Checking oil level

[Jeriatric]

Was in a conversation on this subject with a tech recently. You would not believe the horror stories he shared concerning customers bringing their spyder's in with one complaint or another. Which ended up being caused by low oil level. :lecturef_smilie:The worst was a full quart and a half low. Holy cow!!

Spyder's in general use oil. Some more than others. It needs to be checked at least every third fill up or until you're satisfied you know your engines usage well enough to establish a corresponding oil check interval.

How often do you check yours?







Not trying to tell anyone what to do by posting this. Consider it a Spyder/Rotax PSA.
Your engine likes to have its oil checked nojoke

 

[Green RSS]

Thanks for the advice. Checking your oil is sometimes a forgotten task.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I agree it is amazing that some people have no idea how to check their oil and think that they can go 4,000 miles without checking and or adding oil. :yikes: Mine typically uses a quart between changes.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Oil check interval

I normally check every month. Which over this winter has been 4 to 5 fuel ups or 400 to 600 miles.

Consumption of oil has been less the 6 ounces. It is more of a PIA to unstick the dipstick o-ring from the block and get it back on the dipstick plug then it is to check. My dealer always has the remnants of a fresh container of oil laying around from a previous customers LOF job.

 

[jerpinoy]

You must be a Spyder lover if you check your oil after and each you ride time.:yes::yes::yes:Getttin her done:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[AbNormy]

Checked mine a week after the 14k svc, dealer overfilled it by almost .5 qt and the grommets misinstalled so the left cover dnt fit right. Guess they figured id never notice?:banghead::banghead::banghead::thumbdown:

From Deep in the Hart of Texas!

 

[Chupaca]

Let's see..!!

The recommended interval is 500 miles. Of course this is under normal ryding according to who..?? I ryde hard and double up so I check after trips over 200 miles and usually will add after 2 trips some but not that much. We have an RS and it is easy to check coming in hot...drains back quicker and no foam...:dontknow:

 

[Blue Star]

Check oil? Every time I get the service done

How often do you check yours?

I check every 500 miles (approx), unless if the 500 point is going to be in the middle of a ride. Then I will check before I leave. So far I have only had to put in a couple ounces at one time, and that was when I forgot to check at 500, so I waited until 800 miles.

 

[JkRbbt]

OK, admittedly I am new to this game. Only have 200 miles so far, but I have pulled the panel on the RT a couple of times to "practice". I tried following the advice given here. Came back from the ride, shut her down, pulled the panel and checked her while she was warm. Even wiping the dipstick and re-inserting fully, the entire stick seems to be wet. I can't seem to get a good reading. Should I wait a tad longer for the oil to settle? Suggestions? Thanx.

 

[Jeriatric]

OK, admittedly I am new to this game. Only have 200 miles so far, but I have pulled the panel on the RT a couple of times to "practice". I tried following the advice given here. Came back from the ride, shut her down, pulled the panel and checked her while she was warm. Even wiping the dipstick and re-inserting fully, the entire stick seems to be wet. I can't seem to get a good reading. Should I wait a tad longer for the oil to settle? Suggestions? Thanx.

Here's how I check it.

Once hot (lets say I'm stopping for fuel)

Let it idle for a minute before shut down.

Pull panel.

Remove dipstick and wipe.

Reinsert - making sure not to rub it against the threads (clean hole insertion)

Remove - not letting it touch anything again.

Take reading (add oil if needed) and recheck - If you're adding oil and lolly gagging too (I'm good at this one), restart engine for a minute shut down and recheck.

If you have done this and your stick is wet above the full line. It has most likely been overfilled.

 

[currin20fan]

oil

You must be a Spyder lover if you check your oil after and each you ride time.:yes::yes::yes:Getttin her done:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

Hey.....if I'm going on a long ride I WILL check my oil and thats almost every time I ryde. Better to have oil than NONE.

 

[NancysToy]

Here's how I check it.

Once hot (lets say I'm stopping for fuel)

Let it idle for a minute before shut down.

Pull panel.

Remove dipstick and wipe.

Reinsert - making sure not to rub it against the threads (clean hole insertion)

Remove - not letting it touch anything again.

Take reading (add oil if needed) and recheck - If you're adding oil and lolly gagging too (I'm good at this one), restart engine for a minute shut down and recheck.

If you have done this and your stick is wet above the full line. It has most likely been overfilled.

Note: Unlike most motorcycles, the Spyder oil level is supposed to be measured with the dipstick all the way screwed in. If you don't screw it in, your level will be higher than you think.

