Oil full and not burning or cloudy oil check window?

[MThomas]

While the oil check window seems to be a good idea, when I rock the bike on the center stand I don't see any movement/activity ... if I saw an oil line at the top of the window going back and forth I think I'd be more comfortable but seeing nothing at all makes me wonder if no oil got burned off in the 800 or so miles I've driven the bike or if the window itself is crusted/gunked to the point that I'm unable to see the oil level through the crud?

[kirby]

Probably over filled. Common on the 1150 beemer.

[MThomas]

any harm if it's overfilled? on the 944 there's a relief that allows excess oil to dump so as to not harm the engine

[carl1957]

It's never wise to overfill... Go much over the window, seals may be blown, is the conventional wisdom. Has anyone proved this wrong? If I cannot see clear at the top of the window, I'll pull the plug to let some out until I do.

[CycleRob]

MTomas,

I just do not know why many riders will put 4 quarts of oil, more that most small cars take on a oil change, into a motorcycle engine!
The oil is overfilled and some of it will be blown into the airbox, likely oil dampening the paper filter. You can get a pithy explanation of filling and topping off the oil from this guy: http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?p=253117#p253117

[riceburner]

While the oil check window seems to be a good idea, when I rock the bike on the center stand I don't see any movement/activity ... if I saw an oil line at the top of the window going back and forth I think I'd be more comfortable but seeing nothing at all makes me wonder if no oil got burned off in the 800 or so miles I've driven the bike or if the window itself is crusted/gunked to the point that I'm unable to see the oil level through the crud?

You're either overfull, or under filled. perhaps get someone else to watch the window while you lean the bike over to the left (making sure you don't drop it on them!!), and over to the right. you should be able to find the oil level if you lean it far enough.

the normal procedure to check the level is: after a run (at least 30 mins), stand the bike on the side stand for a few minutes, then put the bike on the main stand (on a flat, level surface, natch), and check the window. You may need to clean the window off if it's dirty (mind the hot exhaust pipe!).

You need to check the oil when it's hot, and it should be roughly half way up the window. If it's too low, put in oil roughly 1/4 litr at a time - that way you won't overfill it.

When you put new oil in - you can see the oil level rise in the window a fe seconds after the oil goes in.

[Sunbeemer]

+1 on the above advice, and I would add that I have seen oil-check sight-glasses that were cloudy and that had partially melted from engine overheating.
2002 lenses were made from polycarbonate that would cloud up over time and/or melt under high temps, while the newer glass ones last longer, but are more fragile to install.

Clean the lens with soapy water and look through it with a flashlight for the mirror ~3/8" behind the lens. If the oil is above the top line of the window, it should look brownish inside, but if the oil is below the bottom line it should look water-clear. If the lens is too murky to see through, it's going to be hard to check your oil.
While you're there, look around the rubber seal between the sight glass and the crankcase for any telltale signs of oil weepage or leakage. There should be none.

[MThomas]

having the engine running is everything. I started her up, then shut her down and could clearly see the oil level. it was below halfway in the window so I filled it with yamalube until it was closer to the top of the window. thanks!

[Sunbeemer]

OK, but remember that it takes a few minutes for hot oil to dribble down from the oil coolers before you can get the correct reading of oil level (per BMW engineers).
Cold oil won't return to the crankcase through the closed thermostatic valve, so you may have gotten a falsely low reading and then over-filled the oil.
This happens a lot, and is worse than underfilling by a quart or so as CycleRob explained.

The oil should be checked after the engine is fully warmed up (for me that means at least a 20-mile ride) and then placed on the sidestand for a minimum of 2 minutes (about long enough to fill your gas tank) and then put it on the centerstand to check the oil level in the sight glass.
The time on the sidestand breaks the suction in the cooler lines like tilting a ketchup bottle, so the oil in them will flow down to the crankcase.

Also, this bike has a dry clutch so special motorcycle oils are not needed. You can use regular automotive oils, and best if they are only rated to SAE SG/SH, not SL, SM, SN etc.

[MThomas]

ok so then I'm thinking it makes most sense to check the oil whenever I come back from my ride

[riceburner]

ok so then I'm thinking it makes most sense to check the oil whenever I come back from my ride

Yes - which is what I told you.

[MThomas]

Did that last night but the oil check window was completely dark list before starting the bike.
It shouldn't be.
When I started it, let it run a couple mins, then checked the window was clear and the oil was slightly darker.
Should I have kept the engine running when I check the oil (after the ride). I'm wondering if shutting the engine off is what's turning the window dark

[riceburner]

Did that last night but the oil check window was completely dark list before starting the bike.
It shouldn't be.
When I started it, let it run a couple mins, then checked the window was clear and the oil was slightly darker.
Should I have kept the engine running when I check the oil (after the ride). I'm wondering if shutting the engine off is what's turning the window dark

not quite.

