OK, If I remember correctly the owners manual says in order to check the oil level, you shoud start the bike and let it run for a while, then shut it off and wait three minutes, then check the level.  (let me know if I have that right)

So, today I checked the oil level with the bike stone cold, had not run in 8 hours......level was 1/2 mark of the range on the dipstick.

Then I rode home, 1/2 hour, and let the bike sit for 3 minutes, checked the level........almost full!

I have noticed this before on the GS 500, and also on my Honda....

What gives?

I would figure that the oil level would be the highest if the bike sat for a long time, all the oil should drain down to the sump....


any ideas.... comments??

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Expansion from heat?

Quote from: offcamber on July 23, 2010, 06:31:45 PM
Expansion from heat?

Hey, I just thought of that too........sounds like a good explaination.........

I do know that in airplanes the gas in the wing tanks will expand big time as it gets hotter.........guys fill the tanks to the brim in the morning, and by the afternoon, fuel is spilling out of the overflow tubes.....

I guess oil will expand too..........room temperature vs engine operation temp is quite a bit.......

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Quote from: twocool on July 23, 2010, 06:49:57 PM

Quote from: offcamber on July 23, 2010, 06:31:45 PM
Expansion from heat?

Hey, I just thought of that too........sounds like a good explaination.........

I do know that in airplanes the gas in the wing tanks will expand big time as it gets hotter.........guys fill the tanks to the brim in the morning, and by the afternoon, fuel is spilling out of the overflow tubes.....

I guess oil will expand too..........room temperature vs engine operation temp is quite a bit.......

Cookie

Just did some quick internet research.........looks like engine oil can expand easily around 5% from room temp to operating temp.........

So with 3 qts, (thats about 100 oz).....would be 5 oz increase!   That is just about what showed on the dipstick


Some say the expansion in neglegable, while other claim 7% or even 13%


One guy says it is the dipstick geting longer due to the heat!!!


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