Hello everyone,

After taking forever to get my parts I finally changed my oil for the first time.

I put in a oil filter as well.

When I put in the new oil I put in the recommended 3 liters out of a 4 liter jug, but when I measured the oil (on the centerstand) it is reading a little high.  About up to the middle of the F on the dipstick.

I did not ride the bike, but I just warmed it up to checked the oil level.  Is it possible the oil has not completely circulated throughout the bike because it has a new filter?  Am I being overly worried? 

What do you suggest I do?

Crank that beast up and let it idle for a minute, then turn it off and check your oil level.

Do you mean it's halfway up the letter "F" itself? Do you have a picture? Anyways, it sounds like you may hve put in a little much; my owner's manual says 2.9 L are required when changing the filter.

I'd say you're probably OK, but to be safe you may want to drain a little out. I'm not sure if you could pump it out the filler hole? Otherwise, drain some into a clean container and pour it back in (minus the extra 100 mL).

Yup... up the actual F stamped on the dipstick.

I let it idle for a couple minutes after adding the oil and then checked the level.  Then I checked the level again about half an hour later and it was the same. 

Would actually riding make a difference?  But I don't necessarilly want to take any chances.  I want your guys' advice first.

beRTo:  I was thinking of just draining and then readding like you suggested.  I might just do that I'll see, but I don't want to if I have too.

What happens if there is too much oil?

Dude you will be okay if its only half way up the F on the dipstick. You put a little extra in, and most likely it will burn off in a few hundred miles anyway. Again this is assuming you are checking it correctly.

1. Must be on centerstand or bike is completely upright
2. Put the dipstick in until it touches the side covers, no need to screw it in or anything.
3. Pull out and take reading

If it will help any, see [THIS OLD POST] about different ways in measuring the oil level ... and the next 2 or 3 posts about why the level seems to be too high in the photos, and what I did about it.  (Nothing.)

I had the same issue when changing oil & filter a few weeks ago.
As per the manual's procedure, I poured in exactly 2.9 litres of oil.
And oddly enough, my level reading is a bit high (reaches the F letter).
...I adopted Kerry's method and will wait for that little oil to burn off.

Don't forget the value of an old turkey baster + 1/4" tubing. You can pull a good bit of oil out without having to use a wrench from the oil fill hole with the baster.

I like to keep my level in the cross hatch, I check it sitting on the bike, before and after it's warm, at EVERY gas fillup.

I put 3 quarts of oil in every oil change with or without a filter change. 

3 quarts = 2.84 liters   (3.7854 liters/US gal)

OM calls for 3.1 US qt with filter change and 2.7 US qt w/o filter.  Has worked for me for over 130,000 GS500/E miles so far.  If I fussed about that much oil over full I'd still be breaking in the 97 GS.   

Only thing I've ever noticed with a little overfill is that the GS can be a bit hard to shift into neutral when hot with too much oil but it's quickly back to normal.  No problem.  This hard to shift to neutral with oil overfill when hot has been reported by others here and discussed before.  I know it's impossible for a bit too much oil to affect shifting, but it does.

Couldn't remember where that F mark was so I borrowed Kerry's pic:

yup, the oil level is like it is in the picture, but only a little bit further up the F.

I am going to ride the bike around a little and let the oil do its thing.

I'll see how it feels after that.  I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to damage the bike.

P.S.  This was my first oil change and I actually had some fun working on the bike myself 

Quote from: myfirstluv on February 11, 2008, 12:03:06 PMThis was my first oil change and I actually had some fun working on the bike myself 

Cool!    Now that you've "gotten your hands dirty", it will be easier to convince yourself that you really CAN do this wrenching thing ... especially on a GS500. 

Oh yea ... 1/2 up the F ... whoooo ... shop the presses ... Then what happened   ...
Ride it for like 300 miles and it would ahve burnt it up and more, you'll be good then  .
Cool.
Srinath.

Quote from: gsJack on February 11, 2008, 10:13:09 AM
I put 3 quarts of oil in every oil change with or without a filter change. 

3 quarts = 2.84 liters   (3.7854 liters/US gal)

OM calls for 3.1 US qt with filter change and 2.7 US qt w/o filter.

Speaking of which ... did we ever resolve what this number stamped into the case might refer to?

My owner's manual quotes 2600 mL as the required oil quantity when the oil filter is not being replaced.

As mentioned in a previous post, the manual states 2900 mL if the oil filter is being replaced.

Ah-so!  In other words, "When in doubt, check the owner's manual"?  Sigh....

Talking of Mr Suzuki's little blue book, I think it says check the level without using stand, this comes close to making it a two man job but probably gets a truer result, having said that I used to do mine on the centre stand.

Quote from: Cal Price on February 11, 2008, 03:19:59 PM
Talking of Mr Suzuki's little blue book, I think it says check the level without using stand, this comes close to making it a two man job but probably gets a truer result, having said that I used to do mine on the centre stand.

unless you want to risk a tip over it is definatley a two man job

Quote from: frankieG on February 11, 2008, 03:53:43 PM

Quote from: Cal Price on February 11, 2008, 03:19:59 PM
Talking of Mr Suzuki's little blue book, I think it says check the level without using stand, this comes close to making it a two man job but probably gets a truer result, having said that I used to do mine on the centre stand.

unless you want to risk a tip over it is definatley a two man job

Not really, I just stand the bike up for a few moments, lean it back on the sidestand, and then pull the dipstick and check it.  The oil doesn't drain from the dipstick that quickly.

What little blue book are you talking about?  I didn't get a Owners Manual when I bought my 02 GS slightly used but I still have the one that came with my 97 GS and it's yellow.

Not only is it yellow but it also knows how to check oil.     Under Oil Level Check step 1 says:

1) Place the motorcycle on level ground on the center stand.

Actually I usually just check oil in the morning on the centerstand when cold.  You get a better reading cold, hot reading varies with how long you wait after shutting off to check.  If I remember it's time to check it on my way home I just park it on the ctr stand for the night as a reminder and check it in the morning before starting up.

I've found the oil level checked cold by unscrewing the dipstick from full in is about the same as checking it hot just touching the threads.

i know i have mentioned this before but i will repeat it.  i have noticed that the gs will have difficulty finding neutral when the oil is down a bit.  this was true for my 99 02 and 04 bikes so i am assuming it may be true for all.  if you pull up to a light or a stop sign and you are in neutral then down shift to 1st and you have to rev the engine a bit then dimes to donuts you need a top up.  that is what i have found anyhow