/another question

[Danger4u2]

So when you put in 3 quarts 22 oz. where is it in the sight glass? Over full, half way, no oil at all? I've only changed it once. On the center stand in ambient tempture I put it at the full line. Good, bad? Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks.

[Highway Rider]

So when you put it on the center stand now where is it in the sight window

[SgtSlag]

I ignore the sight window. I just put in 3 qt., 22 oz. I don't bother checking the sight window. Owned my Voyager XII since 2010. We've put 20,000 miles on it, around 8 oil changes (one/year, 4-6 month riding season), without any oil issues, or usage. I would not worry about it.

Having said that, I would drain the oil, opening both drain plugs, and change the filter (every time), and put 3 qt. 22 oz. in it. Then run it down the road, and put it on the center stand, at home. Come back the next day, and check the sight glass. Repeat this process randomly, for three months, or until your next oil change. Make notes on the level in the glass. This will give you a pattern, or average, to expect. The 3 qt. 22 oz. is from Carl Leo, a retired Kawasaki Certified Voyager XII mechanic. Nearly everyone on this forum follows his recommendations, and uses the 3qt. 22 oz. oil volume, for oil + filter changes, without issue. Cheers!

[cushman eagle]

With my bike level,right to left,it is just above center of the sight glass This is after the engine cools down from a ride following an oil change.

[cranky]

... + 1 ... I'm guessing here but I'd say mine is about 3/4 of the glass, and
of course, burns/loses no oil...

[ekap1200]

With my bike level,right to left,it is just above center of the sight glass This is after the engine cools down from a ride following an oil change.

I always thought that level was a bit dynamic / changing as the engine pumps oil up to the front pinion. And then as the bike sits a spell the oil finds a lower level as is seeps back down thru the bearing .
Personally I never look at it. I do give the underside a visual looking at for leaks but pretty much 3qts-22oz's and run it until its time for a change. 95,584 miles as of today. Looked at the sight glass maybe 20 times in all that mileage .
Gene

[Danger4u2]

Thanks guys, I'll try the 3 quarts 22 oz. and let you know where it settles. Since my bike is new to me I watched the oil for the first few thousand miles.
Like most Kawi's if it's not leaking or burning it's ok. Unless it's a KLR650. Mine was a 2007 the last year of the Gen.1. Never saw any smoke and it didn't leak. But if you run them at 75 to 80 mph for long periods of time they use a little oil. I used the KLR for an SS1000 2017 Solar Eclipse Gold IBA ride. It used about half a sight glass in 1055 miles on that ride.

[jengstrom]

So when you put it on the center stand now where is it in the sight window

This is going to be different for everybody, I suspect. Not only are there slight variations in the bikes themselves, there is variation caused by front tire model, wear, and tire air pressure differences, as well as shock air pressure for those of us with the original front shocks. I think the best you can hope for is to figure out what's normal FOR YOUR BIKE and use that as your reference.

That said, now that I've had mine for a year, I've developed some confidence in it and don't check it very often. I've done 2 oil changes since I've had it. I follow the common advice to put in exactly 3qt 22oz (3.5 liters, like the manual calls for). With my bike, that puts the oil level about 2/3 up the sight glass.

John

[Danger4u2]

I changed the oil tonight. I pulled the oil filter and the 2 drain plugs and let it drip for a few hours.
I used a Wix # 24941 ($9 with tax @ O'Reilly Auto Parts) that comes with the 2 o-rings. Torqued the filter @ 174 in-lb (14.5 ft-lb) and the drain bolts @
264 in-lb (22 ft-lb). I added Castrol 10-40 simi-synthetic Act>Evo Motorcycle oil.

I used 3 quarts 22 ounce and started the engine just long enough to pressure the system.
I let it set for 30 minutes and it was at the half way mark on the sight glass.
So your suggestion of 3 quarts 22 oz. was right on the mark, pun intended.

Edit 9/9/18: I removed my joke with the wrong amount, I didn't want anyone to get the wrong amount stuck in their head.

[cranky]

... be still my heart!!! GBG ...... had me goin' there!!!!!
Hope all is great!!!!

Mine was over full when I got it, I
over filled it on change, my wrench did it... and from now
on ... he only gets 3qt 22oz of oil!!!, and I used 15x50
which is too thick, and it made noises...

Last time I made sure he put in 3/22 and I used
Mobil 1 motorcycle oil, yeah, expensive, but finance
it over a year, and big whoop!!!!! Made a BIG difference!!!

[dsmmrm]

Thanks guys, I'll try the 3 quarts 22 oz. and let you know where it settles. Since my bike is new to me I watched the oil for the first few thousand miles.
Like most Kawi's if it's not leaking or burning it's ok. Unless it's a KLR650. Mine was a 2007 the last year of the Gen.1. Never saw any smoke and it didn't leak. But if you run them at 75 to 80 mph for long periods of time they use a little oil. I used the KLR for an SS1000 2017 Solar Eclipse Gold IBA ride. It used about half a sight glass in 1055 miles on that ride.

Good God, man. You rode a KLR for 1055 miles? Do you still have the stock vinyl suppository they call a seat on it? You should get credit for 2,000 at the very least. Road miles on a KLR are like dog years. Off the beaten path, however, it's a different story. I miss mine but the most mileage I have ever been able to endure in one day was 500, give or take a few.

[Danger4u2]

Yes, of the 13 IBA rides I've done, that was the hardest on my body. I had the Corbin flat seat. Better than a stock KLR seat but only by 25%.
I met more people on that KLR than any other bike I've had. I should say more people that I still ride with. I bought it new in late '06, it was an '07.
I put a little more than 27,000 on it before I traded it for my '95 Voyager XII. I've done 2 IBA's on the Voyager. An SS1000 to Midland,TX and back to Okc.
Then, on the Spring Equinox this year, I did an SS1000 IN-CITY Insanity Okc. 1056 miles in less than 24 hours and never left Oklahoma City.
It sure is a big difference riding the Voyager instead of the KLR. Night and day comfort.

[dsmmrm]

Mine had the Corbin seat, too. Mostly just a bigger suppository made of brick. I agree it is marginally better than the stock seat. Of all the bikes I have had come and go I miss that one the most. Mine was '96.

[Danger4u2]

Mine had the Corbin seat, too. Mostly just a bigger suppository made of brick. I agree it is marginally better than the stock seat. Of all the bikes I have had come and go I miss that one the most. Mine was '96.

That's the best part of the KLR, '96 or '07, only thing that changed was the color. Black and Gold was the fastest.

dsmmrm, I moved our KLR/IBA discussion to a more appropriate thread.
https://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/view ... 172#p85172