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Old April 24th, 2016, 01:40 AM   #1
g3ck0
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Oil not showing up on sight glass?

Hi I have a 2010 and after emptying my oil and changing the oil filter, I put in about 1.7 quarts of oil into the bike but the sight glass barely shows any oil in it. I have tried the following:
  • Made sure the bike is not leaking oil.
  • Ran the bike for a couple minutes idling then turned it off.
  • Let the bike the drain the oil down for about an hour.
  • Took the bike off the kickstand, on a level surface with the bike upright.

The sight glass still shows the oil level as empty! The bike is low mileage about 6500 miles and I believe this is the first time the oil has been changed. Any ideas?

Thanks.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 01:54 AM   #2
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Either you haven't put enough oil in it, y̶o̶u̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶l̶e̶a̶k̶, or the sight glass is fogged up. You could also be letting it lean a little to the left and not be noticing it, which would prevent it from showing up.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 04:10 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g3ck0 View Post
Hi I have a 2010 and after emptying my oil and changing the oil filter, I put in about 1.7 quarts of oil into the bike but the sight glass barely shows any oil in it. I have tried the following:...
probably your issue right there. Don't worry about measuring it in, that is what the sight glass is for and putting in about 1.7 quarts is not the same as putting in exactly 1.7 quarts. That or just make sure you have your bike level and vertical

Just put oil in until you see it in the sight glass, it is that simple. Refilling oil during an oil change you put oil in until it is on the upper end of the sight glass. Run the bike for a few minutes to get the oil distributed around, then let the bike sit and cool down. after oil is cool and settled again recheck level through sight glass and add more oil as needed as the level will have dropped from the previous reading.

After that monitor your level through the sight glass, and rapid decreases in level or pools of oil on the ground tell you you have a problem.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 05:43 AM   #4
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...........[*]Took the bike off the kickstand, on a level surface with the bike upright.[/LIST]
The sight glass still shows the oil level as empty!......
Did the old oil show through the sight glass?

Is the suspension modified?

Lean the bike to the right until you can see the oil.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 07:06 AM   #5
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Lean the bike to the right until you can see the oil.


Damnit!
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Old April 24th, 2016, 08:29 AM   #6
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Now that's funny, I can totally see that happening.

In all seriousness, make sure the bike is level, and straight up, no leaning to either side.

And correct me if I'm wrong but it should be 1.7 liters, not quarts. If one does the math it's 1.8 quarts.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 10:44 AM   #7
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I just put an even 2 quarts and hope for the best... It's easier to measure
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Old April 24th, 2016, 02:08 PM   #8
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Use the center-stand if you have one. Mine doesn't show if it's on the sidestand, but if it's on the center-stand it reads.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 02:42 PM   #9
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Use the center-stand if you have one. Mine doesn't show if it's on the sidestand, but if it's on the center-stand it reads.
I don't think the 2010 has a center stand.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 03:02 PM   #10
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2 liters in my 2010 is perfect in the window
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Old April 24th, 2016, 03:05 PM   #11
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2 liters in my 2010 is perfect in the window
You're going to mess with their heads!
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Old April 24th, 2016, 04:20 PM   #12
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Are you using a rear wheel stand? If so, the oil reading would be inaccurate due to the oil rushing to the front of the bike when the bike isn't level.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 06:22 PM   #13
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Damnit!
The other right, the one over which the sight glass is.

Easy way to see if there is problem with that circular window before you over-fill the crankcase.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 06:43 PM   #14
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NewGen 08 & up doesn't have a center stand
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Old April 24th, 2016, 08:08 PM   #15
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Ah, didn't know that, thanks. My '06 has a center-stand, and it's handy sometimes.

So what's the procedure for checking the oil level without a center-stand? It's a bit awkward holding the bike up while bending down to check the sight-glass.
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Old April 24th, 2016, 11:19 PM   #16
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Very carefully.

It can be balanced by holding the seat or handlebar and squatting beside the bike.

But go a bit too far and you find out exactly how heavy the bike is really.




Don't ask how I know... :/
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Old April 25th, 2016, 12:13 AM   #17
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Pretty sure using the center side on my '06 showed the oil fine in the sight glass? (Even if suboptimal.)
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Old April 25th, 2016, 12:17 AM   #18
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Sit on the bike, and just look, lean yourself over, not the bike and look. I can do this on my bike with not problems, I check the level before every ride.

Worse case, get a friend to help. Also works as an ice breaker with cute girls, "Excuse me, but could you help me check my oil?"
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Old April 25th, 2016, 05:40 AM   #19
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I cannot do that no matter how hard I try. I'm too short.

The sight glass nonsense is my biggest peeve with motorcycles. My R6 track bike has a screw-in dipstick. You still need to get the bike upright, but doing that, then putting it back on the kickstand and pulling the stick is a lot easier than trying to balance a 400-lb machine with one hand over your head while you lean down.

When changing the oil it's easy because the bike is on paddock stands. But any other time, too much of a hassle.

Simplest way I've found is to just go get a telescoping mirror, available at any hardware, auto parts or home improvement store. Even Walmart has 'em. Sit on the bike, bring it upright and maneuver the mirror so you can see the sight glass. Done.



PS: My GSX-R also doesn't show oil when filled to stated capacity, so I add a little as others have stated above.

Remember it's not a good thing to have too much oil in the engine. Also don't sweat it too much... the sight glass is a tad conservative. There's plenty of oil in the sump even if it's not showing in the glass.
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Old April 25th, 2016, 05:46 AM   #20
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Or just put a block under the side stand so that it's standing up vertically rather than leaning.
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Old April 25th, 2016, 07:21 AM   #21
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There's a possibility that there's plenty of oil in the sump even if it's not showing in the glass.
FTFY.
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Old April 25th, 2016, 08:34 AM   #22
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Also works as an ice breaker with cute girls, "Excuse me, but could you help me check my oil?"
Directions unclear, restraining order now pending.
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Old April 25th, 2016, 12:54 PM   #23
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Sit on the bike, and just look, lean yourself over, not the bike and look. I can do this on my bike with not problems, I check the level before every ride.
I can't even imagine torquing my back like that.

The audience demands a picture!
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Old April 28th, 2016, 09:33 PM   #24
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Thanks for all the help guys. I think it happened to be that my driveway is not EXACTLY leveled from side to side. I tilted the bike a bit on the right side and I could see some oil at around the middle mark so I'm going to assume it's good The bike LOOKS leveled otherwise, I just didn't think it had to be that leveled heh.

Thanks for all the help guys.
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Old April 28th, 2016, 09:42 PM   #25
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......I tilted the bike a bit on the right side and I could see some oil at around the middle mark so I'm going to assume it's good .......
You are welcome

Good it is.

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Old May 12th, 2016, 11:20 AM   #26
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I know I'm late to the party but...

For oil changes, I made a small pad that I roll my front wheel onto that is the same height as my rear stand raises the rear wheel off the ground.

It makes it so the bike is straight and level. Takes out any guess work for filling.
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