OK this is really doing my head in. Did an oil change at weekend and topped up to top of the dipstick. Went for 100 mile blast and it didn't use a single drop of oil. Level was exactly the same at top of the dipstick. Started it today and let it idle for a few minutes before shutting down and waiting a few minutes as per the procedure in the manual and checked the level again. Its now at 2/3 rd full on the dipstick and the engine hasn't even been started. Why the difference in levels ? It has no external leaks guaranteed and I checked the level multiple times on each occasion as paranoid about oil level.
This is probably an utterly useless reply mate but my 08 does the same, the dipstick test drives me mad. I've had a few more mechanically adapt blokes check I'm not weirding- out? Its like a Bermuda triangle in there. Cant figure it at all. As you note, no real pattern either. I know very early ones had a rep for burning oil like Saddams army in retreat but mines never leaked and does nt smoke (unlike its owner). Odd. GaryS
Thanks for the reply. Mine is the same it doesnt burn much and has no external leaks. I really can't understand why the level would change when the bike hasn't even been used between checks. I know its sounds like its me getting it wrong and its operator error but I'm confident its not me. I have put a spirit level on the seat to ensure the bike is always in exactly the same position when checking the level. One day its on the upper limit the next after letting it idle and leaving for 5 minutes for all oil to drain back to sump (as per the manual) its a 1/3 of the way down the dipstick. WTF is going on. Reason I'm so paranoid is one day I checked the level and it was in the mid position on the dipstick the next day I can't even get a level on there which was worrying and I hadn't even ridden the bike.
Wouldn't hot oil be a higher level as if anything the oil molecules will have expanded when hotter so taking up more space and therefore showing a higher level which is the reserve of what is actually happening. The level is lower when warm. Enough oil in the engine is my concern. If the level varies considerably with zero use how do I know which is the correct level and when everything is OK. Damage can be done by over filling as well as the more obvious under filling.
Thought you said ok after 100 mile blast but lower after on and off which would be cooler, surely. Mine is a sight glass and i just balance mine as best I can, any tilt does make quite a difference. Hope you figure it out
I have this problem too if checked via the official method. Running the motor and leaving for a few minutes can give really inconsistent levels. Now I only check when the oil is pretty cold i.e a long while after shutting down the engine. Normally I check after a night on my Warrior stand as this ensure the bike is level in both x and y, normally keep the levels around 80-90%.
Cheers slick great info and glad its not just me thought I was going mad. Although I fully 100% agree with your method of checking when stood overnight as its the only reliable method available playing devil's advocate if something went wrong Honda would agrue it wasn't maintain as per procedure.
Apparently, Honda's requirement is that the oil level is checked every single ride! How someone would prove whether they had done that or not is another matter.
Dipstick is PITA for checking the level. I would prefer a sight glass like 99% of other bikes including other Honda's.
