How we check oil level & how do we fix overfill?

[steve_wicks]

I have just finished removing my airbox and fitting foam 'sock' filters and a breather hose to see what is happening with my oil leaks.

Then I checked the oil level again when I unscrewed the dipstick - at max mark - and I suddenly wondered if it is overfull. I read somewhere that it should be around the halfway mark.

But do we measure oil level with dipstick screwed in or just resting on the opening?

Next question: is there an un-messy way of getting rid of excess oil?

[drewboid]

Dipstick - just resting on the opening.
Getting rid of excess - siphon hose or a short length of hose with a turkey baster (not the one you use to baste the turkey however!)

With absolutely no reason to back it up I run with the level near or at max. the only way the level would rise over max is if you are getting gasoline into the oil (left the bike on the sidestand and didn't turn off the gas did you?). The larger volume of oil MAY give better cooling?

Anyway - the engine designers said not over max so why not leave it that way. BTW - my R75/6 has the deeper oil pan. More oil so less of a percentage of contaminants?
YMMV

[nhmaf]

Yes, dipstick plug should be resting on the shoulder of the hole (unscrewed) to measure the oil level - make sure that your bike is on the centerstand on level ground, wipe off the oil from the stick scale and put it back so that the plug/cap is resting on the top of the hole threads for a little bit and re-check.  You will probably find that the oil level is between the minimum and halfway to full.    For some reason, all airheads I've owned seem to like being in the middle of the range.  If I fill them towards the top mark, they tended to blow more oil out the crankcase breather hose into the airbox until they were a bit lower, and then all was fine, with no further oil blowing.

[Justin B.]

I've heard the Airhead engine oil level described as "self regulating", as in it will huff out what it doesn't want.  Like Mike, I run all of mine in the middle of the range and have no issues...

[steve_wicks]

Okay .... so resting and showing 3/4 full is the same as screwed in and showing maximum. Makes me think it should be checked screwed in otherwise with the dipstick resting and showing to full is obviously overfull if it blows it out.

Mine is at very maximum screwed in a puffs oil into the airbox so much so that it runs out the drain hole at the back. It also now leaks from sump gasket & pushrod & cyl base.

I've taken airbox off and got foam filters & breather pipe so I'll see what happens.

I might take some oil out ......simply loosen sump plug and let it out while cold so it don't burn mah hand.

[Justin B.]

Makes me think it should be checked screwed in

No, it should be checked completely "un-screwed"!  In fact, the owners manual states in bold lettering ...insert in the hole (do not screw in) to check the oil level.  Removing the airbox will not affect this condition.  Are you the type that constantly checks and "tops-off" the oil if it gets under the max mark?  I used to be until I learned to leave it alone and when it got to somewhere around half between full and add it quit "using" oil.  I now just fill to that amount when I change the oil and everybody is happy!

[steve_wicks]

I usually ad oil when it shows min - at least on my Honda.

The BMW I haven't added anything as it has allways shown enough oil. I had oil changed etc when the clutch & seals were done in Feb and it has leaked oil ever since.

I took the airbox off simply so I can see how much oil is coming out and noticed the pipe going into the carb intakes is split where it comes into the airbox. so whatever should be going down the carbs isn't.

I'll take it for a run tomorrow (Sat)with the catch bottle on and see.

I love this forum .... its like a 24hr help-line!!

[Justin B.]

I'd go ahead and let it barf out what it doesn't want but don't go below the minimum mark.  It may settle down pretty soon when it gets the level where it wants it to be.  Go ahead and order a new hose as I suppose it would be possible for unfiltered air to get sucked into the airbox if that hose is split.

[Bob_Roller]

Is the part that is split, the formed hose that comes off the top of the crankcase ventilation housing, and snaps into the front of the airbox ?

If you have trouble finding the part, let me know, as the picture in the parts catalog looks nothing like the part itself !!

[MrRiden]

Hey Bob,
After all this time I still have the pic. Didn't save the part # tho...doh! Fixed my oily airbox.

[steve_wicks]

Oh vey!

There's lots of oil in the airbox and the tube from the crank vent is split as it comes into the airbox - as are the smaller tubes in the airbox - and oil has been leaking out the drain hole at the back.

The sump gasket doesn't seem to bad, but the pushrod seals are the main culprits.

I'm pretty certain that oil was overfilled.