Low on oil

[indadman]

I checked the oil on my wife's new F3S Sunday, and it was bone dry. She had not seen any warning lights. I should mention that she has approximately 1300 miles on the Spyder. I am very concerned that perhaps some engine damage was incurred, and I am looking for anyone who has experienced anything of a similar nature. I am also looking for ideas as to what to do with the dealership. My initial idea is to get some oil in it, and take it to the dealership, and have them check the engine out as much as possible...including doing a compression check. But those actions still won't assure that there was not any undo wear incurred by running low on oil. I am actually thinking about asking for a whole new engine.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[indadman]

Further information

I should mention that the F3 has that 1300 CC engine.

 

[Bob Denman]

:dontknow: Di you follow the instructions in the owner's manual for this process? :dontknow:

Sorry... I've got to ask this!

 

[Omcge]

Check engine light should come on if it has no oil pressure. As long as it has oil pressure it should be ok.
Without oil it wouldn't last very long before it would seize.

 

[indadman]

:dontknow: Di you follow the instructions in the owner's manual for this process? :dontknow:

Sorry... I've got to ask this!

Yeah, I ran for the required 10 minutes. Gave it about a minute for the oil to flow back down to the crankcase.

 

[Ex-Rocket]

You do know that the oil needs to be checked after an ride after the motor has reach normal operating tempertures.

 

[billybovine]

Start it up and if the oil light goes out it's fine. I'm with Bob in "Did you check the oil level correctly?)

 

[Bob Denman]

"Ran it for the required ten minutes"... :shocked:
Regardless of the length of time necessary: it has to be up to full operating temperatures...
You didn't mention the part about taking it for at least a 9 mile ride.
If you just let it idle; you may not have gotten it to that point.

 

[billybovine]

Yeah, I ran for the required 10 minutes. Gave it about a minute for the oil to flow back down to the crankcase.

It is a dry sump engine. You are checking the oil in the tank.

 

[indadman]

Some great comments

It is a dry sump engine. You are checking the oil in the tank.

I am pretty sure that the oil was certainly at operating temperature, but I will go through the process again tonight.

Has anyone else had an issue with burning oil with this 1300 CC engine?

 

[Ex-Rocket]

I am pretty sure that the oil was certainly at operating temperature, but I will go through the process again tonight.

Has anyone else had an issue with burning oil with this 1300 CC engine?

Nope, mine was at the full mark when I had my 3000 mile service done. Plus you need to check the oil after you shut it off within a few minutes.

 

[BajaRon]

#1 - Always check your oil level after having it changed. I'm talking at the dealership (whatever) before you ride away. Otherwise, you don't know if you're using oil or if they just didn't fill it when you check it later. It is, (unfortunately) not uncommon for the 'Experts' do do it wrong! :yikes:

#2 - You can't be 'Bone Dry' or you would be walking. The dip stick only goes a short way into the oil tank (not the crankcase). The dip stick can be 'Bone Dry' and you still have plenty of oil to keep the engine from seizing.

#3 - You'll be fine. Just be sure you are doing the oil level check correctly, add oil until you are at the 'Full' mark on the dipstick and you should be good to go! :thumbup:

#4 - The 1330 engine uses little or no oil. If you find that your oil is going away you do have a problem that should be addressed. My guess is that if your oil is low, it has been that way from the last oil change.

 

[indadman]

#1 - Always check your oil level after having it changed. I'm talking at the dealership (whatever) before you ride away. Otherwise, you don't know if you're using oil or if they just didn't fill it when you check it later. It is, (unfortunately) not uncommon for the 'Experts' do do it wrong! :yikes:

#2 - You can't be 'Bone Dry' or you would be walking. The dip stick only goes a short way into the oil tank (not the crankcase). The dip stick can be 'Bone Dry' and you still have plenty of oil to keep the engine from seizing.

#3 - You'll be fine. Just be sure you are doing the oil level check correctly, add oil until you are at the 'Full' mark on the dipstick and you should be good to go! :thumbup:

#4 - The 1330 engine uses little or no oil. If you find that your oil is going away you do have a problem that should be addressed. My guess is that if your oil is low, it has been that way from the last oil change.

Outstanding information. I just spoke with the salesman...who has been a great resource, and we have a plan.

I worked as a mechanic when I was growing up, and I cannot imagine someone not completing an oil change properly...but I guess it happens...sadly!

 

[Chupaca]

All of the above...

your engine will be fine. The oil light comes on when the ignition is turned on and goes out when oil pressure is up. There is no low oil light but not having oil on the dip stick means its low and not out. Mine is the twin and on long trips many times gets below the dip stick level and have to add half to three quarter of a quart. This is not that bad considering the oil capasity. The proper proceedure for replacing the oil in these engines is to put three quarts in then start it up recheck and add till at the correct level. This helps not over filling but to often this is not followed so checking before you leave is a good idea....:thumbup:

 

[vondalyn]

getting up to operating temps with the idle

My dealership mentioned back when I got my F3 that if you weren't going to ride it to get it up to operating temperature, that you needed to let it idle until the cooling fan had kicked on and off at least twice. They said that it took about 30 minutes for this to happen at the time that they did it while doing the "build".

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

YOUR OIL ISSUE

#1....If you have some left over plastic packaging strapping..... the really stiff stuff......Measure at least 3 inches longer than the DIP STICK and put this down the OIL FILL hole and see if find some OIL and how far down it is from normal........It won't hurt anything and at least you will know there is a safe amount in there.................#2....Always check your OIL.....AFTER a ride of at least 5 minutes....then when you start you will know your OIL is FINE.......Mike :thumbup:

 

[indadman]

My problem

#1....If you have some left over plastic packaging strapping..... the really stiff stuff......Measure at least 3 inches longer than the DIP STICK and put this down the OIL FILL hole and see if find some OIL and how far down it is from normal........It won't hurt anything and at least you will know there is a safe amount in there.................#2....Always check your OIL.....AFTER a ride of at least 5 minutes....then when you start you will know your OIL is FINE.......Mike :thumbup:

I guess my problem is that I ride a Honda F6B, and while I periodically check the oil, it's sort of a waste of time. It stays full through the 4,000 miles between oil changes.

 

[Bob Denman]

So will your 1330... once it's got the oil level correct! nojoke

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I guess my problem is that I ride a Honda F6B, and while I periodically check the oil, it's sort of a waste of time. It stays full through the 4,000 miles between oil changes.

And I think that you will find this to be true on your wife's F3 also. I have nearly 57,000 miles on my 14 RT and I have never had to add oil between changes. And I go the full 9,000 miles between changes.