Not as dramatic as the title but im not sure on the amount to go back in (first oil change that ive done) What pisses me off is that the bike shop that I got it from said they had changed the oil. Ive done 1500 miles on it and noticed the oil sight glass was white....so I thought eh? better change the oil. Sump bolt was a pig to get out which tells me its never been changed from what I can see plus on top of that only 2 litres came out....(once id put it back in the oil bottle the new stuff came in.... Googled.....3.7 litres is apparently the amount to go back in (from what I can see....) but only 2 came out...also the sight glass is still white so I cant check there to see...so im stuck a little.... Questions.... 1. Did I get all the oil out....took the sump bolt out and the oil filter off - let it drain for 30 mins...is there something else I have to remove... 2. What is the right amount to go back in? as what came out and whats gone back in (ive guesstimated 3.7 looking at the level left on the can) but can see anything in the sight glass... Anyway its sitting in the garage at the moment until I hear anything back. Gotta go to the local dump to get rid of the old stuff so if I need to I can drain some back in the original tub. Look forward to hearing from anyone that takes a punt. Comfy
First you should check the level with the bike upright not lent over on the side stand, is the sight glass just misted up, would a bit of heat from a hair drier clear it? I sometimes have to get a light to see my level properly. Steve
Just to add that I did actually loose some oil some time ago....a cover came loose on the top of the front cylinder on the way to work so I know I lost a little but not that much, however I was riding at the time so I cant say..... I drained a little out and started it, seems to be ok, not smoking atall, and I can ever-so-slightly see round the edge of the sight glass so I might be ok....which prompts another question Can the sight glass be changed or cleaned??? - without stripping the engine down?? - which knowing my luck is what id have to do...
Nah Birdie....its literally white.... as I just said I can just about see round the edge of it....I reckon im about right. I cant go out on it at the moment as the wife is away for the weekend and ive got 3 little ones....if I go out ill come back and the house'll be on fire or something like that or something will happen and they'll all blame each other...
Saying that we've had 2 heavy hailstorms this morning with heavy rain in between and the hail has just started again...so I aint goin anywhere. Plus the lego film is out today and theyre on me already...
I'm sure when the bike is upright and the level is within the sight glass even misted up the level should be visible. When its lent over on the stand and the oil level is a bit low it won't show in the glass. Steve
For some reason my cam pic wont upload.....I reckon I can just make out im slightly over.....will drain a little more off later on....
The sight glass is either opaque with some weird white residue, or it is translucent and you will se the oil with the bike upright when there is enough in it. If the former, I have no idea. If the latter, put in oil until you see it. From the oil to being invisible to having the right amount isn't a great deal of extra oil; it's not like a litre is required to get it to move from the very bottom of the glass to the top. The oil does take a little time to flow to fill the sight glass, so you want to be a bit patient when filling it. Still, I'm no real mechanic. Better wait for the experts.
The appearance of a white/milky residue in the oil sight glass is often just condensation as the oil & water particles form an emulsion. It's quite a common phenomenon with Ducatis. Giving the bike a good run to get the motor & oil properly hot & then removing the oil filler cap immediately after the run can allow the condensation to evaporate & may clear the sight glass. As Birdie & Glidd say, the oil level should be checked with the bike upright.
Yeah - done that.....I must confess although white - I can start to see some sort of level.....looks like tomorrow it might actually be dry so ill try to get out (and take some tools) to test....
Yeah. After I started it, it dropped down....I think, where there was so little oil in there before I could see it....I can just about see it now....
The white glass freaked me out a little but I've found out that it's normal on dukes apparently when cold weather.
Well, got the chance to go out on it for 20 mins....not too long so the kids don't end up fighting at home.... I think I was running on fry crisp & dry before, what a difference. Might be the placebo effect but im using Silkolene fully synthetic 15w50. My mate works at the local bike shop so I had to get 4x 4 litre tubs to get them at cost....very happy. The bike shop told me the belts had been changed but im not sure I believe that now.....anyone got a link to show how to change them...youtube vid or something like that....? Many thanks to everyone that took a punt...
Keep an eye on your level as many on here have reported increased oil consumption when using Silkolene. Steve
Chiggeddy-check....ironic as at the moment the sun is out and all I can hear around my house is 2 wheelers accelerating....stuck in with the kids....boo.... From the earlier quick test the oil is sitting on the upper level of the indicators...
As Rudolph said, white stuff in the sight glass will be condensation / moisture build up in the engine that settles out as a white layer on the oil. Easiest way to get one is use the bike for short trips or run it for 5 minutes every couple of weeks over the winter - draws repeated doses of cold wet air into the engine that condenses out as it cools, a good hours thrash will sort.
I used Silkolene last oil change, Initially I thought I could smell burning oil after a period of overrun coming to a standstill. Seems to have settled down as not noticed for 3k miles or so, strange...
