There’s a stargate in my oil pan

[DatBoi69YOLO]

It's the only logical conclusion.

> I check my Haynes manual, which says that an oil & filter change should require about 3.7L of new oil and a totally new, rebuilt, dry engine should take about 4.3L
> ok cool. I ride the bike around, drain the oil and replace the filter.
> about 2L of oil comes out— I guess the guy before me ran it a little dry.
> I did NOT check the oil level before draining... probably should have.
> let drain overnight.
> next day I put in 3.5L of oil, ride the bike around a bit, park, let drain, and check: nothing.
> I put in a little bit more, and repeat. Dipstick is bone dry.
> gradually repeat this over a couple days: put in a little oil, run engine for a bit, park it. And check.

Right now there are 5L of oil in that bike and just the tip of the dipstick comes up wet.

There is no leaking and no exhaust smell to indicate burning oil.

Therefore, I conclude that there must be a stargate inside my engine somewhere. It's linked to a non-local region of spacetime either in this universe or another dimension, and every time i put in oil, it dumps on some alien's head somewhere.

Hopefully the gate only works one way.

[Skinhead]

Are you sure you have an OEM dipstick?  I would compare it with another known good sti k or have someone measure theirs and compare.   Over filling the oil is not a good idea.

[Valkorado]

Are you sure you have an OEM dipstick?  I would compare it with another known good sti k or have someone measure theirs and compare.   Over filling the oil is not a good idea.

This. 

My Tru-Tel thermostat dipstick does not show when the oil is full.  I use the OEM dipstick for measurement.

[SCain]

I believe the Honda Manual says 3.9 Quarts and filter at oil change.
I use a slightly larger oil filter and just put in 4 quarts, I don't check it with the dip stick.
4 quarts = 3.78541 Liters

[DatBoi69YOLO]

I agree on ~3.8L of oil for a filter + oil change, in theory.

Here's the dipstick I'm using:

https://ibb.co/0r2VW2w

This is for a 2000 Honda Valkyrie Tourer.

Do those dimensions seem right to you guys?


-> also, I'm using this oil filter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L9CSBJR/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I suppose it would all make sense if the new filter was way bigger than the old one, but they're the same size as far as what appears to the eye.

[DatBoi69YOLO]

For general riding purposes, until I get this solved: I know for a fact that there is 5L of oil inside that engine right now, so I'm gonna drain out a little over 1L and see how she does. That sound sane & responsible?

[bassman]

Are you checking the oil level while bike is on the side stand or when bike is off the side stand and vertical which is I believe is the correct way?

[h13man]

Always check with bike upright and the dipstick unscrewed. 4.0 qts. with the larger filter as mentioned. Larger filter, #3323 Bosch is my go to filter.

[DatBoi69YOLO]

Always check with bike upright and the dipstick unscrewed. 4.0 qts. with the larger filter as mentioned. Larger filter, #3323 Bosch is my go to filter.

this is it-- this is the answer. I was checking the oil level while it was on the sidestand, causing it to slosh to one side and give me a bad reading.

Thanks a lot! I guess I doesn't haz a samrt.

[DatBoi69YOLO]

Are you checking the oil level while bike is on the side stand or when bike is off the side stand and vertical which is I believe is the correct way?

yep that was it.

[Skinhead]

Always check with bike upright and the dipstick unscrewed. 4.0 qts. with the larger filter as mentioned. Larger filter, #3323 Bosch is my go to filter.

this is it-- this is the answer. I was checking the oil level while it was on the sidestand, causing it to slosh to one side and give me a bad reading.

Thanks a lot! I guess I doesn't haz a samrt.

DUH!

[WintrSol]

Lucky you didn't get hydro-locked. That much oil will seep past the rings, slowly filling the combustion chamber. At the least, you probably got a lot of smoke on the left side after starting.

[DatBoi69YOLO]

Lucky you didn't get hydro-locked. That much oil will seep past the rings, slowly filling the combustion chamber. At the least, you probably got a lot of smoke on the left side after starting.

not at all.
Very surprisingly -- not a damn thing happened.

Thanks to Soichiro Honda. Why in the world "sidestand vs upright" makes a >1L difference in oil level reading is beyond me, but on the other hand, Honda-san designed an engine that tolerated my mistake without so much as a blink.

