Oil sight glass

[dsmmrm]

I have read in numerous places here that the sight glass cannot be trusted and will outright lie to you like a delinquent step child. The conventional wisdom appear to be change the oil and filter, be sure to get both drain plugs, and put in 3 quarts plus 22 oz and disregard the sight glass. Correct so far?

So after you have changed it how do you monitor it over the ensuing weeks? Presumably you could see leakage but you still have be able to tell if you are using any, aka burning it. In my case I just got it, the oil looks fairly new but other than draining it out and dumping it back in how can I tell if the PO put in the right amount?

[voyager55]

I ignore checking oil level. I change oil every 3000 (Rotella Dino oil) and have never had a problem. As stated that oil sight glass can't be trusted and will drive you crazy if you keep checking it.
In your case I'd change it to be sure it was done correctly, Then you don't have to worry

[dsmmrm]

Unless, of course, it's using it as a rate that could cause a dangerously low level over those 3k miles. You are right, though. I need to change it regardless since even if it was done recently I don't know what or how much was put in there.

[cranky]

use the sightglass but put it on the kick stand, at some point you're going to see oil in the in the sightglass and then you can monitor from there. My next change, that is what I'm gonna do....

[Gator Mike]

crankyb is correct. If I put mine on the kick stand and check it atleast an hour after shut down, the oil level will be about 1/4 of an inch above the bottom of the site glass. I don't worry about the lines on the glass, if there is oil visible its good to go. Guess it could happen but I've never heard of a Voyager using oil. Must be magic.

[cushman eagle]

The bike does meed to be setting level,as crankyb said,if it is leaning to the right ,or left of vertical it will be off.I check mine at 2000 miles,and change it at 4000-4500.We find on heavy trucks,if they are not setting level,the dipstick can show +or - as much as a gallon off.

[voyager55]

If you want the bike level it needs to be on the center stand

[dsmmrm]

Thanks for the clarification, v55 and cushman. That's what I thought cranky and mike meant but it's nice to have corroboration.

[cranky]

.... for me, put the scoot level front to back, put it on the side stand
so can see a noticeable oil level....

[Thadbaker86voyager]

I changed oil, put in proper amount (3 quarts 22oz). Parked it on the same level spot, on center stand, and noted where level was in sight glass. For mine around the center of the glass, maybe slightly below. Always park it in the same place, on center stand, and check it before next ride. Has stayed the same level. Previous owner had it way over full and it would smoke on start up, plus tapet noise. Correct level, cured smoke and noise! has been perfect for several months now.

[dsmmrm]

I read a post somewhere here that said the biggest symptom of overfilled oil was lifter noise due to the oil foaming. I'm not experiencing that or smoking so I guess It's at least not overfilled. In fact, the motor is very quiet in general. I had read so much about transmission noise and such I was prepared to be sitting on a clothes washer. I was pleasantly surprised that this is not the case.

[voyager55]

It foams and creates noisy lifters to

[cushman eagle]

The bike does meed to be setting level,as crankyb said,if it is leaning to the right ,or left of vertical it will be off.I check mine at 2000 miles,and change it at 4000-4500.We find on heavy trucks,if they are not setting level,the dipstick can show +or - as much as a gallon off.

I failed to mention,that my bike needs to be on the center stand to be level,not the side stand.

[ghostler]

Bike is not much different than a modern car engine. Unless one is losing oil through poor sealing gaskets, poor sealing piston rings or valve guide seals, etc., oil loss is very minimal between normal change intervals. The oil sight glass is sensitive to suspension changes from tires, suspension springs and shock air pressure, parked surface anomalies and even varied between bikes, etc. On some bike, sight glass was totally filled no matter the attitude.
Hence came the wise sage advice toward most for changing oil and don't bother with checking level.

On the other hand, my 1986 Suzuki LS650 Savage single cylinder air cooled was a different story. It ran hotter especially in warmer weather. Although it had tight compression, good valve guide seals and no oil leaks, it would consume a quarter quart of oil every 500 miles when temperatures got above 90 degrees F (32 C). There, I religiously checked the oil every other fill. (Fuel fill was roughly every 100 miles, as I had a 2.8 gallon tank. Why manufacturers insist on cute looking small gas tanks on mid size cruisers beats me. Yet their 250 cc single cylinder GZ250 Marauder had a 4 gallon tank. Some have ruined the engine by failing to check and maintain oil level. )

After riding the 250 Honda Rebels and Suzuki Marauders at an MSF course (employer safety training requirement on government installations regardless of riding experience), the Savage felt and throttled like a "big bike" when riding home.

[dsmmrm]

My concern is more monitoring the engine health as it ages. I'm not real concerned about usage with 34k on it now but once I pass 100k and up it would be nice to have a feel for how the engine is evolving, specifically with regard to rings, valve guides, etc. Over the years I have found that monitoring small changes in various subsystems can alert you to big failures before they happen, specifically with regard to consumption of oil, fuel, and coolant that fall outside of normal expectations.

I Just got the filter, this weekend I'll do the oil change with he recommended type and amount of oil and note the sight glass reference point while on the center stand in the middle of my garage after letting it set for a while. That should give me enough info for my purposes. It's not a space shuttle, after all, an ounce or 2 either way won't make it blow up (I hope).

[ghostler]

Dave, after reading comments in this and various forums on the XII, the bike's engine is rock solid if maintained. Similar to other tourers like the Hondas, it is not unusual to put a couple hundred thousand miles on the engine without major work. That's why there are still a lot of them on the road and in use. If something should happen and the engine is ruined, it's cheaper to buy a good used one from Carl Leo or other reputable salvage dealers for under $1k, and keep the legacy going.

[cranky]

Over the years I have found that monitoring small changes in various subsystems can alert you to big failures before they happen, specifically with regard to consumption of oil, fuel, and coolant that fall outside of normal expectations.

I Just got the filter, this weekend I'll do the oil change with he recommended type and amount of oil and note the sight glass reference point while on the center stand in the middle of my garage after letting it set for a while. That should give me enough info for my purposes. It's not a space shuttle, after all, an ounce or 2 either way won't make it blow up (I hope).

+ a gazillion!!! Find a reference point that YOU know to be 3qt 22oz and know where Ya start and monitor
usage!!!!!! Not knowing will drive Ya nuts!!!! ..... er.... GBG IMHO, I don't care what Ya use for a reference
point, side/center on your right foot! Just know how to monitor change!!!!

[Mr Jensee]

This is the funnel I use to change oil. It is great because it has it marked in cc so you can accurately put in the correct amount of oil. It has a lid to keep oil from spilling and a valve and screen so you can shut off the flow if necessary.

http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_ ... enh-z8.jpg

[dsmmrm]

Oooh, I want one of those. Any idea where they can be had?

[cranky]

... I typed in "measure oil funnel" in a google search and of course Amazon to the
rescue... not the same but looks very workable.... http://tinyurl.com/ybh5ulvc

most oil containers are metered, you can look at the side and know how much
Ya are using, funnels are cheap.. JM2C