Checking oil... pretty simple procedure, right?

[phire]

So, I was out making the final rounds tonight for complete winterization of the bike. Washed it, waxed it, changed oil(last week). So, I go to check the oil before I walk the bike back into the garage and like a newb the bike isn't on the centerstand. I'm sure at least one of you has been in this situation before... I already refilled with 2 quarts of fresh oil from the drain last week and so I go to check the oil and it's not even touching the dipstick! I'm like, weird wtf so I add about 1/4 quart... still same prob. Add another 1/4... same thing. I add the rest of the 1/2... barely touching the dipstick... So I fire up the bike for about a minute or two, let it sit for a few minutes... check the oil again... WTF?! Then I realize... hey, the bike aint up on the center stand! So I yank her up onto the center stand and it looks like I'm about a quart over full ! My newb question is... How will what I did tonight effect a GS500? I hope I didn't do any damage by running the bike for a couple minutes w/ an extra quart.

Oh, btw do you guys check your oil with the dipstick screwed all the way in and then screw it back out? Or do you just stick it in and pull it out? (This could sound very perverted!) Anyways, hehe I went to put the dipstick back in after I fired up the bike (forgot to put it in before) and I hit something and it scared the poop out of me when it made a loud grind sound against the dipstick.  

[davipu]

so you don't screw it in, you just pull it out and wipe it clean and then set it on there and pull it back out.   you'll be fine cause your going to let it sit till next spring then when you pull it out you'r going to run it for  aweek and then change the oil to get all the junk out that has collected from sitting all winter.

[domas]

I got me i little bit confused here. The owners manual says the bike shouldn't be on it's centerstand. And tha Haynes manual says that it has to be on centerstand before checking oil level.

In both modes readings are very different so there must be a true way. So long i stick to the owners manual because it is more logical to me. I ride the bike without centerstand on so the oil should be checked in the same position as i ride? Right?

[davipu]

as long as the bike's level then the differences will be neglible

[JamesG]

Oil should be checked with the bike "level", either on the centerstand or held upright if you are coordinated.

The GS is pretty tolerant of oil level, so you didn't do any damage in that short a time. Long term you could pop seals and gunk up your airbox & filter. You would have to fill it to the top of the filler hole to risk hydralic locking the motor.

I would drain it and refill it with the recommended number of quarts. Call it an expensive lesson in attention to detail.
:mrgreen:
And do it before you put it away, you might forget it is overfilled come spring time.

[phire]

so the oil should be checked in the same position as i ride? Right?

Well you don't ride sideways constantly do you?

And besides, if I'm not mistaken, there's a pump that pumps the oil through the engine so when it's running it wouldn't matter. Also, the dipstick usually doesn't enter the crankcase at an angle to compensate for the angle of the bike on the sidestand so you'd want everything to be nice and level. Just the same way you wouldn't check your oil with your car's front end jacked up or up on ramps or something.

[rtcpenguin]

From what I understand, overfilling can cause some pretty nasty problems (that is, running the bike with too much oil). You can blow valve seals if your pressure is too high, so you're actually better off under-filling.

[phire]

From what I understand, overfilling can cause some pretty nasty problems (that is, running the bike with too much oil). You can blow valve seals if your pressure is too high, so you're actually better off under-filling.

Yeah, I wouldn't think about riding the bike with an extra quart of oil. I just fired it up and let it run for a couple of minutes to circulate the fresh oil before I put it up for the winter. Either way, I'll end up changing the oil again when spring time rolls around so I'm not too worried about it but you're probably right about being better off doing it now so just in case....

[mp183]

Should be checked on level ground off the center stand.
There is a slight difference of the stand and off the stand.
If you can remember the amount of the difference just compensate
for it and check on the center stand.

[phire]

Should be checked on level ground off the center stand.
There is a slight difference of the stand and off the stand.
If you can remember the amount of the difference just compensate
for it and check on the center stand.

Would probably show just a hair more full ON the center stand?

[Roadstergal]

*grumble*

http://gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=96564#96564

[JamesG]

Isn't there a thread about that too?

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22995

[Straymonolith]

You know, same thing happened to me on Sunday.
But I only added about 200mL.

[Roadstergal]

You know, same thing happened to me on Sunday.

You grumbled?  I do it all the time.

[Straymonolith]

Roadstergal
I get one *grumble* per month. Any more and they charge me extra.

Actualy I was talking about not seeing any oil on the dipstick. I had it on the sidestand, though.