Thanks buddy

[DatBoi69YOLO]

My Tru-Tel thermostat dipstick does not show when the oil is full.

Is your Tru-Tel shorter than your OEM stick?

[98valk]

My Tru-Tel thermostat dipstick does not show when the oil is full.

Is your Tru-Tel shorter than your OEM stick?

Tel-Tru is exact size as OEM, just very hard to read the oil level esp with new oil.

https://www.teltru.com/product/441/kit-dk225-for-honda-valkyrie-includes-2-dial-gt225-adapter-and-o-rings

Chappa'ai  for all your journeys.

[WintrSol]

When I got after-market dipsticks (yes, plural, one chrome and one with a temp gauge) I suspected the marking on the chrome one was off, and the other had no marks. I still had the original, so measured from from where it stops in the case to the markings, and transferred the marks to the others.

BTW, tilt when on the side stand seems to be different on every one of these bikes, and mine was very much so. Before I read the user manual, I filled to the upper mark on the dipstick, and got lots of smoke on the LH side. Once I found the problem, I loosened the filter and drained some out.
So, as usual, YMMV.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Contrast this to the C14 motor (and a lot of similar designs) which use a sight glass and require the bike to be on the center stand for a proper check.

Everyone does it differently.

[Jess from VA]

When I got after-market dipsticks (yes, plural, one chrome and one with a temp gauge) I suspected the marking on the chrome one was off, and the other had no marks. I still had the original, so measured from from where it stops in the case to the markings, and transferred the marks to the others.

BTW, tilt when on the side stand seems to be different on every one of these bikes, and mine was very much so. Before I read the user manual, I filled to the upper mark on the dipstick, and got lots of smoke on the LH side. Once I found the problem, I loosened the filter and drained some out.
So, as usual, YMMV.

I have two Tel Tru's for temperature, one Show Chrome in the parts bin, and two OE dips.  I check oil with the OEs only.  Rarely.  4quarts every time (but I lean the hot bike way over and get out every drop).

My two identical 99 Interstates lean (very) differently.  When I switch to the one that leans more, I think I forgot to put down the stand at all.  No bent crossmember stand mount either.

[da prez]

  As for not being able to see the oil in some dipsticks , use a very coarse sand paper and rough the area of the oil level.

                                       da prez

       send $49.95 in small bills for the tech info

[Willow]

  As for not being able to see the oil in some dipsticks , use a very coarse sand paper and rough the area of the oil level.

                                       da prez

       send $49.95 in small bills for the tech info  

I lay the stick against a paper towel (or wipe) to see where the oil is on the stick.

I can't afford the tech info.   

[da prez]

  Carl , I take gift cards.

[Willow]

  Carl , I take gift cards.

LOL!  Another mismatch.  I don't give them.   

[Chrisj CMA]

I'll say this again. It doesn't matter what type of dipstick you have or how you prefer to check the oil. Side stand center stand vertical....whatever.

Do a good drain. Put in 4 qts and wherever the oil lands on your dipstick is the correct place. Check it the same way every time and look for it to be at the same place.

I check mine on the side stand with the stick screwed in. It gets a quarter inch of oil on the stick. So I know it's good

[Grey wolf oz]

It's the only logical conclusion.

> I check my Haynes manual, which says that an oil & filter change should require about 3.7L of new oil and a totally new, rebuilt, dry engine should take about 4.3L
> ok cool. I ride the bike around, drain the oil and replace the filter.
> about 2L of oil comes out— I guess the guy before me ran it a little dry.
> I did NOT check the oil level before draining... probably should have.
> let drain overnight.
> next day I put in 3.5L of oil, ride the bike around a bit, park, let drain, and check: nothing.
> I put in a little bit more, and repeat. Dipstick is bone dry.
> gradually repeat this over a couple days: put in a little oil, run engine for a bit, park it. And check.

Right now there are 5L of oil in that bike and just the tip of the dipstick comes up wet.

There is no leaking and no exhaust smell to indicate burning oil.

Therefore, I conclude that there must be a stargate inside my engine somewhere. It's linked to a non-local region of spacetime either in this universe or another dimension, and every time i put in oil, it dumps on some alien's head somewhere.

Hopefully the gate only works one way.

I am assuming that you are standing the bike up right while sitting on it to check your oil level ?

The dip stick is on the high side of the donk,

Also i always come up a little short on the oil drain out ,