Low engine oil

[AviP]

I went to do an oil change at 18K and discovered my engine oil level was way too low. I measured the quantity of old oil and I came up with just 2.25 liters (including filter). This would have happened anywhere within the last 1000-1500 miles. I never checked the oil level during that period.

 

There was a bit of squealing during cold startup this past winter but I attributed that to the cold at that time. Now I'm not so sure. The low oil pressure light has never ever come on.

 

What damage could have taken place? What should I be looking for.

 

Tranny was also low and I had topped it up at 12K maintenance. I added 0.25 liter.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

Nothing to worry about, Avi. The squeal was probably the alternator belt. 2.25 liters is a bit low but, the oil pickup goes right down to nearly the bottom of the sump and there is less than 1 liter in circulation at any given time.

[Stan Walker]

If your tranny started out full, and lost .25 litre, I'm wondering where that oil went. Unlike an engine, a tranny doesn't use oil, it leaks it. Did you see it on the ground? If not, I'd worry about your "dry" clutch.

 

Stan

[moshe_levy]

Avi-

 

Not to stray from topic, but the squeal at startup could also be due to a dirty starter mechanism. Mine started up at 30k, so I took it apart and cleaned it, and the squeal has been gone since.

 

-MKL

[Baba_ORiley]

Remember, a used oil filter can hold a good deal of oil saturated in the filtering media, so that can account for some of what is "missing".

 

 

.

[T__]

I went to do an oil change at 18K and discovered my engine oil level was way too low. I measured the quantity of old oil and I came up with just 2.25 liters (including filter). This would have happened anywhere within the last 1000-1500 miles. I never checked the oil level during that period.

 

There was a bit of squealing during cold startup this past winter but I attributed that to the cold at that time. Now I'm not so sure. The low oil pressure light has never ever come on.

 

What damage could have taken place? What should I be looking for.

 

Tranny was also low and I had topped it up at 12K maintenance. I added 0.25 liter.

AviP, unless you rode the bike until very hot,, then placed on the side stand for about ½ hour before putting on center stand & draining the oil for at least 2 hours you probably didn’t get all the old oil out of the engine… Even then, as mentioned above some will still be trapped in the oil filter media..

 

Did you find any oil in the air box? (there is a drain on the lower L/H rear corner)..

 

If your oil light WORKS,, & it hasn’t come on while riding,, then you had plenty of oil in the engine to protect it..

 

On the trans being low.. If the gear oil was cold & you rotated the trans gears while moving the bike some oil will remain up on the gear sets for quite while & show low when checked..

 

Twisty

[AviP]

Thanks everybody. I feel better now knowing that I might have caught this before it got serious.

[NEOHMark]

I have a dumb question. How do you 'check' the tranny oil? I've changed mine, but can't really see any way of really checking the level. There's no sight glass nor dipstick, nor does the oil 'top off' at a level that is readily visible like the FD oil. At least not that I've noticed.

 

So how do you do it? Seriously.

[AviP]

I have a dumb question. How do you 'check' the tranny oil? I've changed mine, but can't really see any way of really checking the level. There's no sight glass nor dipstick, nor does the oil 'top off' at a level that is readily visible like the FD oil. At least not that I've noticed.

 

So how do you do it? Seriously.

There is no sight glass or dipstick. I put the bike on the side stand and open the tranny/final drive fill plug/bolt. If the level is below the lower level of the fill plug, add more oil. Retorque to spec.

[Tipover_Bob]

I have a dumb question. How do you 'check' the tranny oil? I've changed mine, but can't really see any way of really checking the level. There's no sight glass nor dipstick, nor does the oil 'top off' at a level that is readily visible like the FD oil. At least not that I've noticed.

 

So how do you do it? Seriously.

There is no sight glass or dipstick. I put the bike on the side stand and open the tranny/final drive fill plug/bolt. If the level is below the lower level of the fill plug, add more oil. Retorque to spec.

 

Avi:

I think I'd put the bike on the center stand.

 

Tipover Bob

[Paul Mihalka]

I don't check the oil level on the transmission and rear drive. If it was filled correctly, it is very simple. If you don't see it on the outside, it is still on the inside. The gear oils don't get burned or consumed. Any very minor leak will make a very visible mess. You won't miss it.

[Jim VonBaden]

I have a dumb question. How do you 'check' the tranny oil? I've changed mine, but can't really see any way of really checking the level. There's no sight glass nor dipstick, nor does the oil 'top off' at a level that is readily visible like the FD oil. At least not that I've noticed.

 

So how do you do it? Seriously.

There is no sight glass or dipstick. I put the bike on the side stand and open the tranny/final drive fill plug/bolt. If the level is below the lower level of the fill plug, add more oil. Retorque to spec.

 

Avi:

I think I'd put the bike on the center stand.

 

Tipover Bob

 

Absolutely!

 

Check and add on the sidestand and you are very likely to be replacing some seals from overfilling!

 

Jim

[glockster]

I don't check the oil level on the transmission and rear drive. If it was filled correctly, it is very simple. If you don't see it on the outside, it is still on the inside. The gear oils don't get burned or consumed. Any very minor leak will make a very visible mess. You won't miss it.

 

I am by no means an expert, but I like Pauls method.

[RFW]

Unless you were riding continuously at high speed (which would result in possibly excessive oil temperature), there was no damage. Your motor is lubricated by a high pressure oil pump that picks opil up from the bottom of the crankcase. If it should suck air instead of oil, then you would momentarily lose oil pressure and see the oil light come on. The motor has no direct way to know if you have 2 liter, or 4 liters in the sump.