 

[Jeriatric]

Note: Unlike most motorcycles, the Spyder oil level is supposed to be measured with the dipstick all the way screwed in. If you don't screw it in, your level will be higher than you think.

Yea, guess I should have noted that. That's what I get for assuming it's known.

 

[donec]

3 questions

I have never changed the oil in my spyder or even checked the oil only the dealer has so far.

Spyder has been setting for a while and I checked the oil after a 2 hour ride. I pulled into the garage shut down the engine took off my helmet, gloves and the panel (I figured that should have been enough time). Unscrewed the dip stick wiped it off reinserted it and screwed it all the way down removed it and found the level to be almost to the top of the dipstick appearing to have twice the oil it should. I'm sure it is not twice as much as what is required but it looks that way.

1. Does anyone have any idea how much oil should be removed to bring it down to proper level?

2. Could it be I just did not wait long enough after shutting down?

BTW I only have 500 miles since the last oil change but it has not been ridden since about mid winter so it has set for several months and I was always told that you should cange oil every 3000 miles or 3 months but the manual for the spyder says nothing about the time for regular changes.

3. Question is should the oil be changed and if so should the filter also be changed even with so few miles?

 

[2 Cruysyn]

Try this and see if it'll work for you.

You can check and adjust the engine oil level (fallowing correct procedures ie. at operating temperature) without having to screw the dip stick in every time. Simply set the dip stick down against the threads and the full mark is now at the center of the first complete "X" below the standard full line.

 

[JkRbbt]

I appreciate the comments, folks. For grins, I just checked the oil COLD. It is about 1/4 of the add-to-full range ABOVE the full mark. I guess that is over servicing. Geez, I never thought to check it the first time I rode. It had just been set up. Ideas on how much to take out or just take her back to the dealer? Am I gonna hurt her by riding to the dealer? Probably no more than the first 200 miles, eh? Fercryinoutloud!! :gaah:

 

[2 Cruysyn]

For what it's worth the 2010-2011 RT service manual says:

NOTE: The oil quantity between ADD mark and "F" mark is 0.5 L (.5 qut (U.S. liq.)).

This statement is made in the section on adding oil when the level is under the operating range. That means the oil is at operating temperature.

I use a rather large syringe (the kind without the needle) with a length of tubing on the end to extract oil from my tank when I have it analyzed. Should work well for pulling the excess out of your tank.

 

[bruiser]

When checking the oil, you have to let the engine idle at least 30 seconds before shut down. This scavenges the oil and gives the proper reading. As Scotty said, you do have to screw the dipstick all the way in. I just take the o-ring off and set it aside while checking, then put it back on the dipstick when finished.

I just did my 4600 mile oil change this morning. Been putting a lot of hard miles on this last week. Wanted to have it done before Spyderfest.

 

[Jeriatric]

I appreciate the comments, folks. For grins, I just checked the oil COLD. It is about 1/4 of the add-to-full range ABOVE the full mark. I guess that is over servicing. Geez, I never thought to check it the first time I rode. It had just been set up. Ideas on how much to take out or just take her back to the dealer? Am I gonna hurt her by riding to the dealer? Probably no more than the first 200 miles, eh? Fercryinoutloud!! :gaah:

Oil check readings must be done when the engine is at operating temprature and be done in the sequence noted in your manual.

COLD readings mean absolutely nothing as it relates to proper oil level.

 

[Jeriatric]

I have never changed the oil in my spyder or even checked the oil only the dealer has so far.

Spyder has been setting for a while and I checked the oil after a 2 hour ride. I pulled into the garage shut down the engine took off my helmet, gloves and the panel (I figured that should have been enough time). Unscrewed the dip stick wiped it off reinserted it and screwed it all the way down removed it and found the level to be almost to the top of the dipstick appearing to have twice the oil it should. I'm sure it is not twice as much as what is required but it looks that way.

1. Does anyone have any idea how much oil should be removed to bring it down to proper level?

2. Could it be I just did not wait long enough after shutting down?

BTW I only have 500 miles since the last oil change but it has not been ridden since about mid winter so it has set for several months and I was always told that you should change oil every 3000 miles or 3 months but the manual for the spyder says nothing about the time for regular changes.

3. Question is should the oil be changed and if so should the filter also be changed even with so few miles?

1. Enough to get it down to the full mark.

2. Based on how you described it you waited long enough.

2/3. Read the section on Transportation and storage in your owner manual.