Stupid question, Is the mark on the oil dipstick the add mark or the full mark?
That is the full mark.
Quote from: nw69fl on June 17, 2019, 01:23:19 PM
Stupid question, Is the mark on the oil dipstick the add mark or the full mark?
From your other post I will assume the bike in question is a Softail.
Forget about the dipstick, it`s useless.
Easiest way to check oil on Softail is to stand bike upright, look into oil tank, level should be about 1 to 1-1/2 inches below the bottom of the filler neck.
Also. Check oil level with engine warm or at least ran long enough to pull any excess oil back out from crankcase.
:agree:
Quote from: Dan89flstc on June 18, 2019, 04:39:32 AM
Quote from: nw69fl on June 17, 2019, 01:23:19 PM
Stupid question, Is the mark on the oil dipstick the add mark or the full mark?
From your other post I will assume the bike in question is a Softail.
Forget about the dipstick, it`s useless.
Easiest way to check oil on Softail is to stand bike upright, look into oil tank, level should be about 1 to 1-1/2 inches below the bottom of the filler neck.
I just stick my finger into the spout . If I have oil on my finger I'm good to go .
Quote from: Ironheadmike on June 25, 2019, 09:55:29 AM
I just stick my finger into the spout . If I have oil on my finger I'm good to go .
:up: :SM:
Quote from: Ironheadmike on June 25, 2019, 09:55:29 AM
I just stick my finger into the spout . If I have oil on my finger I'm good to go .
That works.
Quote from: Dan89flstc on June 25, 2019, 02:53:03 PM
Quote from: Ironheadmike on June 25, 2019, 09:55:29 AM
I just stick my finger into the spout . If I have oil on my finger I'm good to go .
That works.
Cold engine I hope. :crook: :cry:
Quote from: kd on June 25, 2019, 08:18:21 PM
Quote from: Dan89flstc on June 25, 2019, 02:53:03 PM
Quote from: Ironheadmike on June 25, 2019, 09:55:29 AM
I just stick my finger into the spout . If I have oil on my finger I'm good to go .
That works.
Cold engine I hope. :crook: :cry:
Cold oil check on a Softail is not reliable, as they sometimes leak down to the motor, and need to be run to get a true reading. Sorry, got to put your finger in hot oil! Well, warm anyway.
It's like sticking your finger in coffee . It's hot but not burning hot
Quote from: Hossamania on June 25, 2019, 08:56:11 PM
Cold oil check on a Softail is not reliable, as they sometimes leak down to the motor, and need to be run to get a true reading. Sorry, got to put your finger in hot oil! Well, warm anyway.
If your bike has an issue with oil leaking into the crankcases, I agree that running the engine will get the level in the tank back to normal, but most bikes don`t leak down until they have sat for quite some time.
My `89 doesn`t leak down, and I have been checking it cold for 30 years.
Quote from: Dan89flstc on June 26, 2019, 05:20:50 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on June 25, 2019, 08:56:11 PM
Cold oil check on a Softail is not reliable, as they sometimes leak down to the motor, and need to be run to get a true reading. Sorry, got to put your finger in hot oil! Well, warm anyway.
If your bike has an issue with oil leaking into the crankcases, I agree that running the engine will get the level in the tank back to normal, but most bikes don`t leak down until they have sat for quite some time.
My `89 doesn`t leak down, and I have been checking it cold for 30 years.
From what I've read, it's quite common for Softails to leak down. Mine did if sat for more than a week or 2. It usually took only a minute or 2 for it to return to normal.
Quote from: Dan89flstc on June 26, 2019, 05:20:50 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on June 25, 2019, 08:56:11 PM
Cold oil check on a Softail is not reliable, as they sometimes leak down to the motor, and need to be run to get a true reading. Sorry, got to put your finger in hot oil! Well, warm anyway.
If your bike has an issue with oil leaking into the crankcases, I agree that running the engine will get the level in the tank back to normal, but most bikes don`t leak down until they have sat for quite some time.
My `89 doesn`t leak down, and I have been checking it cold for 30 years.
If you check it cold, and it's at the proper level, good to go.
If you check it cold, and it is low, do not add oil until it has run a bit and recheck.
Just had a friend add oil cold, started it, and it was not a happy morning in the garage.
Quote from: Hossamania on June 26, 2019, 11:30:11 AM
Quote from: Dan89flstc on June 26, 2019, 05:20:50 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on June 25, 2019, 08:56:11 PM
Cold oil check on a Softail is not reliable, as they sometimes leak down to the motor, and need to be run to get a true reading. Sorry, got to put your finger in hot oil! Well, warm anyway.
If your bike has an issue with oil leaking into the crankcases, I agree that running the engine will get the level in the tank back to normal, but most bikes don`t leak down until they have sat for quite some time.
My `89 doesn`t leak down, and I have been checking it cold for 30 years.
If you check it cold, and it's at the proper level, good to go.
If you check it cold, and it is low, do not add oil until it has run a bit and recheck.
Just had a friend add oil cold, started it, and it was not a happy morning in the garage.
Been there.. checked cold before a long ride.. went about ten miles and the oil plug/dipstick popped out and puked oil on to my jeans and all over the bike :oil: :oil:
If you are leaking oil . the check ball in the pump is nit seated . I can leave my bike sit for months and it don't leak down at all . If it does it's minimal .
Just changed all the fluids on my '96 FatBoy. Flushed the engine oil until clean appeared and then reconnected the return hose. Added another quart and watched it flowing back into tank. Went to put oil dipstick in and when I got close it was sucked in. Pulled it back off and held it close to the top and it was being puled in and pushed back out. I don't remember this happening before. Is something amiss that I should be concerned about?
Normal
evo check oil hot bike upright on bikes with oil tanks high in frame 1 inch bellow rubber