Checking oil level on 2014 RT.

[oldrider60]

Checking the oil

I am been looking at threads on checking the oil on my 2014 RT. I just bought it used and have looked at the manual. And as posted I too am a bit confused. I road it for about 45 min doing some errands when I got home I just shut it off and then checked the oil. Nothing was showing on the dip stick, I have owned a few bikes but this one is really different than everything else I have owned in the past.

Anyway I did not see any oil on the dip stick so I added maybe a 1/4 of a quart of the correct oil I had purchased from the dealer. I still did not see any improvement but did not add anymore since I am not sure if I am doing it correctly. Is it put the parking break on and the bike idle for 10min after riding? Or can it just be checked after stopping the bike after a ride of 15 min or more? I don't want to overfill but I don't want to not have enough oil. The gentlemen I bought the bike from took real good care of it so I am sure he did not let it get low at any time. Since I do not know the bike well I am not sure how much or if any oil is burned in this bike. Maybe my method is incorrect

Let me know if you can answer my question or procedure.


Thanks

 

[Utah Geezer]

Wife

Maybe you should bring her along to the Spyderfest and other big rides. She could probably make a few bucks changing oil and turning wrench on some of the Spyders.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I am been looking at threads on checking the oil on my 2014 RT. I just bought it used and have looked at the manual. And as posted I too am a bit confused. I road it for about 45 min doing some errands when I got home I just shut it off and then checked the oil. Nothing was showing on the dip stick, I have owned a few bikes but this one is really different than everything else I have owned in the past.

Anyway I did not see any oil on the dip stick so I added maybe a 1/4 of a quart of the correct oil I had purchased from the dealer. I still did not see any improvement but did not add anymore since I am not sure if I am doing it correctly. Is it put the parking break on and the bike idle for 10min after riding? Or can it just be checked after stopping the bike after a ride of 15 min or more? I don't want to overfill but I don't want to not have enough oil. The gentlemen I bought the bike from took real good care of it so I am sure he did not let it get low at any time. Since I do not know the bike well I am not sure how much or if any oil is burned in this bike. Maybe my method is incorrect

Let me know if you can answer my question or procedure.


Thanks

You have to ride the Spyder to get it warmed up (not just around the block either) then you let it idle for 10 minutes then you check the oil.

 

[jcasey]

Thanks to all of you. Waiting 30 minutes is not acceptable at my age...hell, that is a big part of my future....ha ha

I bought the '14 vs the '15 for several reasons. Much better deal. I have known this dealer for a long time and he is honest when he said the '15 has few changes, will cost me much more to trade and showed me the difference....when I told my wife of the savings she was thrilled....this good lady, always practical, said "Oh good, now I won't have to work overtime Christmas eve at the saw mill."

:spyder2:

My manual on page 98 says to idle for 10 minutes after warmed up..

 

[gypsy_100]

You heard right...but...I would just check the oil after a nice ride.

Most are reporting zero oil usage in between changes which are at 3000 initial and then every 9300 or once a year, whichever comes first.

You have to ride the Spyder to get it warmed up (not just around the block either) then you let it idle for 10 minutes then you check the oil.

BRP has not updated the 2014 Owner's Manuals to reflect the change in the procedure for checking oil level to get more consistent results and avoid overfilling. The latest BRP procedure is in the 2015 manual, as well as in various threads on this forum, and the key points are:

1. Ride at least 9 miles (15km).
2. Then let idle for 10 minutes.
3. Check the oil level within two minutes of shutting the engine down.
4. Make sure you are fully screwing in the dipstick, then withdrawing it to check the level.

The above info is found on page 123 of the 2015 RT Owner's manual.

I agree with others here. The point is to get the engine and engine oil truly hot, not just the water temperature as indicated on the temperature gauge. A ten-mile ride will do it. As akspyderman said, I usually just check it at the end of a long ride. Let the engine idle while you take your helmet and gloves off and find the paper towels. Then check the oil. So far, I have not seen a difference if I wait the full 10 minutes of idle. I think that's just BRP's way of making sure everyone is on the same playing field and the engine is truly hot after a ride. The cooling fans will kick on one or more times if you wait the full ten minutes.

As for consumption, the 1330's do seem to use very little oil. When I recently changed oil after 4500 miles, the level was just a trace below where it started 4500 miles earlier. That doesn't mean you shouldn't check it regularly, but it's nice to know you don't have to carry a quart of oil with you on long trips.

Just a suggestion... Download a copy of the 2015 RT owner's manual from the BRP website. It not only contains this change but also contains the revised suggested quantities to add when you do your own oil change (page 125) to avoid overfilling.

 

[jcasey]

I am been looking at threads on checking the oil on my 2014 RT. I just bought it used and have looked at the manual. And as posted I too am a bit confused. I road it for about 45 min doing some errands when I got home I just shut it off and then checked the oil. Nothing was showing on the dip stick, I have owned a few bikes but this one is really different than everything else I have owned in the past.

Anyway I did not see any oil on the dip stick so I added maybe a 1/4 of a quart of the correct oil I had purchased from the dealer. I still did not see any improvement but did not add anymore since I am not sure if I am doing it correctly. Is it put the parking break on and the bike idle for 10min after riding? Or can it just be checked after stopping the bike after a ride of 15 min or more? I don't want to overfill but I don't want to not have enough oil. The gentlemen I bought the bike from took real good care of it so I am sure he did not let it get low at any time. Since I do not know the bike well I am not sure how much or if any oil is burned in this bike. Maybe my method is incorrect

Let me know if you can answer my question or procedure.


Thanks

If you have a 998 you ride it about 7miles to get oil to temp. Let idle 30 sec. and check. The 1330 is different.

 

[Jim&Teresa]

I check it after every long ride. It has NOT used any oil at all in the 26,000+ miles we've rode it. However, I still check it out of habit. What's great is it has not dripped any oil at all. My 2012 RT did drip some oil and use some as well.

Here's what I do and seems to work fine for me....I pull up to the garage after a long ride. Let it idle while I am unpacking it from the ride, put helmet away, jackets, etc. Probably a few minutes at most.

Then I ride it rearward into the garage and let it sit for the first round of the fan to start - which is pretty quick in warm weather. At that point, I shut it off and wait a few minutes. Check it with a paper towel as it's so clear after an oil change you can hardly see it. I just put the end of the dipstick on the towel and it wicks out where the oil line is - much easier than trying to see it on the dipstick.

Our 2014 RT has been a great bike! It's now in it's winter storage (26,457 miles over two riding seasons)....can't wait until spring!

 

[Mr. White]

Maybe you should bring her along to the Spyderfest and other big rides. She could probably make a few bucks changing oil and turning wrench on some of the Spyders.

Geezer, I told her what you said. She thinks this is a good suggestion but her back still hurts from falling off the barn while fixing a hole in the roof. I don't know why it is only 22' high. She said her back hurts while moving the logs at the saw mill, but business is business. Maybe next year.

She is glad I traded for a 2014 because she does not have to change the oil and filters as often.

:spyder2: