Checking the oil

[Huambo81a]

Yes, i realise this has to be the most mudane question ever posed on these forums, but i just need some advice.

I was washing/waxing/polishing my baby yesterday on the centre stand, and i noticed the oil was very close to the 'low' mark. I rode to Halfords and picked up some engine oil, but when i checked again (on the centre stand) the oil was near the 'full' mark lol

So my question, does oil expand when hot lol ?? Am i best to check the oil after the engine has been running for a while, does a cold engine give a false reading?

Thanks

Sam

[map]

Should always check oil level as said in the manual. If bike has centre stand as standard then this is (usually) on the stand on level ground. If not then it's checked upright on the wheels. Oil is designed to get into all the bits of the engine.

Some of the oil pathways put into the engine block are very, very fine, sometimes actually designed to run down the side of screw threads. So if you've just run the engine it'll take a while for it to run down into the sump and give a true reading. It'll also thicken slightly as it cools, so the last bits may take a bit longer to drip down. In fact checking as you have done is a common way of putting too much oil in a bike. Did this once by accident myself and after a long ride could not get the bike into neutral. Problem sorted by a change of oil and replaced with the correct amount.

Best check the oil level when engine cold. Get off the bike, have a cup of tea/coffee/whatever and then go back. Also a useful tip before putting cover over the bike as it allows hot exhausts to cool so don't damage the cover.

HTH
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Villers]

On the other hand, if your bikes centre stand is like mine then your front end will be on the deck and your rear in the air. Theres no way you can check the oil this way as the bike isnt level. Best way is to have someone either sit on it or hold it level before you check, even if that means trusting the missus!!

Other than that how about a bit of preventative maintenance, if you get the manual for the bike it will tell you how much oil to put in when you change oil and filter. This way your bike gets new oil, you get that 'warm feeling' from doing it yourself, and you know exactly how much oil is in it!

For example, if Im changing my CBR's oil its 3 Litres, If Im changing oil and filter is 3.3 Litres.
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