Oil level ?

Howdy RT ! how ya been ? I'm still around, just not saying much is all, I got a great big Honda Foreman 4x4 quad the other day
only to find out the key is missing HAHAHAHA "best plans of mice and men eh" ? heheheheh
the XS650 is still out in the yard, haven't started it all winter ! LOL its been too cold to even think of riding it !
later my friend !
Bob.....

!

Bob Kelly III said:

Glass.... the dip sticks are known to be off a bit.... just keep the oil at the halfway hark in the glass
....
Bob....

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Thanks!

just to throw a spanner in the works...............

the 447 engine from 74-83 had the same dipstick.........it is recommended to fill the engine to about 1/2 way between the full and empty mark on the stick.

The sight glass was introduced in 81 and the dipstick marks didn't change

Post #6

retiredgentleman said:

Since Yamaha revised the dip stick around 73 or 74, the correct oil level is half way between the 2 marks. You could add oil until its at the top mark, and it will not hurt the engine. However, there is the possibility that the clutch might slip a little when you really crank hard on the throttle, depending on how strong your clutch springs are.

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Post #13

Paul Sutton said:

In reference to the original posting: I have an 81 XS SH (US model). When I drain the oil and put in 2000cc the dipstick is bang on the middle and the level in the sight glass is between 3/4 and the top. I'd say the dipstick is quite accurate.

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Just to add some more detail:

• My SH has been sitting on the center/work stand for approximately 2 weeks
• Temperature overnight and this morning 7 - 9 Celsius
  
• The dipstick was removed and wiped clean then inserted resting on the top of the threads

The dipstick is right on the midpoint:


The view glass is showing approximately 71% between the markings, not quite the 3/4 mark (Distance between makings 49 mm on original photo, Oil Level 35mm, 35/49 approx. 71%):


I measure the oil level with engine cold just before going for a ride. When the oil level drops below the midpoint on the dipstick I add a bit more. My XS generally requires a small addition at about 700 - 800 miles and I change the oil at 900 - 1000 miles.

Later I will attempt to post photos for following the Yamaha method as stated in the manual.


Edit: Following copied from SH Supplement:

ENGINE OIL LEVEL MEASUREMENT
1. Place the motorcycle on the center stand.Warm up the engine for several minutes. NOTE:Be sure the motorcycle is positioned straightup when checking the oil level; a slight tilt toward the side can produce false readings.
2. With the engine stopped, check the oil level through the level window located at the lower part of the right side crankcase cover, or screw the dip stick completely out and then put the stick in the hole.
NOTE:Wait a few minutes until the oil level settles before checking. When checking engine oil level with the dip stick, let the unscrewed dipstick rest on the case threads.

It's been 1000 miles since my last change. Going to change it today. For those of you with the Heiden Oil Filter kit, do you change the filter element at every change or every other?

As promised following the Yamaha manual instructions shown in Entry 25 above......

I started the SH up and let it idle at 1200 - 1500 rpm for 5 minutes then switched off the ignition and waited 7 minutes before taking my readings.

Dipstick shows approximately 1/4:


View glass at the midpoint:


I would estimate that when the view glass reading is at approximately 25% the dipstick will be at the bottom line for my SH. If in doubt about which is correct, I would suggest searching for the diagram which shows the dimensions of the dipstick. I have seen it somewhere but cannot remember where. Later I will add the dimensions of mine, well actually the bikes.

My SH dipstick dimensions:

Total length from tip of metal rod to the seal above the thread = 253mm

Total length of visible steel rod = 170mm

Distance from metal tip to Hi Level mark = 30mm

Distance from metal tip to Low Level mark = 13mm

These dimensions match those shown in the photo from Travis in the following thread Entry 17:
http://www.xs650.com/threads/broken-oil-dipstick-need-dimensions.2174/
Travis is showing 8 3/4 inches from the seal to the Hi Level mark. This is true for my dipstick also.

Paul Sutton said:

My SH dipstick dimensions:
Total length from tip of metal rod to the seal above the thread = 253mm
Total length of visible steel rod = 170mm
Distance from metal tip to Hi Level mark = 30mm
Distance from metal tip to Low Level mark = 13mm
These dimensions match those shown in the photo from Travis in the following thread Entry 17:
http://www.xs650.com/threads/broken-oil-dipstick-need-dimensions.2174/
Travis is showing 8 3/4 inches from the seal to the Hi Level mark. This is true for my dipstick also.

