With the 2006, the oil sight window has a shiny piece of metal in it, which for me, makes it harder to read the level. To me that peice of metal hinders reading the level.  On my goldwing, the oil sight glass is easy to read the level.  Whenever I check the S-40, on the list,the window looks full to me.  Just wondering if others have the same problem??  Thanks in advance!!

I don't have a problem reading the oil level.

Oil covers the entire window in mine.

Dodgeman wrote on 06/27/13 at 06:04:57:

With the bike level and the correct amount of oil in the sump, you should be to see the oil level across the entire window between the top and bottom lines. If not, post a picture to show us what you have.

Good hunting

I guess there's no pleasing some folk.
put clean amber oil in there... can't see it... too light.
a thousand miles later, the black oil obscures the window... ah, too dark, can't see it.

don't do such a great job of getting the old oil out.  start her up, and the oil will darken up enough that you'll see it.

Check the oil with a hot motor idling and a the bike held upright.  The oil level should be about 1/3 up the sight glass.  2/3 of the sight glass should have no oil.


Check the oil with a hot motor idling and a the bike held upright.  The oil level should be about 1/3 up the sight glass.  2/3 of the sight glass should have no oil.





This is Oldfeller's recommendation here, and I find it makes the most sense.  http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1283793450/15#15

The big advantage here is that the oil is 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 are SUPPOSED to turn into an acceptable level when the motor warms up.  
   --- That kind of thing is a prediction of sorts, a hope.
   --- You HOPE the oil, motor, and clearances behave properly as it all warms up.
-- Checking the oil while the motor and the oil is fully warmed up checks on what is actually happening,.. a much more relevant piece of info.

Just don't let the bike fall on you while you check the oil.  As a technique, I had the ex-girlfriend straddle the front wheel holding the bike vertical while I looked at the oil.  She refuses to sit on the bike.  I finally had enough bitching and moaning,...so,.......

Now, I have a small mirror on a stick so when I pull into the normal parking place, I hold the mirror down by the window and look at the oil level while the bike idles with me sitting on it keeping it upright.


This is Oldfeller's recommendation here, and I find it makes the most sense.  http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1283793450/15#15

The big advantage here is that the oil is 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 are SUPPOSED to turn into an acceptable level when the motor warms up.  
   --- That kind of thing is a prediction of sorts, a hope.
   --- You HOPE the oil, motor, and clearances behave properly as it all warms up.
-- Checking the oil while the motor and the oil is fully warmed up checks on what is actually happening,.. a much more relevant piece of info.

Just don't let the bike fall on you while you check the oil.  As a technique, I had the ex-girlfriend straddle the front wheel holding the bike vertical while I looked at the oil.  She refuses to sit on the bike.  I finally had enough bitching and moaning,...so,.......

Now, I have a small mirror on a stick so when I pull into the normal parking place, I hold the mirror down by the window and look at the oil level while the bike idles with me sitting on it keeping it upright.

apache snow-FSO wrote on 06/27/13 at 08:33:23:



Zackly.