass even though I know the bike was full when I parked it because I check whenever I RETURN from a ride since I'm sure that the engine is at operating temperature then.

If your bikes were full of oil when they were parked, and there isn't a puddle of oil under either of them right now, I suspect that they are just fine.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by blod on 12/15/24 at 10:16:54

724C4D41534F4E200 wrote:

I want to be able to see there is oil in the engine before I start it.
What's wrong with a dip stick ? Dipsticks always worked perfectly in the past, why not now ?

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by oldNslow on 12/15/24 at 10:20:04

Go pull the dipstick out of your car when its cold outside and the car hasn't been run for a couple of days and it going to tell you that the oil is low.

My other bike is a HD Sportster. It has a dipstick in the oil tank. When the bike is cold the oil barely touches the bottom of the stick. It is not uncommom for guys not familiar with, or just new to Harleys, to check the stick with the bike cold, think the oil is low, add a quart and then go for a ride. Half an hour into the ride the tank is overflowing and there is oil running down the side of the bike.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by blod on 12/15/24 at 10:39:29

0A3435392B3736580 wrote:

I had a HD sportster until just recently. When I first got it I also added oil when cold and ended up with an overflowing oil tank. I assumed it was wet sumping that caused the problem. But whatever it was I at least knew there was oil in there before I started it.

http://https://i.imgur.com/zgYjftfh.jpg

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by ThumperPaul on 12/17/24 at 17:05:33

Sounds like the oil is in a near solid state (frozen, not very fluid, goop) stuck on the left side of the engine.

Bring the bike in the house, set it next to the nice warm fireplace for 2 hours, check oil. Or put an engine block heater on it? Wrap the motor in an electric blanket?

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by Ruttly on 12/18/24 at 08:16:52

Can’t count how many bikes I’ve owned , everyone of them had a dipstick. Just this dam LS has a window , windows ok but it still needs a dipstick.

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by ThumperPaul on 12/18/24 at 11:28:44

4E69686870651C0 wrote:

Can’t count how many bikes I’ve owned , everyone of them had a dipstick. Just this dam LS has a window , windows ok but it still needs a dipstick.

I don’t want to be a Dipstick, but how you gunna put your dipstick in the frozen oil globbed up over on the left side of the engine case? If the oil won’t flow over to center so you can see it through the sight glass, the dipstick ain’t gunna work any better. Maybe you can poke and stir it a little with the dipstick. :P

Do you screw your dipstick all the way in or do you just rest your dipstick on the lip of the hole? :-*

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by ThumperPaul on 12/18/24 at 11:35:21

PS - I guess there is something rewarding about sliding your dipstick out and feeling the slippery wetness. ;)

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by zevenenergie on 12/18/24 at 13:10:58

http://https://i.imgur.com/f4OdrTLm.png

Title: Re: Has anyone else noticed their oil disappearing
Post by ThumperPaul on 12/19/24 at 05:39:27

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