Oil level went to lower level?

[mattmcuomo@yahoo.com]

2900 miles on my bike, changed oil at 600 miles. Level has been at upper level, checked today and it's at lower level? No leaks! Where did it go?

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[the Ferret]

Describe more accurately " oil has been at upper level" . When was the last time you checked it that it was at the upper level.

Were the two measurements taken in the exact same way at the exact same spot? ( on centerstand, on left side of garage facing in, before going on a ride for example)

Doesn't take a lot of leaning to get different readings.

When a bike is new some oil usage is to be expected while the valves and rings are seating ( my theory on why they all come over filled from the factory) but after 600 miles service there shouldn't be much flucuation in oil level.

Only 2 ways for oil to get out, leak out, or burn out. If there are no puddles on the floor, it's not leaking out, so....

And while I'm at it anywhere bewtween the upper and lower mark is acceptable. If it were me, I'd check it according to the manual, if low add a couple ounces, remember where and how I measured it, and check it again before the next oil change.

[mattmcuomo@yahoo.com]

Well, I check it at home in garage, level on center stand, and at work in parking lot, darn close to level on center stand. It could be different in the parking lot I suppose. Last time was I'm garage, this time in parking lot. I might be a little paranoid.... I just don't have any to put in right now. I'll get some on my way home just to be safe. Thanks.

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[dave]

Your oil didn't go anywhere, it's still in the engine, or oil filter, or oil cooler. I posted a thread about checking my oil a while back. To recap: Prior to a 150 mile ride my oil level was right up to the top line in the sight glass. After the ride the bike sat in my garage overnight, and I checked the oil the next morning before my next ride and it was down to the lower level. I know all about how to accurately check my oil so we won't go there. I started the engine and let it idle for a few minutes before shutting it down to recheck the level. After waiting a few minutes a second inspection revealed the level was indeed at the lower line in the sight glass, so I added approximately 6 fluid ounces to bring the level up to the upper mark. I put about 100 miles on the bike and rechecked the oil when I got home, and low and behold the level is so high the sight glass is completely covered. This over-filled condition remained until I did my next oil change, about 1,000 miles later, and it never lowered in the sight glass at all. So my conclusion is this: You can't depend on the sight glass for an accurate oil level inspection. Something on my bike was preventing all of the oil from flowing back into the crankcase so that an accurate measurement could be made. It is either being trapped in the oil cooler, or somewhere in the system, but it does not consistently flow back into the crankcase every time. One poster suggested this was related to a check valve in the oil filter.

[kmoney_imp]

My bikes uses about 3-500ml of oil between 6000km changes, so some consumption is normal. It's normal for the level to go down a bit and I wouldn't worry too much.

[mininsx_imp]

The engine burned it. It's still not broken in yet, and you can expect oil usage for several thousand miles. Mine has over 5,000 miles on it and it still uses a little.

[redbirds_imp]

Describe more accurately " oil has been at upper level" . When was the last time you checked it that it was at the upper level.

Were the two measurements taken in the exact same way at the exact same spot? ( on centerstand, on left side of garage facing in, before going on a ride for example)

Doesn't take a lot of leaning to get different readings.

When a bike is new some oil usage is to be expected while the valves and rings are seating ( my theory on why they all come over filled from the factory) but after 600 miles service there shouldn't be much flucuation in oil level.

Only 2 ways for oil to get out, leak out, or burn out. If there are no puddles on the floor, it's not leaking out, so....

And while I'm at it anywhere bewtween the upper and lower mark is acceptable. If it were me, I'd check it according to the manual, if low add a couple ounces, remember where and how I measured it, and check it again before the next oil change.

Very true, my '05 ST1300 used nearly a half quart of oil during initial break in, at around 2000 miles the oil usage stopped and would not use any measurable amount of oil between changes.