Is my Honda CG dying through lack of oil?

tabb250 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 29 Jul 2014 Karma :

I bought a CG (2007 model) from a private seller on auto trader the other day, and stupidly didn't check to see if they had kept the oil topped up.
I rode home on a 70 mile journey. The bike was fine all the way home, sounded fine with no rattling or anything.
The next day, I was having a proper good look over the bike and checked the oil, to find it was completely dry!
I instantly took my car to go and buy a can of 10w-40 castrol oil.
Riding to work the next day, the bike seemed a bit noisier than normal and when i got to work, the engine and exhaust are baking hot.
The bike starts fine and seems to sound fine ticking over and in low gears. Its the hot thing thats worrying me.

Can anyone help?
Thanks!

FlightRisk · Spanner Monkey Joined: 08 Jul 2014 Karma :

Did you check it on the centre stand?
I only ask because when I checked my 500 (only after I'd put 200 miles on it) I had it on the side stand and went "GASP! NO OIL!!! Shocked

" before I realised it's supposed to be level.
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Honda CB500S

tabb250 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 29 Jul 2014 Karma :

blurredman · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

Remember as well that on the CG (and alot of Honda's in general, though different manufactures of bikes are different), that you must measure the dip stick according to the threads of the stick resting on the thread of the engine. Don't screw it in, just rest it into position. On flat ground, on the centre stand.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 39k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 50k.

ajag · Brolly Dolly Joined: 08 Aug 2010 Karma :

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

If the bike was out of oil it would not have done 0.7 miles never mind 70 miles. Stop sweating it.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

tabb250 · L Plate Warrior Joined: 29 Jul 2014 Karma :

Thanks for the great reply so far, guys!
I've drained the oil to see for sure how much I had for sure, and it does look like there was next to none in there on my drive down.
Checked my oil dipstick on the centre stand theres the right amount now.
The engine is still getting extremely hot, even when idling after about ten minutes and its still sounding a quite grumbley.

Thinking of taking it in for a service- would Honda be better than a normal garage, or would they just rip me off?

Thanks gain!

Dan

FlightRisk · Spanner Monkey Joined: 08 Jul 2014 Karma :

Without being there it's impossible to tell if what you're talking about is normal heat. A CG doesn't have a temperature gauge does it?

It's an air-cooled engine, when you're moving, the air rushing through the cooling fins in the engine casing keeps it at a happy temperature. If it's sitting idling for 10 minutes there's no air-flow to cool it and it will just get hotter and hotter.

With the sounds, you could take a quick vid on your camera phone and stick it on youTube? Starting it up, sound of it idling, sound of it revving a bit? Maybe someone here could advise you more from that.

Honda vs normal is probably a bit 'how long is a piece of string'. Just depends on the place really. You're probably better off to start a new thread somewhere and say 'Does anyone know a good garage near x?'.
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Honda CB500S

Northern Monkey · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Nov 2013 Karma :

You're just as capable of checking the oil level as a mechanic. You just need to read the manual before doing so.

Stop running it on your drive for ages and ages, and go and ride it instead
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

WD Forte · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jun 2010 Karma :

Its impossible to say what ,if any, damage has been done
by riding it with no/low oil.
Hopefully you've got away with it
A video may help others diagnose any suspicous sounds

The brutal truth is, checking the oil is your responsibilty
as are 'pre flight' checks.
Garages, honest or otherwise cant save a bike from its owner

One of my lads mates brought me his suffering CG125 saying it had been serviced some months previously
No detectable oil on dipstick, chain slack as hell and other signs of neglect.
I swear to god he didnt even know how to check the oil or where the spark plug was
Honest!
I asked him if he'd checked the plug
" Where's that?"
" Are you taking the piss ? you dont know where the the fucking spark plug is?"

OK not everybody is a mechanic fair enough, but I thought
basic maintenance/pre flight checks was part of the CBT?