Checking oil level - hot or cold?

Kev_ · August 29th, 2011, 11:40 PM

Hey guys,

I'm just curious, do you check your oil level when the oil is hot, or cold?

Is there an advantage to one over the other?

Cheers

Alex · August 29th, 2011, 11:42 PM

Doesn't really matter. But if it is cold, it might take a few more moments to stabilize after you push the bike to vertical to check the sight glass.

Kev_ · August 29th, 2011, 11:42 PM

I just thought I'd add that I realise that the engine should be shut off, and the bike upright and level.

Snake · August 30th, 2011, 02:29 AM

Also wait several minutes after shutting off the engine before checking the oil level to allow all the oil to drain back into the crankcase.

Alex · August 30th, 2011, 07:04 AM

Have you ever seen it need several minutes? From what I've seen, it drains in just a few moments with a warm engine.

Havok · August 30th, 2011, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Have you ever seen it need several minutes? From what I've seen, it drains in just a few moments with a warm engine.

I think this is where people end up over filling the oil on oil and filter changes. They run the bike get the oil in the engine then fill up to full but since the oil is cold they don't wait long enough for it to settle.

When it's warm the oil takes just a min or two if the engine is at operating temp, colder then that it can take a while.

kcaja1 · August 31st, 2011, 11:10 AM

My bike didn't come with a manual when I bought so I don't know at what level from the sight glass the oil should be (warm). Can anyone tell me?

Alex · August 31st, 2011, 11:11 AM

When the bike is held vertical, the oil level should be in the center of the glass. The owners manual is available in a sticky thread in the tech section here.

dubojr1 · August 31st, 2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcaja1

My bike didn't come with a manual when I bought so I don't know at what level from the sight glass the oil should be (warm). Can anyone tell me?

Owner's Manual

Now that you have it. I recommend reading it cover to cover.

Alex · August 31st, 2011, 11:31 AM

I glommed all of the individual Kawi manual files into a single downloadable PDF in this thread:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=959

As long as Kawi keeps it freely available, I'll feel comfortable keeping that file here as well; if they start selling it or protecting it in some way, I'll remove it here at that point.

dubojr1 · August 31st, 2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I glommed all of the individual Kawi manual files into a single downloadable PDF in this thread:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=959

As long as Kawi keeps it freely available, I'll feel comfortable keeping that file here as well; if they start selling it or protecting it in some way, I'll remove it here at that point.

Nice Alex. Do we know if there is any difference in the different year OM's or is the 2011 PDF sufficient?

Alex · August 31st, 2011, 12:25 PM

They looked the same to me, but I didn't go page by page through each, either.

August 29th, 2011, 11:40 PM	#1
Kev_ ninjette.org newbie Name: Kevin Location: Wellington, New Zealand Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250r (Lime Green) Posts: 3	Checking oil level - hot or cold? Hey guys, I'm just curious, do you check your oil level when the oil is hot, or cold? Is there an advantage to one over the other? Cheers

August 29th, 2011, 11:42 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Doesn't really matter. But if it is cold, it might take a few more moments to stabilize after you push the bike to vertical to check the sight glass. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 30th, 2011, 07:04 AM	#5
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Have you ever seen it need several minutes? From what I've seen, it drains in just a few moments with a warm engine. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 31st, 2011, 11:11 AM	#8
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	When the bike is held vertical, the oil level should be in the center of the glass. The owners manual is available in a sticky thread in the tech section here. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 31st, 2011, 11:31 AM	#10
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	I glommed all of the individual Kawi manual files into a single downloadable PDF in this thread: http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=959 As long as Kawi keeps it freely available, I'll feel comfortable keeping that file here as well; if they start selling it or protecting it in some way, I'll remove it here at that point. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 30th, 2011, 02:29 AM	#4
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Also wait several minutes after shutting off the engine before checking the oil level to allow all the oil to drain back into the crankcase.

August 31st, 2011, 11:10 AM	#7
kcaja1 ninjette.org member Name: Ross Location: NoVA Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 250R Posts: 214	My bike didn't come with a manual when I bought so I don't know at what level from the sight glass the oil should be (warm). Can anyone tell me?

August 31st, 2011, 12:25 PM	#12
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	They looked the same to me, but I didn't go page by page through each, either. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

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