Oil Level Window tricks

[paulferrante]

After a ride through torential downpours Saturday, I let my 2007 GS 1200 adventure sit on the center stand and noticed the oil level was @ the lower range of the limit in the window hours later

I went out and bought some oil.

Today, without adding any oil, I noticed after riding that the level was back to the upper range in the window

Does anyone have any idea why this happened or has anyone experienced this before

THX for your help

PDF

:ear

[wsteinborn]

Yup.

If you stop the engine, lean the bike to the right for 10 econds or so while the oil cooler is draining, then get the bike up on the center stand, you'll get more oil into the sump.

[kgadley01]

my RT does the same thing. at first it about drove me crazy, now I just try and maintain it around the center. but I haven't a clue why they do this...:dunno

[paulferrante]

When you say the "sump" , is that where the oil level window is ? If not what is the sump ?

Also, is it necessary to go through the 10 second drill you described and persuade oil to sit in the window area

Lastly, I was told by my dealer to keep the bike on the center stand as much as possible because you don't want oil to sit in the left head for a prolonged period of time. Is that accurate ?

This is good information, thank you :eat

[glennhendricks]

The sump is the oil reservoir, yes that is where the oil sight glass is.

I keep my RT on the center stand because I'm less worried that it will fall when it is on the center.

It makes sense on the left cylinder thing but I don't know.

[Charlie_K]

The owner's manual for my '06 RT says check the oil with the engine at operating temperature and the bike on the center stand. I don't do this very often since I have the onboard computer that checks it for me. I have noticed that when the bike is in the side stand with a cold engine the oil is over the top of the sight gauge.

[themayer]

The drill I was given when I purchased my '04 R1150RT: leave it on the sidestand for 10 minutes when you come in from a ride (to let the oil drain into the sump), then put it on the centerstand to check the sight glass. As far as problems with leaving the bike on the sidestand...the R1200C doesn't even have a centerstand. So, how bad could it be?

[jasonTDI]

The drill I was given when I purchased my '04 R1150RT: leave it on the sidestand for 10 minutes when you come in from a ride (to let the oil drain into the sump), then put it on the centerstand to check the sight glass. As far as problems with leaving the bike on the sidestand...the R1200C doesn't even have a centerstand. So, how bad could it be?

yep. x's2. dead accurate every time.

[bikerfish1100]

if you want want an accurate reading of your oil, you need to leave it on the sidestand for about 10 minutes to allow oil to drain out from the oil coolers and their associated plumbing. 10 seconds is not long enough for that to occur. Then let it settle on the cs for another few minutes, and go ahead and read it. Ideal is about 1/2 way between the red center dot and the top of the red circle. (all of this with a warm motor, btw)
Alternatively, read it off the sidestand- as long as you can see oil, you have sufficient. But it's impossible to find how much you actually have in there from a ss reading; all you'll know is "enough" or "dang, she's thirsty today".