Engine Oil Level

[Knights2theEnd]

Followed the owner's manual to check engine oil level after changing engine oil. Depending on what side of the dipstick you looked at, engine oil was in the middle of lower and upper mark or at the upper mark.

Took the bike for a 20minute ride. Came back. Let the bike cool down for 10minutes. Checked the level in the same manner as before. If lower to upper mark is one quart, the level came back half a quart too much.

Is this difference in oil level normal? Will idling the bike for 3 minutes (as per manual) differ, when checking oil level, from riding the bike for 20mins?

[Oss]

I DUNNO

I use the pure1 filter so I just empty the whole gallon of T6 rotella into the engine after draining the old oil out and replacing with new filter

Never any problem  but I only have somewhere around 123ooo on the bike

It will (I think) use maybe several ounces to half a quart over 6k or so of hard riding at speed

Use a 2x4 to have bike level when I check and when I drain the oil.  In fact I tilt the bike to the right to get the last drops out

[GiG]

Was bike level when you checked?

Could you have possibly added 1 quart too much?

Ride her good & hard for a while, then check again with bike up level (not
On kickstand)

[Jess from VA]

Did you get ALL the oil out?  Did you change the filter?  Did you put 4 quarts in?

A short ride before final dip check is a good practice.  But idle or ride should both work.

The Valk dip isn't the greatest, but if you are a half quart high that's not good.  Is it over the high mark?  

Remember to have bike level to check, and dip in but not screwed in. 

[Chrisj CMA]

As long as you did a good drain and are SURE you only put in 4 QTs you’re good. Check the oil right after filling anyway you want, on the side stand center stand, whatever. Just do it the same every time and wherever it hits on the stick is the right place

[HayHauler]

Is your dipstick a stock one, or one with a thermometer on the top?  The thermometer ones are different than stock.  Follow ChrisJ's advice and make sure you are filling with a 4-quart jug (not a 5 quart meant for cars), change the filter, then check it after running it for a bit to fill the oil filter with oil.
You can even mark the dipstick where the oil hits it after this procedure.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[98valk]

Is this difference in oil level normal? Will idling the bike for 3 minutes (as per manual) differ, when checking oil level, from riding the bike for 20mins?

YES.  oil gets hot it expands, aluminum engine expands when hot.    Follow the owners manual.

let engine idle a few minutes, stop engine, after a few minutes check level.  service manual has a few minutes as 2 or 3 minutes.

I have ended up doing all that after an oil and filter change. next day with a cold engine I leveled the bike and just checked level on dip stick. level has always been at the top of the flat section of the dip stick.
I've done both ways to verify level since I'm using an oversized oil filter.

[Knights2theEnd]

Yes bike was level. Yes all oil out. Tilted to the right. Yes new filter. Yes amsoil 1 gallon jug. Yes "half" over the upper mark. Yes bike upright both times when checking.

Even if I measured incorrectly, I measured it the same way after idling for 3mins and after riding it for 20mins... I'm just surprised by how much the oil rose. It rose "half" a quart.

One thing I will add is that the bike has been stationary for a long time.

Is it possible that more oil started to circulate only after I actually rode the bike? That's my question, not whether I measured it properly.

[Knights2theEnd]

Is this difference in oil level normal? Will idling the bike for 3 minutes (as per manual) differ, when checking oil level, from riding the bike for 20mins?

YES.  oil gets hot it expands, aluminum engine expands when hot.   .... with a cold engine I leveled the bike and just checked level on dip stick. level has always been at the top of the flat section of the dip stick.

Ok Interesting! So if there is a difference than anyone riding their bike and then measuring their oil level after their ride is doing it wrong.

I'm going to check my oil level tomorrow morning again after a 3min idle.

We need a few members to measure their oil level after a 3 min idle and after a short trip and report back whether there is a difference lol.


Are you referring to the upper mark/line as the top of the flat section? And it is at this mark with the engine completely cold?

[98valk]

Is this difference in oil level normal? Will idling the bike for 3 minutes (as per manual) differ, when checking oil level, from riding the bike for 20mins?