If the window is dark when the engine is off, but light coloured when the engine is running, then the bike "might" be overfilled.

To test the level do the following.

Get on bike.
Start engine
Ride for at least 20-30 minutes.
return to home, or suitable FLAT location.
Stop bike.
Stop engine.
Leave bike on side stand for 2-3 minutes.
Remove helmet (if wearing).
After 2 or 3 minutes, put bike on Main stand.
Leave for 2 - 3 minutes.
Return to bike, kneel to bring eyes to same height from ground as oil sight glass
DO NOT TOUCH EXHAUST WITH FACE.
Examine oil sight glass.

If oil sight glass is DARK (as you saw before you started the bike - see your post above), engine is overfilled. Options here are to try to suck some oil out; drop ALL the oil and replace it (attempting to let only a small amount of oil out from the drain plug is best left to someone else, but if you do try it, please upload the video to YouTube); Ride the bike more: if the oil pressure internally is too high, the oil will be vented from the crankcase breather into the lower part of the airbox. It will gather in the airbox drain tube which can be seen on the Left Rear Side of the Lower part of the Airbox. There is a small plug that can be turned by hand and removed to allow excess oil to be drained. (I don't have a photo at present, but I think someone did upload one recently).

If oil sight glass is LIGHT (as you saw when you'd started the bike - see your post above), engine is under-filled, recommend to add 1/4litr (NOT 1 quart, 0.25 litres) of suitable oil into oil filling hole on Left Side cylinder head
Re-examine oil sight glass after 1 minute. If sight glass is LIGHT, repeat adding of -0.25 litr and wait a minute before re-examining sight glass.
Repeat until a 'level' can be seen within sight glass.
Ideal level for sight glass is approximately half-way.
Oil sight glass displays a difference in level of approximately 0.5 litres. (from 3.5 to 4 litres total oil in engine, I believe).

[MThomas]

So I think I can follow the above instructions if I printed this out but am I the only one wondering if there has to be a simpler way to do this, no?

[kirby]

No

[riceburner]

So I think I can follow the above instructions if I printed this out but am I the only one wondering if there has to be a simpler way to do this, no?

no.

[Sunbeemer]

No, IIWII (It Is What It Is...)

[MThomas]

I followed the steps, with a few extras:

Before starting the bike, the oil check window was completely dark
After starting up the bike, the oil check window was light except for oil about 1/4 up from the bottom of the window.
After at least a 20 min drive, I left the engine on, put it on the sidestand, the oil check window was completely dark.
I left the engine on, put it on the centerstand, the oil check window was halfway full.
I turned off the bike, put it on the sidestand, the oil check window was completely dark.
I let it sit a couple mins, window still completely dark.
I put it on the centerstand, let it sit a few more mins, still completely dark.

I gather this means I'm likely overfilled but I don't understand how were able to conclude this.

Mainly I don't understand why there is no aftermarket dipstick/gizmo that can allow you to check BEFORE driving as recommended in the msf class ... ?

[riceburner]

I followed the steps, with a few extras:

Before starting the bike, the oil check window was completely dark
After starting up the bike, the oil check window was light except for oil about 1/4 up from the bottom of the window.
After at least a 20 min drive, I left the engine on, put it on the sidestand, the oil check window was completely dark.
I left the engine on, put it on the centerstand, the oil check window was halfway full.
I turned off the bike, put it on the sidestand, the oil check window was completely dark.
I let it sit a couple mins, window still completely dark.
I put it on the centerstand, let it sit a few more mins, still completely dark.

I gather this means I'm likely overfilled but I don't understand how were able to conclude this.

Mainly I don't understand why there is no aftermarket dipstick/gizmo that can allow you to check BEFORE driving as recommended in the msf class ... ?

Because life is not always like they teach you in school.

The engine is a 'wet-sump' engine, which means the oil lives within the engine cases.
The engine also has various 'traps' in it's oil pathways (specifically the oil-coolers on the sides of the tank) which can keep oil within themselves unless the oil temperature reaches a certain level (best done by riding).
The engine's sight glass has been positioned to view the oil level when the engine is full of it's correct amount of oil, and that oil is hot (although volumetric expansion of the oil due to heat is not huge, it does make a small difference).

so - we check the oil by riding, leaning on the side stand to get the oil collected in the bottom of the sump, then checking it when the bike has cooled 'somewhat' to avoid burning ourselves on the exhaust. (The metal exhaust will cool much quicker than the oil inside the engine).

[Evan]

look through the sight glass of the upright motorcycle while the motor is running. If there is really just clean oil at high at the moment and your sight glass is not quite so clear / transparent you should see a splash or spray of the oil at least.