Checking The Oil Level

[pegasus1300]

Okay, went for a ten mile ride, stopped the motor and checked the oil level within 2 minutes of stopping the engine. Oil level read completely full, up to the upper ball on the dipstick.

Immediately restarted the engine, let it idle for 10 minutes, stop the engine and within 2 minutes checked the oil again and got the exact same reading as the first check above.

*after stopping the bike at the ten mile mark, I did not move it until after both readings were completed, i.e. both readings taken with the bike in the exact same position no chance in different levelness (word?) having any affect on the reading.

That’s the last time I’ll let it idle 10 minutes just to check the oil.

Thanks for doing that little bit of research. Bob have you thought of using Lew's suggestion? Or to make a mark at the right level.

[Mikey]

Okay, went for a ten mile ride, stopped the motor and checked the oil level within 2 minutes of stopping the engine. Oil level read completely full, up to the upper ball on the dipstick.

Immediately restarted the engine, let it idle for 10 minutes, stop the engine and within 2 minutes checked the oil again and got the exact same reading as the first check above.

*after stopping the bike at the ten mile mark, I did not move it until after both readings were completed, i.e. both readings taken with the bike in the exact same position no chance in different levelness (word?) having any affect on the reading.

That’s the last time I’ll let it idle 10 minutes just to check the oil.

I let it run till the fan runs, then shut it down, check, good to go!!!

[Adventurer]

I let it run till the fan runs, then shut it down, check, good to go!!!

Do you mean after riding for 9 miles or more you let it idle until the fan runs or do you mean from a cold start up you let it idle until the fan runs without any miles driven?

[hank573]

I am with you shipmate....(USN USS Yosemite AD19)...I have 300 miles on odometer and following the owners manual that tells you to check the oil at 300miles...I have yet been able to see the oil level on the dipstick. With or without 10 mile and 10 minutes....is there a secret to seeing clean oil on a yellow dipstick? I am open to any suggestions.

[Peter Aawen]

I ......I have yet been able to see the oil level on the dipstick. With or without 10 mile and 10 minutes....is there a secret to seeing clean oil on a yellow dipstick? I am open to any suggestions.

As Lew suggested in p oost #25, it's not hard.

Just get yourself some paper towel, and lay it down near the Spyder. Do whatever it takes to extract the dipstick and immediately lay it down on the paper towel. The (wet?) oil will immediately start to 'wick out' into the absorbent paper - the wet mark you can clearly see on the paper & adjacent to the dipstick where it is closest to the top of the dipstick will reveal the oil level!

Easy as!

[hank573]

Thanks, I'll give it a go this afternoon.....really can't understand why BRP made the whole oil thing so involved...Thanks again...

[Mikey]

Do you mean after riding for 9 miles or more you let it idle until the fan runs or do you mean from a cold start up you let it idle until the fan runs without any miles driven?

in the shop from a cold start.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Thanks, I'll give it a go this afternoon.....really can't understand why BRP made the whole oil thing so involved...Thanks again...

Let me offer a variation of an explanation above that may help you understand why the procedure is what it is. Think of a tank with three connections. One is at the top where oil is pumped into the tank from a small pool in the sump under the crankshaft. The second one is at the bottom that connects to the oil pump so oil from the tank is pumped through all the engine parts. The third is a small connection to the sump under the crankshaft. When the engine is running the oil sucked up from the sump is the same flow rate as the oil that drains to the sump via the small connection plus the oil pumped throughout the engine. The oil pumped throughout the engine drains down to the sump. When you shut down the engine the oil flow via the pumps into and out of the tank stops. But oil continues to drain down to the sump through the small connection. Checking the oil level in the sump wouldn't work because it keeps going up as the tank drains down. Checking oil level in the tank works as long as you check within a short time after shutting off the engine. If you wait too long the tank will drain down and oil level will be low. In fact, if you wait a really long time, like a few months, the oil in the tank will drain down so far it won't touch the dipstick.

So the reason for running the engine for awhile first and then checking within a couple of minutes is to make sure the oil flow, i.e., the amount going into and out of the tank, has been stabilized and then is measured before it drops very much. The high and low points on the dip stick are the oil levels in the tank the engine designers have determined provide the ideal amount of oil for the engine to function properly.

[2dogs]

Let me offer a variation of an explanation above that may help you understand why the procedure is what it is. Think of a tank with three connections. One is at the top where oil is pumped into the tank from a small pool in the sump under the crankshaft. The second one is at the bottom that connects to the oil pump so oil from the tank is pumped through all the engine parts. The third is a small connection to the sump under the crankshaft. When the engine is running the oil sucked up from the sump is the same flow rate as the oil that drains to the sump via the small connection plus the oil pumped throughout the engine. The oil pumped throughout the engine drains down to the sump. When you shut down the engine the oil flow via the pumps into and out of the tank stops. But oil continues to drain down to the sump through the small connection. Checking the oil level in the sump wouldn't work because it keeps going up as the tank drains down. Checking oil level in the tank works as long as you check within a short time after shutting off the engine. If you wait too long the tank will drain down and oil level will be low. In fact, if you wait a really long time, like a few months, the oil in the tank will drain down so far it won't touch the dipstick.

