Oil level D12?

[Tona94]

I know that there must be an existing thread around here somewhere, but do not know how to find it. What is the correct way to check the oil level for the D12. On side stand, centre stand, dip screwed down, rested on port and to what line on the stick???? Your help please

[MotT3]

Both wheels on the ground...dip stick wound in ;-)

Cheers
Mot

[Tona94]

Tx Mot..as always ;p

[MotT3]

Just re read your questions.....

Bike level, I normally stand astride mine and reach over to the dip stick, oil level between lower & upper mark (ideally fill to the upper)..

[KitNYC]

Should be slightly below upper mark with bike on center stand- slightly easier to read without dropping the bike that way. Reading taken on sidestand would be completely wrong.

Cheers,
-Kit

[MotT3]

Hi Kit...

I was going via the Owners Handbook and the Factory manual...it says not to use the stand...BUT, it might just mean the side stand ????? All it says is to keep the bike upright ?

Either way you check you shouldn't run it dry though ;-)

I have a theory that filling the S3 to the upper mark on the stick whilst on the paddock stand was over filled and which it then burnt off, it would tip the oil away from the dip stick..? I certainly don't seem to have to top up as much no checking when both wheels on the ground...

Bit of a grey area perhaps ;-)

Cheers
Mot

[KitNYC]

A bit of a grey area indeed; much like checking chain tension. Unlike chain tension, though, checking oil level on the sidestand is right out. Centerstand vs. held level, though, I think you'll find that the difference is negligible.

Give it a try on the Sprint, if you will; I haven't got a T3 to verify with at the moment.

Cheers,
-Kit

[darthandy]

For what it's worth, my factory manual states that the bike should be on level ground and neither stand should be used. On the other hand, the Haynes manual states that the bike should be on level ground and placed on the centrestand. If there is no centrestand, only then should the bike be held level.

Since the Haynes people aren't known for frequent, large size errors, I strongly suspect that there is little or no difference as to which method is used. Frankly, the centrestand on my Sprint really doesn't seem to raise the bike high enough to make a noticeable diference.

So there you have the official word...sort of.

[Tona94]

well. I now know that I should not have felt so awkward with this very simple and yet so obvious a question. Level, to between the marks.....??. Tx to all

[KitNYC]

Wow. I have just checked my 1996 edition factory service manual. It contains quite a bit of information on the subject, some contradictory to other sources, some unique, some useful, some useless. It does not, however, contain any information about the target oil level. It says that early dipsticks are marked "3" and "4" for different levels depending on number of cylinders, and that later dipsticks are not so marked, and it says to measure with the bike upright and on level ground, not on either stand, with the dipstick screwed fully home, but it does not say whether to fill to the top or bottom line on the standard dipstick.

At any rate, we can assume from the '02-up dipsticks that the top line is the target if the dipstick is not marked by cylinder number. The fact that they eliminated the different levels for the different motors gives you some idea of how critical this isn't. Between the lines is good. (And the difference between top and bottom lines is 500ml.)

Cheers,
-Kit