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[Rickasha]

Got the new bike home the other day, and as always checked the oil level to make sure it was full. With the bike hot and on the jiffy stand, the oil level was at the half way mark on the dipstick, or in the same location as if full cold. After the bike sat overnight I checked the level cold and got the same reading? Does the Syn 3 not expand like the old petroleum based oil? If not, should I bring the level to the full mark on the dipstick or keep it at the half way point??

[Boatman]

Most of us run the oil level 1/2 way between the full mark and the add mark as yours is now.

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

What Boatman said.
Scott

[Rickasha]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate your responses!!!

[Hx3]

Why not run it full?

[Twolanerider]

Why not run it full?

When filled to "full" when cold these engines often mist; sometimes significantly.  That is to say they'll push oil or aerated/cavitated oil mist up through the breather system in the head and out the air cleaner.

[Hx3]

But if the dipstick is at half when hot wouldn't you want to fill it the rest of the way?   

[Twolanerider]

But if the dipstick is at half when hot wouldn't you want to fill it the rest of the way?   

I never pay any attention to the level on the dipstick unless the bike is about 4k miles in to an oil change and obviously needs topped off.  For fill level, however, I pay attention to a half quart low when cold.  Anything more than that and either of my bikes (along with many others) will mist.  Use in practice is the guide for this one.

[Midnight Rider]

When filled to "full" when cold these engines often mist; sometimes significantly.  That is to say they'll push oil or aerated/cavitated oil mist up through the breather system in the head and out the air cleaner.

X2...any given bike MAY be a little different, but if the bike is not "using" oil, running 1/2 qt low seems to be where most of the motors like to be.  It's like it reaches a state of equalibrium and does not puke oil mist out of the air cleaner when it reaches it's "happy level".  As Don mentioned, don't worry much about the oil until 3-4K into the change, then I'll check it.  I've got the electronic dip stick/oil temp, so IF I think about it on a road trip, and the bike is level, hot, etc.  I'll sometimes take a look just for peace of mind, but don't fret if I don't.  They especially like to puke when run hard if all the way full.

[Hx3]

Thanks very much for the answers and education.  Very helpful.

[FAST380]

well that is just funny, why would you fill it to the full line..... it is a HD after all

[murphy]

I always thought that oil mist on the air filter was a good thing... that way it will never rust!

[tennisman]

I have oil carryover and have run it for tens of thousands of miles at a 1/2 down the stick, hot or cold.  Recently I ran it up to top of the mark and have not noticed any diff in carryover, for what it's worth.  I tried running it higher to see if oil temp would be different (it wasn't), or if my noisey lifters would get quieter earlier in the warm up period (they didn't).
BTW, on my 3rd set of lifters in 50K miles.
T

[grc]

For nonbelievers, here is a simple test you can perform in the privacy of your own garage.  Fill the tank to the full mark (hot), then ride the bike as you normally do.  Check the oil level weekly, but do not add unless the oil drops completely to the ADD mark (hot).  If your bike is like many of them, what you are likely to find is that you will use about a pint of oil initially, then the level will stabilize at roughly halfway between the ADD and FULL marks.  If this is the case with your bike, then it makes sense to just fill it only to that point in the first place. Unless you really think it's good to oil the air cleaner and throttle body/intake manifold, of course.  Since these things aren't two stroke engines, I don't think it's necessary to pump oil through the intake myself.

If you somehow managed to get a Harley that doesn't puke out a pint initially, then by all means run it full.


Jerry

[skreminegul07]

Maybe I'm not familiar with the details of a dry sump system, but wonder why the level of oil withing the tank is so critical (or perceived as such)?  Its not like an oil pan in a car engine.  Please enlighten me.

Thanks
Phil

[RonsterMonster]

When filled to "full" when cold these engines often mist; sometimes significantly.  That is to say they'll push oil or aerated/cavitated oil mist up through the breather system in the head and out the air cleaner.

That's an odd response. Why would oil tank level have anything to do with "misting", since it has no effect on how the sump works, or how much oil or pressure there is in the rockerbox? If you have an engine misting with a full oil tank, there is likely a crankcase ventilation issue. The oil level has no relation to rockerbox volumetric performance.

[longlast]

It's something I've noticed when I've topped up the oil to the Full mark when I've gone to start the bike cold or hot on start up it would at times not start straight away when this would happen I'd stop then hit the starter again it would fire up but then spit out a cloud of blue,...with oil on the Full mark,.

When the oil is on roughly the halfway mark(I call it 2 blocks down, as the dip is suctioned of in blocks) the blue will not happen on a restart. So the 2 block down level works for mine.

[iski]

On the Harleys I have owned 1/2 quart low is just about right.  4 quarts added at an oil change = problems.

[skratch]

just to add, if the oil level is between the 'add' and 'full' marks, it is not 'low'.  that is the operating range.  oil is not 'low' until it is below the 'add' mark.  so if you are not actively using oil, if it is in-between the 2 marks, you are good to go.  it does nothing to add oil at that point, as tennisman has found out.  of course, if you are near the 'add' mark and getting ready to do a fair ride, you can add a little to bring you up higher on the stick, for peace of mind.