Depends on the car. If it has a vertical oil filter it gets pre-filled and the oil goes to the top of the line. If it has a horizontal filter (like the Savage) I'll add the required amount, which is over the line until the engine is run. After shutdown and cool down the oil should be at or under the top line. Or there are my good engines, fill to the line, then fill the oil filter canister after dropping in a new filter cartridge. And yes, some bikes use that system as well.

Bikes with site glass can be tricky for some folks. As long as the oil is within the lines with the bike set per the manual (upright or on stand, either can be right, depends on bike) the level is fine. Over the top line is over filled, under the bottom line is under filled.

Since the Savage calls for such a goofy way to check the oil, I just go with 2 quarts and say good enough. With a heavy duty highway service 20W50 like I run, a cup of oil either way is irrelevant.

verslagen1 wrote on 06/12/12 at 11:42:00:


Interesting point, eventually all the oil will get changed anyway even if you leave a few percent in the engine at each service.   And as you say, it may prevent temporary oil starvation to some components on startup (slightly dirty oil for a few seconds is preferable to no oil).

bill67 wrote on 06/12/12 at 14:56:33:


One time on my beemer I was adding the oil after a service.   I got to the point where the oil was at the top line, but I went ahead dumped the last of the quart in just to empty the bottle.    HUGE mistake!  When they say to top of the line on a beemer, they mean it, because on my next trip it blew oil out the breather all over the motor.   The beemer used almost 5 quarts with filter, so I thought a little over the mark wouldn't be that significant - wrong!

verslagen1 wrote on 06/12/12 at 11:42:00:



Thanks, ver....makes sense.  I just made a note in my FSM reminding me NOT to tilt the bike while the old engine oil is draining.

That's really only a problem with boxer engines like BMW, VW, Porsche & Subaru. Just a little too much gets picked up by the crank & thrown into the cylinders, sometimes damaging the rings. Way too much & the damage from the oil being pumped back & forth by the pistons causes catastrophic failure in a hurry.

Had a customer with a Subaru that was ruined in about 25 miles by 1 quart too much oil. Jiffy Lube had to buy him an engine, from the dealer & installed by the dealer.$$$$$$$.