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Hi Paul,
that's a whole bunch of data to remember, eh?
Mr Bodger sez so long as there's some oil showing on the dipstick or through the sight glass the motor won't seize up
and if there's too much oil the motor will blow it out soon enough.
OTOH Mr Meticulous reckons that if you put in the amount of oil that's recommended on the right side engine casting
after an oil change and then check where the levels are they'll be right for YOUR bike no matter which dipstick the dreaded PO
swapped in or where the motor's manufacturing tolerances put it's sight glass.

Fred, I just reacon if it is between the Hi and Low on the dipstick then all is well. Same for the glass viewer, but you have to bend down for that one.

You guys got me thinking about the my 2005 GMC 1500 series van I just sold for $1,000 because the intake manifold gasket, the valve cover gasket, the oil pan gasket, and the rear main seal were all leaking oil. Usually, I would change my own oil, but when other work was done twice at two different stations, they assumed it was an 8 cyl engine and over filled the oil. Instead of 5 qts, 8 qts were put in and I didn't realize it until it was time for the next oil change, when my oven roaster pan filled to the brim and poured out all over my driveway. The next time it happened, I caught it at the station by asking how much oil they put in after I had already told the front desk the proper amount. They told me, first, seeing a full sized GM van with a 6 was rare. Second, oil was pumped in from bulk and not from measured containers and third they showed me my dipstick, which is a dark bronze cross hatched press fitted end on a long flex cable and levels of fresh oil are really hard to read . (honey over bronze) I just bought a new Chevy Express with a high efficiency v-6 engine and, from what I see in the manual, It looks like it takes 8 qts. Strange set up. The high compression gas engine sounds like a diesel mated to an 8 speed automatic trans which shifts 6 times before reaching 40 mph, so it sounds like a tractor trailer, much quieter, but a tractor trailer in the distance, just the same.

Paul Sutton said:

Fred, I just reacon if it is between the Hi and Low on the dipstick then all is well. Same for the glass viewer, but you have to bend down for that one.

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Hi Paul,
bending down to see an XS650's oil glass with a right-side mounted sidecar mounted don't work at all so I have to rely on the dipstick.
The XS11 don't have a dipstick because the oil filler hole is directly above the clutch so with a sidecar fitted I had to use a mirror on a stick
until I made an "only use with engine stopped" dipstick from a straightened out 4" hose clamp.

Nice one Fred. The Virago is bit of an issue with no dipstick and an oil glass on the left and virtually under the engine. Thank goodness the XS650 has a nicely located dipstick.

One thing that I found to quiet the engine noise is a bit thicker oil. I tried the 15w40 diesel oil. I found this oil to be a bit noisier than a 20w50 motorcycle oil.
The oil I use is the Valvoline 20w50. This is regular oil, not synthetic oil. I like the Synth oil in my Harley but that can go a lot further on an oil change then the XS650. It's crank case oil is just for the engine. The primary and tranny have there own oil supply.
In the XS650 the one oil does everything so it needs to be changed to often for the synth oil to be cost effective.
This 20w50 oil does quiet things down a bit.
Leo

I tried Castrol 10-60. It was very clean at 2k miles , but at $14 a qt, it's not economical. My next will be Mobil 1, 15-50. It has extra zddp in it.

I use Valvoline 20w50 racing oil in my XS650 the reason is there is not much else to choose from up here.
I have had motorcycles that blew out oil out of the chain sprocket seal when overfilled with oil by mistake
the oil coated the back tire completely and the riders went down on a corner... hard....
that has happened 2 times in my life now If I put too much oil in there by mistake I'll lay the bike on it's side with the dip stick out and get some oil back out on the ground before I ride it ! it's not worth the chance !
both bikes were Honda's one was a 50cc the other was my 305 dream I didn't dump the bike but it was all over the back tire
but on the 50cc My Mom was in the hospital for a week and was crippled the rest of her life because of over filling the oil...
so don't take the chance !
Bob.....

Go to Ebay and look for a 100ml syringe. If you ever overfill the oil just put some plastic tubing on the syringe and suck out some oil. The syringe is also good for measuring out oil for the forks. The volume marks on the syringe will eventually go soft and come off so scratch them in. When finished pull the syringe apart and wipe the oil off the rubber piston otherwise it will swell and stick tightly if left in the barrel. Store the syringe disassembled in a plastic bag. Next time you use it just wipe some oil on the rubber and it will slide nicely.