Oil Level

David Toll

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I know that there is a wealth of discussion on the Forum regarding this topic but, after my last oil change, I find that the oil level reads at the bottom mark following the application of 2.5l of oil. This is the maximum recommended and stamped on the motor. Indeed, this volume appears to only be appropriate after a complete service including filters. The manual states that the oil must be checked with the dip stick inserted but not screwed down. This has been the procedure advocated by a number of respondents to the various threads on this topic. Back in 2010, Pam Pete begged to differ. He suggests,
the manual says to check the oil level with the dipstick unscrewed and resting on the threads, but if you check the oil level the next time you change oil, you will see that the dip stick has to be screwed in to read correctly. Doing this right after you change oil is the only time you know exactly how much oil is in the crankcase.
This seems to be the situation. So what is the definitive answer? I do not want to head into the boondocks with a motor that is eligible for seizure. I do not want to overfill the case and suffer pressure induced leak (?).
Do I measure the oil level with the stick screwed down or do I leave it resting on the threads?
The bike is an SE.
 
Hello Randy,
No the bike s on the stand and relatively level. There has been a suggestion that the tang on the LHS can deform and tilt the bike to the right but that doesn't appear to be the case here. I would normally check automotive oil levels with the dip stick fully inserted. When I screw the thing down, the oil level reads at max - which is where it should be after the volume I used in refill. I was just going to follow the manual and top it up but, they have been wrong before. It makes me nervous riding a bike, that the manual says, is low on oil. But I can't see where those 2.5l, (.66 US gallons) have gone. She leaks very little and blows no smoke. The plugs are also in good shape. Frustrating!
 
Yes, understood. Well, I have not owned an XS with the right side engine cover sight glass.
A sight glass has been very user friendly on other Yamahas previously. Very tempting to be able to look into that sight glass reading.
 
I know what you mean. Unhappily, I'm about to take off into the Wide Blue Yonder - I checked the oil as part of the pre-ride procedure. Look, she's got 2.5l of good oil. Some have suggested that by using the correct amount, you are free of concern about the level - ok if you not burning any or wicking any out I suppose but I would like to understand why the Yamaha engineers made this so difficult. Is pragmatism correct and I have the right amount of oil but it's not showing or is the dip stick indicating the correct level and I'm due a trip home on the trailer?
Love your rebuild by the way! That '78 is going to look a picture!!
Cheers
 
Not trying to get personal but how long is your dipstick? If you have a short stick you could read low.
The dipstick on my 72 is 9 7/8 inches from the gasket to the bottom of the stick. When full it will read over full when unscrewed and checked.
 
Having put a lot of miles on various XS's I tend to keep the oil near the lower mark. It seems to help keep oil from leaving via the breather. I have run higher levels a few times and usually found the motor would "use oil" until it hit that lower mark then stabilize. It may have to do with crankshaft splashing the oil at higher levels. Machine mentions "on the suspension" not the center stand, the dipstick is far back in the motor the centerstand tips the bike forward, reducing apparent level. I've also seen the sight glass full mark roughly correspond with the low mark on the dipstick.
 
Measured it up GLJ; mine's the same. I thought that a PO might have pulled a replacement there but, unhappily, no.
I'll ignore that commentary about an Aussie confusing beer!
Never considered the "forward lean" aspect Gary - have only concerned myself with side to side. I'll put something under the front wheel to see if it makes a difference.
 
I put a 30mm chock under the front wheel. 30mm is probably a bit much but I wanted to see if lifting the front wheel affected the reading. It's impossible to tell if the bike is actually level from front to rear but the oil now sits at the hallway mark. GLJ's '72 gets a reading of "over full" with the front wheel on the ground. Why would the SE fail to record the same? Frame design? Engine lean? Screwey Japanese engineering?
 
I would think so arctic. The "chopper" image is what made the SE so popular. I can't imagine why Yamaha didn't adjust he markings accordingly or, at least, alter the procedure for checking the oil level however, the question still stands - threaded unthreaded?
 
To be honest David, none of this matters... threaded in... resting on threads... on the centerstand, front wheel chocked.... tongue situated just so... none of that matters. Fill it with 2.5l, configure it however works best for you whilst on the road and check the level. Mark the dipstick at that level (file or whatever) and call it a day. That's your full mark. If you want to get real fancy, fill it with 1.5l and put a mark for 1l low... add the extra liter and now you have a full and 1l low mark. Just make sure you set your configuration so it's easily repeatable on the road.... threads and chocks be damned. :rolleyes:
 
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Yes, Jim, I can calibrate the dipstick just so and I will do exactly as you suggest but, it's a hell of a lot of screwing around for something that should work properly in the first place. This isn't electrics or carburettion, it's basically shoving a stick in the bucket to see how deep the water is. As the oil change was done a fortnight ago, I don't know exactly how much oil is in there - that's why I'm checking it now. I'll have to drain the sump and refill it. Suppose I can recycle the oil.
Cheers
 
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My method for my previous 81 SH involved the bike on center stand. I did not measure the volume of oil, just filled to midpoint between the Hi and Low mark with the dipstick resting on the threads. Filling to Hi put the oil to the top of the view glass.

Just some info I previously listed:
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.
 
Additional info as per the Yamaha Manual procedure:

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.
 
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When full it will read over full when unscrewed and checked.

GLJ's '72 gets a reading of "over full" with the front wheel on the ground.

Just to be clear I shortened my center stand. When the bike is on it both tires are touching. I reads over full when unscrewed and checked.
 
Just to be clear I shortened my center stand. When the bike is on it both tires are touching. I reads over full when unscrewed and checked.

Does that mean, it would read Full if the bike was on original centre stand? To be clear, that would mean that when they designed the dip stick, Yamaha assumed bike is on level floor and allowed for the engine being slightly tilted forward when on the stand?

I try to get the level halfway between the lines on the dip stick with the bike on the centre stand. So I'm doing it about right, or maybe slightly under filling, but that's ok as long as it gets checked fairly regularly?
 
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