Oil level?
 

Weird situation, my oil window doesn't appear to have any oil in it but the oil light isn't on and the oil was changed less than 1.5k miles ago and she seems to run fine, any other ways to check the level.

Re: Oil???
 

That's an oil *pressure* light, not level

Think of it as a chirpy note from the bike to say "your engine is ****ed now"

Re: Oil???
 

but how can all the oil go after 1.5k miles

Re: Oil???
 

Are you checking the oil level on flat level ground with the bike upright, i.e. not on the sidestand ?

Re: Oil???
 

more info, when ticking over in neutral she sounds a bit choppy but as soon as you kick in gear it is fine and nothing seems to be stiff or un-lubricated in the engine

Re: Oil???
 

yeah even got a mate to look, only thing i can think of is maybe it is too full and i can't see the line as it is above the window

Re: Oil???
 

You would see it for sure, the glass would look white/silver if below, browny black if above.
I think the question you should be asking is 'where's all my oil going!?'

Re: Oil???
 

*slaps head*

Like fiz says level ground, upright bike - check the oil. You should be ablke to tell if it's full or empty. If you've topped up the oil a fair bit and it ain't appearing I would drain and refill the oil just to be sure. Potential to kill your engine.

Re: Oil???
 

New question as i a computer kid not engine, how i drain the oil?

Re: Oil???
 

After 1.5k miles, the oil would be BLACK
or thereabouts.

Re: Oil???
 

To get some out over an overfilled engine, I have used a syringe in the past through the filler cap. Otherwise, drain bolt under the engine is your best bet but the oil tends to come out in a flood rather than a trickle.

Re: Oil???
 

ok, best description of the bolts where abouts?

Re: Oil???
 

How and when are you checking your oil level?

The bike should not be running and ideally it's best to check 5 mins after bike has cooled down. Check on a level ground.

Re: Oil???
 

checked before and after a short ride

Re: Oil???
 

And just to check, the bike wasn't running?

Re: Oil???
 

yeah, she wasn't running

Re: Oil???
 

And you have pulled the bike upright, no oil shows when on paddock or side stands

Re: Oil???
 

Might aswell drop whats left in there out and pop some new stuff in there.

Re: Oil???
 

yeah, at a mates now, gonna pray she survives the 6 mile ride home and then go and get some new oil and pop it in, stupid uni, been so busy with work and stuff looking after the bike got kicked back, just hope nothing is damaged.

Re: Oil???
 

If there are two of you, and your strong and capable, lean bike over till you see some oil, then you know theres some in there :lol: If the bike lands on the floor first...WORRY.

Re: Oil???
 

Personally, knowing that you cant see any oil in your sight glass. I'd get that sorted before you ride it home. It might only be a 6 mile journey, but that may well be enough to screw up your engine.

Has your mate got a car / transport to pop you somewhere to get some oil ?

Re: Oil???
 

I'd get it sorted sharpish. Take it from someone who's found out the hard way ... the engine will die before the oil light (or 'deccoration' as I'll now call it) comes on.

Adrian

Re: Oil???
 

ok, problem solved, i think i was high or drunk or just plain stupid this mornin, just rode here, waited 10 mins for her to cool down and checked, oil is about 1 mm below the f line, funny old day now.

Re: Oil???
 

lol tard :P

mine runs down past the glass after about 4000miles ish

Re: Oil???
 

Just out of curiousity,how often do peeps top up the oil!

This is my 1st SV,I usually checked every week on my old bikes.

Re: Oil???
 

Check mine once a week, top up every couple of thousand miles when the bike was new, but seems to be every 750-1000 now the bike has over 20k miles, seems to use a bit more oil nowadays.

Re: Oil???
 

Re: Oil???
 

My bike hardly gets used, doing roughly 1000miles per year, she gets checked once a month and has just been serviced. That equates to checking after approximately every four rides. :smt041

Before the oil change, she did not need topping up at all. :D Not sure she needed an oil change, but I was bored and lonely and wanted a hug. :roll:

Re: Oil???
 

Just wanted a hug......................:p:p:p

Re: Oil level?
 

I made the mistake of waiting for the oil light to come on. Even though I kept checking to find no oil in the sight. Now I have no bike to ride. Have forked out £1k for a 10 year old Ford Gay-A and the same again for the insurance (being 18 and male!). So im 2 grand down and still havn't fixed the bike.

Am I in the right ball park to say it'l cost another grand for a 2nd hand engine fitted? or is there a cheaper option?

:(

Re: Oil level?
 

^ yup get YC to do it lol, a engine should cost about £400ish well so i have heard

Re: Oil level?
 

I asked a similar question before link. Squirrel Hunter reckoned he got his crank reground and a new gasket set. That sounded like the cheapest option, but then it still needs refitting and there's going to be labour on that, too if you don't have a friendly neighborhood mechanic :-). YC was a total star.

Of course, also if you get a new engine fitted, you can't guarantee its quality and you're unlikely to get too long a warranty on one.

I was quoted about £800-£1k for the whole job lot (dependent on the engine, which was a presumably cheaper old curvy) from a place in Leeds but that's at prolly about £50 an hour. You can always sell the bits from the old engine that still work, too.

There's always SV engines appearing on eBay.

Hope that's of some help.

Adrian

Re: Oil level?
 

I could re-do your engine with one of those regrind cranks, but I'd want at least £300 for doing it because it's a pain in the rse.

Re: Oil level?
 

Hmmm... Oil pressure lights tend to be useless zero pressure devices instead of low pressure devices. By the time it comes on the damage is done. It would pay to fit a pressure switch rated at 30psi. For some people having the idiot light set the way it should have been set from the factory might save them an engine.

BTW, I check my oil (+ all fluids and pressures) every day before starting it up.

Cheers

Re: Oil level?
 

For me checking is daily or every other day. Slight leak made worse at high rpm.

Re: Oil level?
 

Turns out I check my oil levels every 29,000 miles, or every one engine ... whichever comes first.

... well ... DID, anyway.

Adrian

Re: Oil level?
 

EVERYDAY?
Sounds like a lot of effort that.
I ride it daily and check it when ever I think "hmm havnt checked the oil for a while".

Re: Oil level?
 

Takes 10 seconds if that, and cheaper than lunching engines.

Re: Oil level?
 

I used to check it when I cleaned it, which was once every 2 weeks or something.

Re: Oil level?
 

I cant believe we are doing this thread again.Do they not teach checking the oil for passing the DAS test ,like they do for the car test?If not they clearly should.