YES.  oil gets hot it expands, aluminum engine expands when hot.   .... with a cold engine I leveled the bike and just checked level on dip stick. level has always been at the top of the flat section of the dip stick.

Ok Interesting! So if there is a difference than anyone riding their bike and then measuring their oil level after their ride is doing it wrong.

I'm going to check my oil level tomorrow morning again after a 3min idle.

We need a few members to measure their oil level after a 3 min idle and after a short trip and report back whether there is a difference lol.


Are you referring to the upper mark/line as the top of the flat section? And it is at this mark with the engine completely cold?

idle 2 or 3 minutes, shut off, wait 2 or 3 minutes and then check level

[ptgb]

1. Drain the old oil.

2. Change the filter.

3. Dump a gallon of your chosen oil in.


Done. Way too much over thinking here.

[Rams]

Way too much over thinking here.

   That thar's funny, don't care who U R.   

But, the only stupid question is one not asked. 

Curious minds want to know.   Read that somewhere once.   

Rams

[Knights2theEnd]

Done. Way too much over thinking here.

Unfortunately I would say the opposite. Even though I appreciate every response, only one sentence from one response actually addresses my question.

[Jess from VA]

Done. Way too much over thinking here.

Unfortunately I would say the opposite. Even though I appreciate every response, only one sentence from one response actually addresses my question.

Is it possible that more oil started to circulate only after I actually rode the bike?

Oil circulates whenever the bike is running.  The hotter the oil and engine gets, the more easily it circulates.  Heat isn't dependent on riding or idling.  However riding gets the cooling system and radiator working more than idling, so that might be a bit cooler than idling (a while).  Even if the fan comes on idling, airflow over the radiator is nil. 

The OE dipstick is flat where you check level.  Are you saying the oil level is above the flat part of the dip?   

[h13man]

Proper measure/check procedure is sitting or make it level with spacers under the kick stand. Wipe dipstick and check w/o screwing the cap do a check. This is only way to get "0" for whatever way you check it in the future.

[Willow]

Unfortunately I would say the opposite. Even though I appreciate every response, only one sentence from one response actually addresses my question.

And that sentence left you with an incorrect assumption.  Four quarts of oil will not change significantly due to heat or cold.  Something was different in the two measurements.

[mbramley]

  I checked mine before riding to West by God and back this past weekend. It was a the upper mark. when I got back it was pretty close to the lower mark, added about 1/2 a quart and it was at the upper mark. Mind you rode to Inzane XXV plus all the riding there and home it never changed level on the stick. You can do as you wish with that little bit of my observation. I'm still not sure if between the two marks is 1/2 quart.

[cookiedough]

I could be wrong, but someone will chime in am sure, but when sitting on the seat level bike side to side,  the dipstick is not suppose to be screwed in all the way checking it, agree, just resting on top not screwed in all the way?  If you screw the dispstick down all the way,  the oil will read overfilled.

My 2 valks the 01 I/S has an OEM dipstick vs. the 98 Valk has the chrome aftermarket dipstick and both are different lengths. 

I always have tipped my bike over to the right a few minutes holding it angled to the right to get the last few ounces of oil out until my leg got tired of holding the bike up still.  I always have used hi-flo oil filters (and purolator) and always come up 3-5 oz. shy of using the full 4 qts. of oil.

[Chrisj CMA]

I could be wrong, but someone will chime in am sure, but when sitting on the seat level bike side to side,  the dipstick is not suppose to be screwed in all the way checking it, agree, just resting on top not screwed in all the way?  If you screw the dispstick down all the way,  the oil will read overfilled.

My 2 valks the 01 I/S has an OEM dipstick vs. the 98 Valk has the chrome aftermarket dipstick and both are different lengths. 

I always have tipped my bike over to the right a few minutes holding it angled to the right to get the last few ounces of oil out until my leg got tired of holding the bike up still.  I always have used hi-flo oil filters (and purolator) and always come up 3-5 oz. shy of using the full 4 qts. of oil.

Yes that is the prescribed way. I think it’s ridiculous. I get a consistent reading on the side stand screwing the dip stick in. 1/8” on the stick right after dumping in 4qts. I usually check it with the dipstick at least once a year.