Just to add one more data point to this ...

changed my oil, 08 Raod Star was 8 days old, 700 miles. Took it out for a 15 minute ride, drained the oil and filter, put in about 3.75 quarts (eye balling the level on the 4 quart jug). Took it out for another 15 minute ride, back into the garage, kept it straight up for 30 second idling, not touching the throttle. Shut it off, pulled the seat, and the dipstick was about here:

--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX----------------------------------------------------O
----------------------------^
(about at the 65% mark)
So after reading all the posts that said "just throw in 4 quarts and forget it", I dumped the rest of the 4 qt container in.

I then remeasured without starting the bike:

--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX----------------------------------------------------O
---------------------------------------------^
(about the 105% mark)

It was just barely over the full mark. I figure as a new bike, it'll burn a little bit more and I'll be ok.
Next time, I am going to dump in about 3.9 qts and forget it.

Kurt

kurtfriedrich wrote:
Just to add one more data point to this ...

changed my oil, 08 Raod Star was 8 days old, 700 miles. Took it out for a 15 minute ride, drained the oil and filter, put in about 3.75 quarts (eye balling the level on the 4 quart jug). Took it out for another 15 minute ride, back into the garage, kept it straight up for 30 second idling, not touching the throttle. Shut it off, pulled the seat, and the dipstick was about here:

--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX----------------------------------------------------O
----------------------------^
(about at the 65% mark)
So after reading all the posts that said "just throw in 4 quarts and forget it", I dumped the rest of the 4 qt container in.

I then remeasured without starting the bike:

--XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX----------------------------------------------------O
---------------------------------------------^
(about the 105% mark)

It was just barely over the full mark. I figure as a new bike, it'll burn a little bit more and I'll be ok.
Next time, I am going to dump in about 3.9 qts and forget it.

Kurt

The dip stick check is just about useless, There is also a tech bulletin about using 4qts or slightly less on the 1700's, since they think there could be a correlation between over oil and sticky valves. Since my 2nd change been using only 4qts, at 103k now, and use automotive full syn, 6, 7k change.

I think what everyone is suggesting is that the stick is not and has not EVER been accurate. You need 4 qts period. If the bike is leaning just so slightly to either side or not level front to back, it will be and can be off. If you drained it completely and installed a new filter.... 4 qts. If you have your bike up on a jack, rotate the bike 180* and check the level again, try 90* I'll bet it's different in all three positions.

Yea just try to follow the silly procedure in the OM about even checking the oil. What temp do you get it up to? I forget and I can't find the temp display on mine. Yea 4 Qt's

I changed oil this weekend and was careful to warm the engine up before starting the process to get as much of the old oil out as possible. I completely drained they system and added 4 quarts. The dip stick was worthless. I got readings all over the place despite using the same technique each time. The best thing you can do with the dip stick is use it as a fire poker or back scratcher. From this point forward I'm not going to worry about oil level between oil changes unless I see a major leak.