08-26-2014, 02:46 PM
(08-26-2014, 10:26 AM)Dave_imp Wrote: I have learned not to trust the sight glass on my CB1100. Apparently the oil does not always flow back into the engine after turning it off at the same rate. I followed the instructions for checking the oil level in my owner's manual and I was shocked to discover the level was low (down to the lower level line) when I knew it was filled to the upper level line less than 200 miles earlier. I waited an additional 15 minutes to see if additional oil would drain into the engine (from the oil cooler?), but this never happened. I added enough oil to bring the level in the sight glass back up to the upper level line. After my next ride I rechecked the oil level (exactly as the manual defines), only to discover the lever is too high; the sight glass is completely covered. I haven't decided if it is worth draining the excess oil out or not yet.
If you added more than 100ml or so then drain it. Better a little low, but visible in the sight glass, than over-full. You should heed the owners manual. DO NOT OVERFILL.
"Wet-sumping", caused by an overfill, is not good for an engine. Oil level a little low just reduces the margin in the event of oil loss. There seems to be no reason to suspect your bike has an oil leak. So relax. Read The ferrets post. It's good. I think, through the plonk haze, that Cormanus, on our last road trip, may have checked the oil level on my bike in the ferret approved manner.
Cheers