Checking my oil level

Manual says that? What a peice of poop they've written

Warm engine = oild still around engine

Plus its thinner

It'll be all over the gauge screen too.




check your oil on a cold engine, as you would chekc your tyres before riding otherwise it give s a false reading.

On my curvey model, I found the oil level would drop around 3000-3500 miles (service intervals are every 4000 miles) so be weary. Failure to watch this can lead to oil starvation and a ruined bottom end...

Especially if your haivng a top speed run against a Honda Hornet

[dizzyblonde]

hmmm wouldn't wonder if thats why so many curvy clutch covers end up leaking, cause there is so many people over filling their bikes!
Having been one that has got a bike thats done both end of the scale( over fil and low oil engine blow up)....I think I'll stick to checking my oil properly, as i've pretty much learned the hard way!

[ophic]

iirc it says something like, run up to temperature, switch off, leave for 3 mins, then check the oil. Mind you this is for a pointy.

[dizzyblonde]

Thats more than acceptable Ophic, probably need to leave it a little longer than that to cool off. If I'd have been out on the bike I'd leave it a good half hour before checking it. The engines still fliipin hot even after so long

[ophic]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

hmmm wouldn't wonder if thats why so many curvy clutch covers end up leaking, cause there is so many people over filling their bikes!
Having been one that has got a bike thats done both end of the scale( over fil and low oil engine blow up)....I think I'll stick to checking my oil properly, as i've pretty much learned the hard way!

The oil is thicker when cold and also more dense, so would take up less volume when left long enough to settle. So you're more likely to overfill it when its cold.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by ophic

The oil is thicker when cold and also more dense, so would take up less volume when left long enough to settle. So you're more likely to overfill it when its cold.

Indeed, had this issue with local Honda dealer. I pulled half a litre of oil out of the bike the night before leaving on last year's Euro trip! Check with warm oil, but allow 5 minutes after switching off for oil to drain back in to sump.

[timwilky]

It is difficult to see the level through the sight glass if you have lowers fitted on an SV. I used to end up using a small torch

Personnally I adjust the oil when its cold.

Fire it up, turn it off again (this forces the oil round the engine).

Then leave it to settle again ensuring its at the top mark.

Oil death on mine was due to the silly hot summer, and the level dropped quicker than I thought i would coming up to the service. Total my bad.

Don't do the same, its a good days work to getthe engine out of an SV and swapped over with another. Gives you the chance to make it showroom clean again though

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Daimo

Personnally I adjust the oil when its cold.

I think the difference between the high and low marks is greater than the difference a hot or cold engine would make. So if you fill to the middle it probably doesn't matter.

[punyXpress]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Here is a pic of a pointy (2003 on) engine. It does not matter that it is a newer bike than yours, the oil sight glass is in the same place...



You can see the sight glass at the 4:30 o'clock position on the round generator cover on the side of the engine. (or just to the rear and slightly above the oil filter)

You have a curvy model (2001) and if it has lower fairings, the sight glass is obscured by the fairing and you need to look through a little hole in the fairing.....

But is the generator ??