I am getting mixed messages on how to properly check the engine oil level...

This is how I currently do it:

make sure the bike is off any stands
sit on the bike
screw the lid in and unscrew it

Whatever level is displayed is the proper engine oil level

is this the proper way?

if I don't screw the lid in, the oil doesn't even show up! I'm scared there isnt enough in

The lid isn't supposed to be screwed in, and if memory serves me correctly (w/o looking) I believe the bike is supposed to be on the side stand

hmm? shouldn't the bike be upright.. the position which it would be riding in.

I honestly can't remember....  I know its part of the "daily check list" in my manual, but between that and my Ninja (which uses a watch glass) I can't remember exactly which position its supposed to be in. 

Quote from: lucky4034 on September 06, 2011, 08:58:28 AM
The lid isn't supposed to be screwed in, and if memory serves me correctly (w/o looking) I believe the bike is supposed to be on the side stand

If the bike is on it's side stand you'll overfill the oil. By a gallon.


The proper technique is to check it with the bike being suspended straight up and down (NOT ON THE CENTER STAND). Confirmed here. It's fairly obvious why you do this. The dipstick can't reach where the oil sits when it's on it's side stand, but the oil pump can. With the bike suspended upright, you see what the oil pump does. I usually have the closest person to me hold the bike while I do it. That way I can look directly at the oil dipstick without running the risk of having (depending on the time) scalding oil rubbed on my jeans. That being said, don't screw it in either. You stand the chances of getting a misread off it if you do.

Under no circumstance should you fill up your bike based on it's side stand reading. You will damage it.

Yup

Thanks Doc

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=41989.msg471662#msg471662

arg, which means my bike is lacking oil right now... and I rode it in... I have no choice to ride it back home

When I screw it in, it is at the half way mark... when  I don't screw it in, it doesn't even show up.

It's weird since I put in 2.5L and the engine says it only requires 2.6L

So is it supposed to be on the centre stand?

Quote from: shibbi3 on September 06, 2011, 09:17:18 AM
arg, which means my bike is lacking oil right now... and I rode it in... I have no choice to ride it back home

When I screw it in, it is at the half way mark... when  I don't screw it in, it doesn't even show up.

It's weird since I put in 2.5L and the engine says it only requires 2.6L

So is it supposed to be on the centre stand?

Did you change the filter?

I did yes...

Just read the site, looks like I need 2.9 L

As per my Owners Manual page 6-10...

1: Hold the motorcycle vertically Without the center stand
2: The oil filler cap threads are Not run in but Touching the filler hole upper edge

Nothing about warming the oil first.

My routine is...

From left side, stand bike vertical while leaning over the seat - wait a minute for oil to Level.
Unscrew cap and wipe clean
Place cap back and rest it on the hole without screwing in
Remove cap and take reading - repeat three times to make sure reading is the same

Michael

Quote from: shibbi3 on September 06, 2011, 09:17:18 AM
arg, which means my bike is lacking oil right now... and I rode it in... I have no choice to ride it back home

When I screw it in, it is at the half way mark... when  I don't screw it in, it doesn't even show up.

It's weird since I put in 2.5L and the engine says it only requires 2.6L

So is it supposed to be on the centre stand?

It is not supposed to be on the center stand. The reason being is that the bike's not "centered" (if you haven't noticed) on it's center stand and the oil will move one way or another based on the weight on the bikes rear/front.

In order to do it properly you should have someone hold it level without any stands while you check the oil.

A GS500 engine takes 2.6L without changing the filter, and 2.9L with a filter change. The wiki details this, but no one really knows why. It's good food for thought though.


That being said I follow as I said in my last post, and take between 3-5 readings to get a solid average of where it's at. You can't afford to be wrong on a bike who's only mechanism of cooling is completely reliant on how much/how little oil you choose to put in.

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on September 06, 2011, 09:05:10 AM


If the bike is on it's side stand you'll overfill the oil. By a gallon

Under no circumstance should you fill up your bike based on it's side stand reading. You will damage it.

A gallon.....you mean 8 FULL FOOKING PINTS?? are you being serious???

Jezzzus H tapdancing Christ.....whats going on in this forum lately. Is there some secret contest that I dont know about where the person who talks the most BS wins??? 

My old 97 Owners Manual says:

1. Place the motorcycle on level ground on the centerstand.
2. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a few minutes.
3. Stop the engine and wait approximately  one minute.
4. Check the oil level.  The oil filler cap threads should not be run in but
    just touching the filler hole upper edge.

My 02 came slightly used without an OM.

My way copied from a recent post of mine:

I've been checking my oil in 4 Hondas and 2 GS500s the same way for 27 years and 390k miles.  I check it in the morning cold after it has sat on the centerstand overnight.  I just unscrew and pull the dipstick and check it.  If it's low I top it up before heading out to ride.

Way back years ago when my CB750K began to use a lot of oil I became annoyed with the conventional method of checking it hot, it was very hot to handle and as it sat there if you would check it at different times after shutting it down you would get different results.  If I checked it after 4 minutes it would show more oil than after 2 minutes for example, hardly an accurate way of doing things.  So when I got home I pulled it in, shut it down, and checked it hot on the centerstand after a few minutes and then left it until morning and checked it again in the morning cold.  The hot reading was done wiping the dipstick off and putting it in without screwing it in and the cold morning reading was just unscrewing it and pulling and reading it.  Seemed to me the amount it screwed in was about equal to the difference between the hot and cold oil volume.  Got the same reading close enough that way repeated times.  What could be easier.

Checking the level on a GS500 is not rocket science, it's closer to tractor science.

Quote from: sledge on September 06, 2011, 12:33:29 PM

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on September 06, 2011, 09:05:10 AM


If the bike is on it's side stand you'll overfill the oil. By a gallon

Under no circumstance should you fill up your bike based on it's side stand reading. You will damage it.

A gallon.....you mean 8 FULL FOOKING PINTS?? are you being serious???

Jezzzus H tapdancing Christ.....whats going on in this forum lately. Is there some secret contest that I dont know about where the person who talks the most BS wins??? 

The actual contest is to see how many people we can get to go off the deep end on something that is obviously written for dramatic effect. So far, I'm winning! 

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on September 06, 2011, 12:55:04 PM

Quote from: sledge on September 06, 2011, 12:33:29 PM

Quote from: Dr.McNinja on September 06, 2011, 09:05:10 AM


If the bike is on it's side stand you'll overfill the oil. By a gallon

Under no circumstance should you fill up your bike based on it's side stand reading. You will damage it.

A gallon.....you mean 8 FULL FOOKING PINTS?? are you being serious???

Jezzzus H tapdancing Christ.....whats going on in this forum lately. Is there some secret contest that I dont know about where the person who talks the most BS wins??? 

The actual contest is to see how many people we can get to go off the deep end on something that is obviously written for dramatic effect. So far, I'm winning! 

Nah.... you aint winning. You might convince the newbies that you know what you are talking about and give your ego a boost but you wont convince  the old hands........they will just laugh at you 

Great help. Thanks all.