Oil top up

[Viirin]

I've been hearing conflicting information about when to top up the oil so I thought I'd post to get the best answers

Should you add the oil when the bike is hot, warm or cold?

I know you'll get a different reading from the level depending on how much oil is still up in the engine but when is the best time to add it?

Vii

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Viirin

Should you add the oil when the bike is hot, warm or cold?

However the manual tells you to CHECK it, that is when it should be topped up.
IIRC, that would be WARM.
It really isn't THAT important as the difference is likely to be only a few CCs.

[blaine]

Originally Posted by Viirin

Should you add the oil when the bike is hot, warm or cold?



Vii

When you check the oil is the issue.The oil should be checked and added before start up at the start of the day,for a accurate reading.
:2tup:

[jonathan180iq]

You can't properly check oil level until the engine has cooled and all the oil has drained back into the sump.

And without a proper oil level check, you can't know how much to add, right?

[bonehead]

Originally Posted by jonathan180iq

You can't properly check oil level until the engine has cooled and all the oil has drained back into the sump.

And without a proper oil level check, you can't know how much to add, right?

:plus1:

[Water Warrior 2]

Originally Posted by bonehead

:plus1:

Makes the most sense to me so that is what I do with both bikes. Also, for the newbies, the bike must be upright not on the side stand. My solution is to sit on the bike holding it upright and use a mirror on a stick type tool. Easily available at all auto parts stores and a cheap tool to add the the tool box.

[jonathan180iq]

Originally Posted by Water Warrior

Makes the most sense to me so that is what I do with both bikes. Also, for the newbies, the bike must be upright not on the side stand. My solution is to sit on the bike holding it upright and use a mirror on a stick type tool. Easily available at all auto parts stores and a cheap tool to add the the tool box.

:plus1:

[alantf]

As a rule of thumb, before I start up for the first time each day, I stand at the opposite side to the side stand, get hold of the handlebar, & pull the bike upright, momentarily. If I see the oil go up to the top of the glass, I know it's o.k.

[jonathan180iq]

I guess making a check of the oil part of your routine isn't a bad thing, but every single day is a little overkill, don't you think?

If you're burning that much oil from one day to the next, then you've got bigger problems than simply needing to top up evry now and then

I usually checked every couple of weeks.

[music man]

Originally Posted by alantf

As a rule of thumb, before I start up for the first time each day, I stand at the opposite side to the side stand, get hold of the handlebar, & pull the bike upright, momentarily. If I see the oil go up to the top of the glass, I know it's o.k.

I used to do that same thing to my GZ, (not every day though), but my current bike is a bit more heavy and I don't like doing it that way because it feels like i could lose control of it.