checking oil level ???? newbie.

[deck95gs500e]

Hi all, do I have to put the bike on center stand to check the oil level?  can I just sit on the bike and straighten it?  Because I just did that but I don't get any oil at all on the dipstick.     Is the oil light is on when you have the key on the on position but not running?  mine stays on and doesn't go away until I start it.  thanks all.


Ok I got it on the center stand still no oil on the dipstick and when I screw it on all the way I only see the tip of dipstick coated with oil.
Do I need to start it up and warm up to flow the oil? Isn't just supposed to be like a car that you can check the oil level even cold. Now I'm afraid to even start it , thinking that I have no oil in the engine all this time I was riding  Only rode total of 40 miles on it since I bought it, do you guys think that I damage the engine?

[rjsjr]

Yes, you can check it on the centerstand, but if there is no oil on the dipstick when the bike is level, you are way low and need to add oil asap.  The oil light comes on as soon as the key is turned to on and until the engine is running properly.

[deck95gs500e]

What I mean was I check  it by uprighting the bike and sitting on it and there is no oil at dipstick at all,  can't  put it on a center stand by myself    maybe tomorrow with help.

[deck95gs500e]

Ok I got it on the center stand still no oil on the dipstick and when I screw it on all the way I only see the tip of dipstick coated with oil.
  Do I need to start it up and warm up to flow the oil?  Isn't just supposed to be like a car that you can check the oil level even cold.  Now I'm afraid to even start it , thinking that I have no oil in the engine all this  time I was riding  :x    Only rode total of 40 miles on it since I bought it, do you guys think that I damage the engine?

[TheGoodGuy]

you dont have to be on teh center stand... just sit upright.. unscrew the cap, clean the rod, put it back (do not screw itback on)..and check..

do it more than once.. if its below L then add, if its in the xxxx cross hatch add some..

add some more oil before riding.. the gs500 uses oil.

[pantablo]

From Clymers repair manual:
I warm the bike for a 2-3 minutes then let it sit so the oil drops back into the bottom of engine. I dont check it cold. Bike on centerstand and on level ground (but you can also sit on it to keep it upright-per owners manual), on level ground. Oil should be in the xxxx area between L and F marks. Do not overfill the oil (bad). If its below L add oil. If its in the xxxx area watch the oil level occasionally but you dont necessarily need to add oil. I've been told the amount of oil to get from L to F is one quart. Do not screw the dipstick in when checking-only touching the edges, do not thread it.


Hope this helps.
Check your oil level every 500 miles or so.

[JohNLA]

:x    Only rode total of 40 miles on it since I bought it, do you guys think that I damage the engine?

The GS holds a lot of oil for such a small engine. Since you had oil at the tip you were probably okay as long as you were not red lining the whole 40 miles. If you did any damage you will feel it in power loss. Or the engine seizes, completly.

[70 Cam Guy]

Where in the bay are you?  There are a few of us GSer's around.  I'm originally from Walnut Creek but I'm going to San Jose State right now.  The center stand is kinda tricky to get used to.  I couldn't do it by myself when I first bought the bike.

I wouldn't worry about your short ride.  The oil was low but not dangerously low as long as you weren't at 10 grand the whole way home.  I think that light will come on when you're really screwed lol

[chimivee]

It doesn't sound TOO bad - if there was oil on the tip of the dipstick, you were probably about 3/4 to a quart low (holds 3.1).  Just add some oil.  Run it a bit, then change the oil.

It shouldn't matter if you check it warm or cold, so long as you give the oil time to get to the bottom to get an accurate reading.

[deck95gs500e]

Im at Union city but I go to Beryessa area a lot.  Ok I'll add some oil until it is on the right level and maybe do a oil change after.  thanks all again.

[scratch]

Add half a quart of oil, run it for couple minutes, check the level and add if needed. I have found little difference when checking the oil either on the centerstand or sitting on the bike, just don't screw in the cap when checking the level, screw it in when your done. Also, I always check the level once a week, about an hour after I get home from work, so the dipstick isn't so hot to the touch.

