12 replies to this topic

[ChrisG]

Due to moving job, house and country, my 900 has spent most of the last 2 years sat in the work bike shed waiting for me to buy a house with space to store it (hopefully moving in January!)

 

I took it for a short ride about 3 months ago and the oil pressure warning light came on, the level was a bit low so I topped it up.

 

Took it home again last night and this morning the light came on again, checked the dip stick and the level is low again.  

 

I'm checking it with the bike on the centrestand, on level ground within a minute or so turning the engine off, and I'd ridden about 10km since I last topped it up.

 

 

 

Is reading it on the centrestand giving me an artificially high reading as the bike's tipped forwards a fraction? 

 

Is oil somehow settling/congealing somewhere when I've not used the bike for ages?  There's no sign of any drips anywhere.

 

 

 

[Catteeclan]

Think I'd give it an oil change and keep an eye after that.
Or drain measure and put it back in.

[ChrisG]

Moving house in January and getting all my tools back out of storage (currently renting an apartment with no outdoor space) so plan to give it a full service then, and realistically it's not going to be doing more than 20km between now and then.

[MarshallStone]

Level goes down without any sign of drips? Curious to know the reason please keep us posted.

[leehenty]

Ride it for 20 mins let the scavenging pump catch up, things should be good

[Apache]

As Lee says, your oil will be in the sump. It needs to be properly warmed up to see a correct tank level. I've always checked the level after riding to be confident it's good to go next time regardless of the sight glass......As for the oil light on ......

[Snowbird]

Is the oil light tank level or pressure?

[Rallyist]

Is the oil light tank level or pressure?

 Level

[ChrisG]

I didn't realise that, always though it was pressure.

The night before the light came off only ridden it about 3-4 km, although in hot weather and heavy traffic so probably took about 15 mins. I'll try riding further before I worry too much then

[Matlock]

Ride it for 20 mins let the scavenging pump catch up, things should be good

Yep, the joys of a dry sump motor, If there's no evidence of an external leak, take it for a good run. Let it cool down, then check the level as per the manual. I always just held mine vertical on a level surface, I didn't have a centrestand. 

[TKH]

Centre stand will lift the rear off the ground and leave the front wheel touching. Your bike wont be properly level. I don't know how much it will impact the level but it must have some affect.

[chrisr]

Stick 4 litres in when you change the filter, then forget about it till the next change! Cant believe you had to top it up Chris!

Edited by chrisr, 13 September 2021 - 04:58 pm.

[ChrisG]

Stick 4 litres in when you change the filter, then forget about it till the next change! Cant believe you had to top it up Chris!

 

I'll presumably need to run it long enough to make sure it's sucked everything out of the sump before changing the filter though, so I guess by that point I'll already have seen it it comes back up the dipstick. As a former Mk1 owner I'm a bit paranoid about riding it when it says the oil is low though 

 

Thinking about it I have no idea where's best to buy parts over here at sensible prices so I might have to order some oil, a filter, brake fluid, etc in the UK when I'm back at Christmas (as well as some more packs of chocolate hobnobs).  The oil I bought the other week was extortionate compared to the usual Castrol for Halfords. 

Edited by ChrisG, 15 September 2021 - 01:21 pm.