Time for a real noob question sorry, but I've never had a bike with an oil reservoir in the frame before.

I have hell checking the oil on my 2002 XT600E (4PT model) every time.

I took it for a good 20 minute ride, removed the plastic cover, started the engine again for 10 seconds, let the bike stand for 2 minutes, removed and wiped the dipstick, bike upright on a level surface with no weight on it, and checked the level without screwing in the dipstick. It was on the round part of the dipstick about 20-25mm above the max mark. Bugger, not having checked it for a while I was expecting to find it too low!

Syringe and rubber tube, remove 100ml of oil, refit dipstick, start engine for 10 seconds, stand for two minutes, check level. The level on the dipstick hasn't moved.

Repeat the process several times until I've removed 400ml of oil and still showing exactly the same place on the dipstick after 2 minutes, so I stop believing it and let it stand for a bit longer with the dipstick removed. After 3 minutes it's gone down by another 5mm, after 5 minutes another 10mm, after 10 minutes it's where it should be on the full mark.

I have no idea if I have the right amount of oil in my bike or not. I've taken out 400ml of oil, but checking by the instructions in the owners manual, 10 seconds running engine, two minutes standing before removing the dipstick, the level on the dipstick is still 20-25mm too high, and hasn't gone down at all.

If I were to unscrew the dipstick with the engine running, it would squirt out oil, don't know if this is normal to have pressure here or not.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

As long as you have more oil than needed, the excess oil is gonna be thrown away so don't worry!

Being a dry sump setup, I dont think its an issue to be over filled. its FAR better than having too little oil.

Cool, how does that work then, is there an overflow of something?

I read on here that if overfilled it ends up in the airbox?

Ralph,
you're doing it right except for waiting 2 minutes before dipping it.
You have to dip it straight away after switching the engine off.
Bob

__________________
Remember that Assumption is the mother of all f**k-ups.

So the manual is nonsense then? Wouldn't be the first time

Crack Kills!

You can almost never really overfillt he engine. Evene with 400ml extra, you're only over by a good 10%

The engine will just use it, or poor a small amount of it, to the airfilterbox.

It IS really hard to check oil on theese bikes. I take it for a goood spin, let the engine get nice and warm, and then check right when i get home. If you want, you can also try to check it when the oil has "settled" and see if theres a big difference.

Theres a valve in the left sidecover that should prevent the oil from draining down into the engine, if that doesn't seal up 100% you'll have a heck of a time to check the oil.

You'll get by, we all did

OK, I'll check it immediately when hot and see where it is. If It's still over I'll stop worrying about it.

So my valve in the left sidecover is not working properly then? Because my level drops the longer the bike has been standing. Is oil draining back down into the engine anything to worry about?

I made the mistake when I had my 4PT. I filled to the full level when cold and it dumped tons into the airfilter box and ran VERY badly! Once I'd dumped the excess and ran it for a while it constantly checking it through being paranoid, it finally settled. When starting it in the morning I KNEW there was oil in it even though it didn't show on the dipstick as it does settle back down into the engine (there was nothing wrong with it)and without a very obvious puddle below the bike I knew I'd be good to run it for a mile or two to the fuel stop where I could check. I also permenantly removed the plastic cover and stored it away for ease of access. I did 20,000+ kms on it and it's still running in Africa with a new owner.

As mentioned above, check it when your at the petrol station without letting it settle. Turn off the ignition, whilst still on the bike check the level, then fill with fuel. I found this helps get a routine of checking it also and note the oil burn rate. Once your at an acceptable level it's possible to remove the oil cap without it pissing all over the place. If your not sure, I'd have the oil level at the halfway mark, when it's not too much and not too little until your fully happy to raise the level yourself.

Checking the airbox frequently for excess oil also is good practice and the oil drain pipe situated below.

Hope this helps.

P.s The manual is crap for checking the level, disregard and run for at least a mile and don't let it settle.

__________________
Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'

You're valve is probably fine, dont worry about it. The oil will often drain below the dipstick, the valve is defect when you cant measure the oil hot, because it istantly drains into the lover portion of the bike.

Sorry if the stament worried/confused you.

I bet you're just fine

[quote=-ralph-;297082]So the manual is nonsense then? Wouldn't be the first time
.
Yes, the manual is nonsense(probably incorrectly translated from Japanese into English).
Warming it up for 10 seconds is not long enough, should be at least 10 minutes of riding or a very fast idle.
Then check level straight away
Do a search on here and you will find many more posts with regard to the oil level checking procedure.
Bob

__________________
Remember that Assumption is the mother of all f**k-ups.

Thanks everybody. About removing 400ml, but the dipstick level not dropping, is there a maximum that the dipstick can possibly read, and I still haven't dropped below that, ie: I had more than 3.1 litres of oil in there?

Thanks

It seems your not sure exactly how much you have in there, so I'd drain the lot (after a warm up) into a container and remeasure what you put back in, less the amount for a NON OIL FILTER change. If you don't have a sump guard (Ali) on then it'll be an easy job and the you'll know for sure what you have in once and for all!! Remember there's two drain plugs, 1x frame, 1x engine.

IMO, You've spent ages on this, better to remeasure the whole lot again. It'll give you peace of mind!

__________________
Geoffshing

'Security is a product of one's own imagination, it does not exist in nature as a rule, life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'

oh I like what Geoff said!

Just like he said.. you should use a good measuring cup just to be sure!


Vando