[Nwhiteside]

My dipstick is somewhat gold coloured and I'm finding it near impossible to actually see where the oil level is on it -- as there isn't enough contrast between the oil colour and the stick colour....arg

Any tips?

[jacob_ns]

Look at it on an angle/in profile and you'll see a definitive transition from oil to no oil on the stick.

[mister]

deck95gs500e, remember.... Do NOT screw the oil cap in to take an oil reading. Do it this way...

- Unscrew cap
- wipe stick clean
- place stick back in but just let cap rest on top (do NOT screw it back in)
- remove cap and take reading
- if low, add some oil. Let sit for a minute, then take another reading (there is No Set Amount to add like a quart or anything, just add a Small Amount and take another reading)
- if oil is between the marks you have enough oil - now screw cap back in and check again in a few days to a week

On a side note, obviously the Previous Owner was slack with stuff. So it would be best if you.... change the oil and filter, replace the spark plugs and check the chain Thoroughly and make sure you lube it.

Michael

[Erika]

I sometimes ride it around for a few minutes to get it warm (more fun) and then check the oil while I'm still seated on the bike.

I just bought a used GS500E and the first thing I wanted to do was change the oil and filter because I had a feeling the PO never did. I checked out the "how to" section on this site and there were a few really good tips. For example, he suggests to loosen the lower bolt first on the filter cap. If I hadn't read that I probably would've gotten oil all over the place... there's a lot of oil in there even after draining everything out the bottom.

http://gstwin.com/oil_change.htm

Also, I suggest getting the gasket for the oil drain plug on the bottom (it's a crush washer), the O ring gasket for the oil filter cap, and some anti-seize (to make it easier next time you do it). The PO must've put my oil drain plug on with an impact wrench or something... the washer was totally crushed beyond re-using and it was a pain to get off. Also, the O ring for the oil filter cap kept slipping out when I tried to put it back on... I used a little gear grease (after I lightly coated with it with oil) to make it stick long enough to put back on. BikeBandit.com has all the OEM filters and gaskets and stuff you would need.

[jcroom]

A little tip for getting it on the center stand, instead of grabbing the handle bar on the back grab onto the luggage bars and pull back. much easier for me that way...

[Booker72]

Firstly, well done for asking the question before it turned expensive (not that I think you have any problems yet.)

When I bought my first bike 15 years ago (Honda '79 CB250T), I checked the oil level that day and rode it at that level for months.  Then it lost a little power and before I could ask the oil quesiton - it seized and cost me a months wages on a full rebore.  Not fun.  (Not to mention the bike was a lemon and 12 months later I got rid of it and it took 15 years for me to see the light again and get a 2010 GS500.)

[XLAR8]

cars and bike NEED TO BE AT OPERATING TEMP then left to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before you check the oil, teaching my brother who is going for his car licence to do basic fluid checks did  the same thing on my GS.

mine was just under the low mark but if you warmed it up and let it sit for 15 minutes then checked it was half way. if i had a dollar for every person (mostly the female verity) that come into the yard with a car on a tow truck drowning in oil cause they checked it cold then filled it up id be a rich man (and there was a few that put petrol into diesel engines  )

[mister]

cars and bike NEED TO BE AT OPERATING TEMP then left to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before you check the oil, teaching my brother who is going for his car licence to do basic fluid checks did  the same thing on my GS.

mine was just under the low mark but if you warmed it up and let it sit for 15 minutes then checked it was half way. if i had a dollar for every person (mostly the female verity) that come into the yard with a car on a tow truck drowning in oil cause they checked it cold then filled it up id be a rich man (and there was a few that put petrol into diesel engines  )

Thing is, with the GS the instructions are already safety oriented. The oil should be Between the L and F, not at F. Check BEFORE use of the motorcycle. 6-10 of the owner's manual. If you have the oil between the L and F as checked Before you ride, you will be fine.

Michael