Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

Hello.
I have a really weird problem here. I bought my sv about 2 months ago. After i was riding it for a about 900 miles i noticed that the oil level is way higher than the F indicator line. I found that a bit weird since i check it realy often and i thought that when i got it was on F. Also when i removed the plug (the one on top) it smelled a lot like gasoline. Ok i said maybe i just didnt look at the level real close and its nothing. My mechanic said that the smell is pretty normal, but if it makes me feel better we can change the oil and then i should really keep a close eye on it. So thats what we did. And guess what. After another 700 miles the oil level is higer than it was (noticed it a few days ago after a 200mile ride). It has a faint gasoline smell. Also i noticed that one of the tubes that comes out near the right foot (the black outlet tube) had a drop on it (oil i guess) and that it was all bloated near the end.
The bike runs like it should. At least i dont think anything is wrong. Maybe the shifts are a bit louder, but it could be that i am just hearing things.
I allways check the oil with the bike standing in the same place. I could be off by a few milimeters but not by this much.
I dont ride the bike real hard. No reving to the red line and stuff. I go to 10k rpm on occasion but never when the bike is cold etc. Most of the time i stay well below 8k rpm.
My mechanic doesnt have a clue. If the bike was not fuel injected it is not uncommon for some gas to leak (open fuel pipe, leaking carb, ... ) but here it is not logical (his words).

I am really lost here. No clue what could it be. Any ideas, past experiences, opinions, ... are greatly appricieated.

Best Regards
a.

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

You are measuring the level under the same circumstances each time - i.e. the same temperature?
If water was getting in with the oil your mechanic would have noticed when he changed it.

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

I ussualy check it when the engine is warm.. After is stop riding. I wait a few minutes so the oil settles down). Is the difference between a warm/hot and a cold engine oil level so great?
And i dont think water is geting in my oil. Thats easy to spot (creamy level window). I suspect gasoline, because of the gasoline smell of the oil. Or is that natural. This is my first bike. Could be i am just seeing things... But its not very likely since this is the socond time this has happend.

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

I haven't had that happen to me and the SV, but I have had this problem on a different motorcycle. On mine it was a bad float valve in the carb allowing raw fuel to flood a cylinder when the bike was shut off. (not enough to lock the cylinder, but enough to get past the piston rings and wind up in the crankcase mixed with the oil.)

On a fuel injected bike, it might be a sticking injector, or part of the emmissions control gear (like the EVAP) allowing raw fuel into the intakes when the bike is shut off.

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

I had my sump fill up with oil because the vacumn tap on the fuel tank stuck open and then overnight the fuel was running out of the tank into the carbs and then filling up the sump... Not good.

If it was this you'd know it though as there'd be some much liquid in the sump / bores etc you'd get hydraulic lock and the bike wouldnt start.

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

Yes, but mine is fuel injected so no carbs and... And the mechanic told me that the injector can not be stuck open and even if it was i would know it (smoke, ... ).

Bah no clue what to do. :smt100:smt100:smt100:smt100

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

Checking the oil like you have done is fine. It could be petrol getting into the oil. This can happen if its passing past the piston rings. When you dump the oil out does it smell of petrol?.

What mileage has the bike done?.

Does the bike smoke on starting?.

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

I did not dump the oil myself,but when i remove the cap it smells of gas a bit. Milage: A bit over 10k miles. So not a lot.

I havent noticed it smoking on start, but will be more alert about that from now on.

Re: Oil level rising on a '03 SV650s
 

The concern would be why and how the petrol is getting into the oil. If its getting past the rings it could cause the cylinder to wash with fuel and not get enough lubrication from the oil. It may only be by a small amount but over time this can cause problems. Although a bike needing new rings at that mileage would be unusual and its not a problem i have ever encountered on an injected SV of that mileage.