So the reason for running the engine for awhile first and then checking within a couple of minutes is to make sure the oil flow, i.e., the amount going into and out of the tank, has been stabilized and then is measured before it drops very much. The high and low points on the dip stick are the oil levels in the tank the engine designers have determined provide the ideal amount of oil for the engine to function properly.

Is there a printable skematic somewhere that would show the oil flow process that you so eloquently described?

[JayBros]

An excellent explanation, Mac! I agree w/- 2dogs; a schematic would be great to put this issue to bed for good.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I think there's a diagram in the service manual but I'm away from home until after the Fourth and don't have a copy on my laptop.

[Texas Al]

At lest they give you 2 minutes to do the actual checking. The Ryker gives you 10 seconds to get it done.

[rv6a]

I agree with the less-than-great manual. I was trying to find the VIN on my 2021 RTL. Take a look at this drawing from the manual. Since it doesn't state which side of the bike to look at for the swing arm, I assumed left because it is a left view of the bike. Stupid me, it was on the right.

20210624_113550.jpg

[JayBros]

How does one say "s****y diagram" in French?

[Adventurer]

I agree with the less-than-great manual. I was trying to find the VIN on my 2021 RTL. Take a look at this drawing from the manual. Since it doesn't state which side of the bike to look at for the swing arm, I assumed left because it is a left view of the bike. Stupid me, it was on the right.

20210624_113550.jpg

Weird my vin plate on my 2021 RTL is on the left side of the swing arm. Your bike must have been built on a Monday or a Friday afternoon

[WDAVEY]

Let me offer a variation of an explanation above that may help you understand why the procedure is what it is. Think of a tank with three connections. One is at the top where oil is pumped into the tank from a small pool in the sump under the crankshaft. The second one is at the bottom that connects to the oil pump so oil from the tank is pumped through all the engine parts. The third is a small connection to the sump under the crankshaft. When the engine is running the oil sucked up from the sump is the same flow rate as the oil that drains to the sump via the small connection plus the oil pumped throughout the engine. The oil pumped throughout the engine drains down to the sump. When you shut down the engine the oil flow via the pumps into and out of the tank stops. But oil continues to drain down to the sump through the small connection. Checking the oil level in the sump wouldn't work because it keeps going up as the tank drains down. Checking oil level in the tank works as long as you check within a short time after shutting off the engine. If you wait too long the tank will drain down and oil level will be low. In fact, if you wait a really long time, like a few months, the oil in the tank will drain down so far it won't touch the dipstick.

So the reason for running the engine for awhile first and then checking within a couple of minutes is to make sure the oil flow, i.e., the amount going into and out of the tank, has been stabilized and then is measured before it drops very much. The high and low points on the dip stick are the oil levels in the tank the engine designers have determined provide the ideal amount of oil for the engine to function properly.

Two points: 1) Harleys have had dry sumps for decades. If you let one sit for extended periods the oil will drain from the tank into the crankcase. Unsuspecting owners fill the tank before starting the engine and blow oil all over the place! This issue is not a BRP only phenomenon. 2) The reason to idle for 10 minutes after the 9 mile ride is to allow oil that was trapped in the upper sections of the engine and trans to drain to the low points so the scavenger pumps can pump it back to the tank. This is probably only a concern after "spirited" riding.

[Peter Aawen]

Weird my vin plate on my 2021 RTL is on the left side of the swing arm. Your bike must have been built on a Monday or a Friday afternoon

Could be... Or maybe the Production line Worker was just facing the other way & so didn't realise they were on the 'other' side of the Spyder?!?

[rv6a]

I bet if you look at your manual it will be a right side view

[Adventurer]

I bet if you look at your manual it will be a right side view

You made me look :

6E5B19F9-E4EF-4CF0-B0AE-067500189193.jpg

[Steve W.]

Let me offer a variation of an explanation above that may help you understand why the procedure is what it is. Think of a tank with three connections. One is at the top where oil is pumped into the tank from a small pool in the sump under the crankshaft. The second one is at the bottom that connects to the oil pump so oil from the tank is pumped through all the engine parts. The third is a small connection to the sump under the crankshaft.

Very nicely stated , but why does that third connection exist?

Oil gets pumped through the engine, collects in the sump and gets pumped back to the reservoir. There should be no need to have oil bleed back to the sump, just to have it pumped back to the reservoir when you start the engine.

.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Don't know, and since I don't have my manual copy with me I can't see if there is an explanation in it.

[EdMat]

Very nicely stated , but why does that third connection exist?

Oil gets pumped through the engine, collects in the sump and gets pumped back to the reservoir. There should be no need to have oil bleed back to the sump, just to have it pumped back to the reservoir when you start the engine.

.

Maybe so the return pumps are not running dry when you start up cold?