Whats up with the oil level glass?

[OldSuperSport]

When I go out to a cold bike and look at the oil level, its always over the top of the glass. If I warm it up like the book says then let it sit for a couple minutes the oil comes down into the window.

When I changed the oil recently (first time, 100 miles) I ended up putting in like 5 qts to get the oil to appear in the window! Now I have drained about a half qt out to get it right. Can the oil level only be checked after a heatup and drain period, and not on a cold thoroughly drained engine?

[OldSuperSport]

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm also used to I-4's and the oil check was never a problem, I always trust the dipstick! Just a new bike to get used to.

[Hewhois]

The oil drains out of parts of the engine, so when cold the site glass shows more oil. After the engine is warmed up, some of that oil is distributed throughout the system, causing the oil in the site glass to show less. That's how I understand it anyway :)

Believe it or not, the ST1300's sight glass is *mucho* easier to use than the 1150RT. And the 1150RT needed the oil checked *much* more often than the ST1300.

[NormanPCN]

Also the oil seems to drain slowly. Let the bike sit at least 3 minutes but why not let it set five minutes.

FWIW. I noticed sometime ago that when I parked and put the bike on the sidestand and shut off and then later put the bike on the centerstand to check the oil level it was not accurate. It has always been accurate when I shut off while the bike was level on the center stand. This is only anecdotal as I have not tried an repeatable experiments.

[Fireball18]

Yeah, it you all want an experience in frustration, try to reading your oil level in an RT. Even the BMW people don't really know how to read it or how to interpret what it says. But, then, it's a BMW. It vass made yust right for you, yah?

[ligito]

When the bike sits, all of the oil drains down to the bottom and fills up the sight glass.

When you run the bike, it distributes the oil throughout the engine and you have to wait a couple of minutes after shutting down, for it to reach the correct level for viewing.

At least, that's how I understand it.

[beastie]

I know this has been posted before, but it is a great read -

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Consumables.html#Oil

I follow this and since my beaST doesn't leak oil, I don't even bother to check. Oh, I might check now and then using Honda's owner's manual method, but not very often. If I park on the center stand and then look in the morning it is at or above the top line. So what!

Drain the oil - change the filter - pour in 4.1 qts. - ride. :BDH: