Oil window weirdness!

[aretoo]

So......

Sometimes my oil window shows exactly the amount of oil that I want to see, and sometimes it shows none at all.

I just changed the oil last week, friday.... put maybe 600 miles on the bike throughout the weekend. Oil level in the window has been 1/2 way between center and max fill marks. Leaving just a bit to burn off. 25,000 mile on the motor as of Sunday.

Today however, after the evening commute, I went to the local o'reilly's to pick up some Lexol for the leathers, and then hopped back on for the 2 block trip to my house.

Put the bike up on center stand as allways, set the timer for 10min, then went back out, and it shows NO OIL.

Thoughts?

Bike did sit for YEARS with no love, no riding. I have now put 1600 or so miles on him in the last 2 months.

[towerworker]

It's pretty difficult to get an accurate level unless you've run 20+ minutes and the engine is fully warmed up. A bunch of oil will "hide" in the tankside oil coolers when the engine is too cool to allow the oil cooling thermostat to open up and allow the oil back down into the crankcase.

I don't think I'd lose any sleep over it.

[DanH]

I observed the same thing with my bike and my riding buddy who is an expert mechanic said that the oil "hides out" if you put the bike directly on the center stand after riding. He said to check it by first riding some then put the bike on the side stand for 15 minutes, then on the center stand to check.

It works! I thought my oil was way too low, turns out not at all.

[towerworker]

I observed the same thing with my bike and my riding buddy who is an expert mechanic said that the oil "hides out" if you put the bike directly on the center stand after riding. He said to check it by first riding some then put the bike on the side stand for 15 minutes, then on the center stand to check.

It works! I thought my oil was way too low, turns out not at all.

That's a good point which others have pointed out before. It's never been an issue for me as I seldom use the center stand.

[kirby]

Even riding on very cool days (short distance) will cause the oil cooler thermo valves to shut off and trap oil in the coolers.
Its like when you change the oil and run the engine on the centerstand to check for leaks the level in the glass will sometimes drop to the bottom or even out of sight. If you change the oil at normal (hot) operating temp the oil will drain from the coolers 'cause the valves are open. Then with the room temp oil the valves will close and trap some oil which causes the level to drop.

In order to get a good check the engine needs to be up to normal operating temp so the thermo valves are open, then let it sit on the side stand for about 5 min then up on the center stand and check.

I say again..check at normal operating or "hot"..do not over fill.

Not good to run theses engines with too much oil..causes problems. Better to have it below the center than above.(sight glass)

mike

[milehighboater]

might as well throw in my two cents, I agree even on long rides my oil cooler lines will momentarily close when I am on the highway and it's below freezing. But I would go as far to assume that those thermostat valves are electronic and not hardwired to the battery. Therefore if you shut down the bike with the key switch before oil has had a chance to drain down you might be keeping the oil in the coils by killing power the the valves. Just guessing. I have had some weird oil levels and fixed it by killing the bike with the stop-start-stop switch and leaving the key on for a few seconds when I'm getting it on the center stand. Doesn't take long only about 10 seconds.

[kirby]

The thermostats in the oil cooling system on the 1150 are mechanical and if your riding in very cold conditions they will shut off, no electric connection. Just remember to check oil when the engine is hot meaning up to temp, on the center stand. It helps to speed things up to leave on side stand for about 5 to 10 min, however when I am traveling I will usually put the center stand down at the gas pump and after fueling check the level. It should be close to correct. (unless the temp is very cold, engine HAS to be hot enough for the thermostats to be open.)

If you get a good check and the engine has no history or symptoms of oil use (smoking, leak?) then don't become paranoid.

After 250K of riding and working on oilheads this is what I have found.

mike :-)