Oil Leak

[tiredofbs4]

Today got on the mistress adfter 4 days of being idle cuz of the snow. Noticed oil low. So added 2 quarts went out to run errands come outnof walmart checked dial she still low so added 2 more quarts rode home parked. Unloaded stuff i bought and in 5 minutes puddle of oil forming on pavement. It seem to be coming from high like under the chrome cover dribbling down the bike to ground any ideas?

[Mr Jensee]

Say what?? How does your motorcycle get 2 quarts low on oil? Then you added 2 more quarts? How much oil does a 1300 hold? How were you checking it? Lots of missing information here.

[Lucasind]

I would bet that you NOW have overfilled the engine ....and it is likely blowing oil out of the crankcase breather...... VERY unlikely that your bike would suddenly become 4 quarts low on engine oil ...... let us know what you find out, yes and more info needed.

[cranky]

... I read this @ 4 times and walked away.... it hurt my mind soooooo bad I couldn't type anything..
Thank for " breaking the ice", so to speak....

There is SOOOOO much wrong here.... anyone that has been around for 2 daze and is able to
ride a motorcycle just can't do this.... was there any oil on the floor under the scoot?
Are the mirrors unusable due to the huge cloud of smoke blocking view? How did Ya
check the oil? ..... and it just goes on and I just guessed this is a mid Jan bored fishing
post...... and then I figgured NO one could...... and then I just walked away..... sigh...

Let's see if it's followed up with some sanity.... I hope!!!! JM2C

[Lucasind]

At this point it is time to start over . Drain out the engine oil ...(and while your at it , you might as well install a new filter) then fill the crankcase with the correct amount of oil, as mentioned above ....if you are'n't Leaking out your oil, or burning it with a cloud of smoke out the tail pipes...... you should be good to go .

online search says KZ 1300 4.5 liter or 4.7 qt. oil capacity..but the ZN holds more. I did not walk out to the shop and look it up in my manual.....YMMV

[Highway Rider]

Yes I have to agree that this is vary hard to follow not enough information
this is where a support ticket would come in to play if the information that is filled in is correct.
This bike on a complete oil change only hold 6.6 quarts, without changing filter it will take 5.9 quarts so 3/4 of a quart is figured in just for the filter.

These images are right out of the kz1300 owners manual.
click on images for a better view

It holds

Was the oil light on

when checking oil did you

And then do this

When you say dial just what do you mean

[Me Again]

I am assuming you are checking this by the oil level light .
DON'T .The sensor will get dirty and will go on even if you are not low .
Use the sight glass and make sure you are not overfilling . On the side stand I fill until just below the full mark .
If on the centerstand filling to the add mark will make it appear overfilled when dropped to the side stand .
In some cases just changing the oil or adding a detergent additive will be enough to keep it off for awhile ,but it will eventually come back.

[trikebldr]

First of all, these are the ZN1300, not the KZ1300, and they are quite different in their engines as far as the sump is concerned. A lot of KZ owners swap their sumps for the ZN sumps for added capacity. The clutches are different, too, and the oil sight glass is on the left side of the engine on the ZN1300 rather than shown in the pic as on the right side, as the KZ1300 is.

Yes, they do a take a bit over 6 quarts (US) when the filter is replaced. Also, that sight glass will sometimes be so cruddy that you can't tell if there is oil there or not. A big mistake is thinking there is no oil there when actually it is overfilled and doesn't show a level line since it is totally submerged in oil.

As has been said before, drain it all out and replace the filter. Start by adding five quarts until you see a bit of oil in the sight glass. Then slowly add more until the correct level. Now, start it up and let it warm for about 10 minutes, then shut it off and check the level. It WILL be low after filling the filter. Add more until it is correct.

[trikebldr]

Me Again made an EXCELLENT point about not using the oil light to determine if oil is needed! NEVER, NEVER , NEVER believe that light!!!! It will frequently tell you that the oil is low when it isn't! The sight glass is the only true indicator to use!

As has been said before, all that oil under your bike is from over-filling if you have been using the light to tell you when you need oil!