How long after a ride before you can check oil

[draketrumpet]

So, I went on my longest ride today, 80 miles round trip, mostly on the slab. Got back and was just checking over things to make sure nothing was seriously wrong after the trip, and it's been almost an hour and I cant see any oil in the window. How long does it take that stuff to settle? If it's relevant, I have mobile1 15w50 synthetic. I have checked the level fairly regularly and had never noticed it drop at all really. Do I maybe just burn/leak oil at high speed/temps? If so, am I looking at a complete gasket rebuild throughout the engine to fix it?

TIA

[slow mo]

hi drake

is your bike on the side stand??

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Dale......

The oil should be visible in the sight glass almost as soon as you turn off the engine.

I am not a big fan of synthetics in these older engines. Synthetics have a tendancy to find a place to leak from and are consumed easily with the wider tolerances.

These engines were designed to run on good old dino oil and without all the additives that can cause clutch slippage and such.

I personally use 20w-50 Castrol 4t motocycle oil and find it works very well. Still at higher RPMs you will use a little oil. Particularly if your engine has been sitting for a while.

Be certain you are checking it while the bike is sitting straight up and level.

On the center stand if you have one.

[draketrumpet]

Yep, she's on the center stand. I'll check again a little later and fill to appropriate levels with the .5 quart I have left.

regarding the finding places to hide and take a leak...I hadn't heard that about synthetic oils before, but I've had no clutch problems.

Anyone think anything would go seriously wrong by mixing oils? If it does leak so much at high speeds, I'll throw some cheaper dino oil in my bags when I take the trip to MoM and top off with that.

Thanks.

[gonzo]

oil

IMHO I would not mix oils. I mixed quakerstate and pensoil in an ole car and it gummed all the lifters up. just sayin, I'm just a back yard fiddiler.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Yep....he's right about mixing synthetic and dino.

Not a good idea.

[Geezer]

IMHO I would not mix oils. I mixed quakerstate and pensoil in an ole car and it gummed all the lifters up. just sayin, I'm just a back yard fiddiler.

I wouldn't use either of those brands in anything more important than a lawnmower.

Geezer

[WMarshy]

For what its worth...

I alwasy check mine before start up when dead cold to makre sure it has some in it then check it when its hot about a min after I shut it off. It shouldnt take very long for it to drain back down. Mine is alwasy keept at the top line. Ive never been on a ride where it was full before take off and then realized it needed some, being either at the botom line or couldnt see any in the window. If yours is using that much you have a problem on you hands! One thing to watch out for is I noticed the new O-ring that comes in the filters dont seal very well. I reuse my original one and throw the spare/new one in this bikes tool box just in case. Once, I put the new seal in and had a probem getting it to seal well, I had to torque'r down good, more than I thought it should take. Good thing I did a little test ride in the drive way to let it warm up and check for leaks, I would'a had engine failure shortly as it was leaking at that seal.

[draketrumpet]

Thanks guys. I guess the big thing that's got me is I've ridden it hot before, just not this long this fast. I would have thought the filter casing seal would've leaked before now, unless somehow these higher temps were just too much for it. I'll fill up and keep an eye on it for the time being.

[Elevener]

My bike uses oil. Doesnt smoke and it runs great. Guy behind me says it stinks. No puddles anywhere. I check before I start.....everytime.

[CatatonicBug]

Try leaving it on the side stand, but slowly tilt it to the RIGHT and watch the sight glass, just to see if you can see any oil appear in the window. If you can't, add oil until you can, and look closely for an oil leak somewhere.

If you over-fill it, use a turkey baster to suck the extra oil out through the fill hole.

[Gyrogearloose]

I know, I really sound stupid here, but.....when I first got my bike, I couldn't see any oil in the glass, so I started adding oil. "Hmmm", after quite a bit, something told me to recheck my motive for adding. As it turned out, it was already overfilled. WAY overfilled. You might check to see that you're not looking THRU oil in an already full glass. Now that I've said it, I still sound stupid.

[lakecountrydave]

You should be able to see the oil right away after you shut down the engine. Oil is more viscous when it is hot. You can still buy a dip stick for these machines or simply make one.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72

[draketrumpet]

I thought those were only for the middle gear and final drive.
No, I am definitely not looking through oil. I guess I just burn a bit of oil at high speeds, so I'll have to keep an eye on that until I get around to rebuilding the engine....that sounds intimidating.

[CatatonicBug]

You should be able to see the oil right away after you shut down the engine. Oil is more viscous when it is hot. You can still buy a dip stick for these machines or simply make one.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72

That dip-stick is only for the middle and final drive. There is no dip stick for the engine oil.

Can you tip the bike to the right and have oil appear in the window?