oil level always goes up ....

tac12345 · July 5th, 2010, 11:54 AM

i am wondering why my oil level always goes up ... after 800 km of riding, i can have +- 500ml over...

Alex · July 5th, 2010, 12:06 PM

TenaciousD · July 5th, 2010, 03:53 PM

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples and always checking the level under the same conditions, on a perfectly level surface, and the same length of time after shutting down. Short of coolant mixing with the oil, which would be obvious because the oil would look like a milkshake, the only thing I can think of that would cause an increase in the level would be a lot of fuel getting into the oil. If the engine is idling for long periods of time, or only taken on really short trips where the oil never reaches operating temperature, fuel dilution of the oil can occur. It would have to be pretty extreme for you to notice it as a change in the oil level, though.

tac12345 · July 5th, 2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenaciousD

or only taken on really short trips where the oil never reaches operating temperature

I think that might be my problem.. home --> work is not even 1 miles ...

TenaciousD · July 5th, 2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tac12345

I think that might be my problem.. home --> work is not even 1 miles ...

Yep. Normally the small amounts of fuel that make it into the oil will volatilize and leave once the oil reaches operating temperature (maybe 220 degrees F). You should go on a longer ride at least once a week to get that oil up to temp for a while. Having too much fuel in the oil is not a good thing.

To really diagnose it for sure, you can take a sample of the oil and send it in for an analysis. I use Blackstone Labs for my cars. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
Their analysis well tell you if there is too much fuel in the oil.

kkim · July 5th, 2010, 04:26 PM

Wait... I've never heard of the oil level rising due to gas mixing with the crankcase oil enough so that it raises the oil level by the amount he's referencing due to short trips. If anything, a stuck float valve I can believe, but not due to overly short trips.

I think it's a matter of not reading under the same conditions as pointed out.

how are you determining it's varying by +/- 500ml?

TenaciousD · July 5th, 2010, 06:02 PM

Yeah, it would be really extreme for it to be visible as a 500ml difference. Usually we're talking about trace amounts of fuel. I could see it adding up over the course of months if the oil never gets up to operating temp, but even one 20 minute ride should get the oil hot enough for long enough for the fuel to volatilize.
I also suspect it boils down to random error in reading the level.

July 5th, 2010, 11:54 AM	#1
tac12345 ninjette.org member Name: Alexandre Location: Montreal Join Date: Jul 2009 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r 09 SE Posts: 172	oil level always goes up .... i am wondering why my oil level always goes up ... after 800 km of riding, i can have +- 500ml over...

July 5th, 2010, 12:06 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	Potentially related thread. __________________________________________________ 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)

July 5th, 2010, 03:53 PM	#3
TenaciousD ninjette.org member Name: Kevin Location: Tampa Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 250R Posts: 230	Make sure you're comparing apples to apples and always checking the level under the same conditions, on a perfectly level surface, and the same length of time after shutting down. Short of coolant mixing with the oil, which would be obvious because the oil would look like a milkshake, the only thing I can think of that would cause an increase in the level would be a lot of fuel getting into the oil. If the engine is idling for long periods of time, or only taken on really short trips where the oil never reaches operating temperature, fuel dilution of the oil can occur. It would have to be pretty extreme for you to notice it as a change in the oil level, though. __________________________________________________ Kevin 2009 Ninja 250R

July 5th, 2010, 06:02 PM	#7
TenaciousD ninjette.org member Name: Kevin Location: Tampa Join Date: Jun 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 250R Posts: 230	Yeah, it would be really extreme for it to be visible as a 500ml difference. Usually we're talking about trace amounts of fuel. I could see it adding up over the course of months if the oil never gets up to operating temp, but even one 20 minute ride should get the oil hot enough for long enough for the fuel to volatilize. I also suspect it boils down to random error in reading the level. __________________________________________________ Kevin 2009 Ninja 250R

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July 5th, 2010, 04:26 PM	#6
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	Wait... I've never heard of the oil level rising due to gas mixing with the crankcase oil enough so that it raises the oil level by the amount he's referencing due to short trips. If anything, a stuck float valve I can believe, but not due to overly short trips. I think it's a matter of not reading under the same conditions as pointed out. how are you determining it's varying by +/- 500ml?