Every time I check the oil on my SG either hot or cold its damn near the same on the stick??? Is it because of the oil pan dipstick set up like your car compared to the soft tails or sportsters with the separate oil tanks? If you think about it it should show a little bit higher cold because all of the oil drained down from the heads and maybe a little from the cooler, just a thought the dealer was stumped on that thought. I could see the soft tails being lower when cold because of the separate tanks.

According to the book it should be a full half QT lower (mid stick) then when hot. Mine is about the same either hot or cold just like my pickup truck??? any thoughts....would be so much easier to check cold before a long ride.

 

My 11 Limited checks about 1/4" lower when cold than hot.

 

Ah glasshopper you have discovered one of the mysteries of the universe.

Least ya know it got the right amount right? Never have checked mine hot.

 

The difference between hot and cold is so minor it's almost irrelavent. On mine it's about 3 or 4 dots on the dipstick or approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch.

1/4 inch on the dipstick translates to about 6.5 ounces of oil. An engine that holds 3.5 to 4 qts. of oil isn't going to know the difference of 6.5 ounces either way.

Guesstimating the oil level, with that 1/4 inch as a reference, based on the temperature is plenty close enough in my opinion.

Look at all the guys (of which I'm not one of) that preach to run your oil 1/2 qt. low to prevent oil carryover to the air cleaner.

The manual says that a cold engine oil level should be midway between the add and full marks on the dipstick. I've never seen the oil level change that much from hot to cold on my bike.

 

Me either, that is why I posted this question. My dipstick reads a full 1/4 low from the full hot mark when cold. Everyone tells me it is over filled, but when hot the damn stick shows a couple of dots lower on the stick from full hot, therefore it really does not make a damn difference if you check it cold or hot at least on these touring bikes. I just wanted to confirm if I am understanding this correctly.

 

I have seen my oil level increase x2 dots when the bike sets a week. I was just guessing that it takes a few days for all the oil to run away from all the parts. Which makes me wonder if I should put some kind of additive in the oil to help protect the motor on cold dry starts during the winter months.

 

I've noticed that too, my oil level seemed to rise a bit after it sat for a few days. So ice cold what would be a good gauge to keep the level at? 3 or 4 dots under full hot (1/4) ?

 

So one final question so I'm clear 1/4 inch down from full is approx 6.5 oz of oil and if the oil only moves 1/4 inch on the stick from cold to hot when checked, would a 1/4 down on the stick when cold from full be a good judge to keep her at??? last oil level question I promise......thanks

 

What kind of oil are you using, dino or syn? I've noticed that when checking oil levels syn tends to show less of a difference when hot or cold than dino.

 

I agree completely. I used to think it was because my garage would stay real hot due to the blazing summers but its still consistent on the dipstick hot or cold. Its two dots from the full mark hot or cold weird huh?