I went over a good number of older threads hoping to find the answer but haven't (or I missed it so sorry if this is a double post) I changed my oil friday, afterwards the oil was reading 1/2 up the checks on the dipstick, so cool right? Thats what I thought. Yesterday I had about an hour window of ride time between rain showers so I had to ride and slosh the new oil around (at least it seemed like a good excuse for the wife) and get out of the house. After I got home I thought i'd check the oil level again...why not right, after the bike cooled down a couple minutes I leveled it up and checked it, it was above the checks by about an inch and a half, I checked it three times and every time the same....what to do? I used the yamaha owner manual for quantity needed so I didn't over do it...is this normal?

I've owned quite a few bikes and changed the oil in all of them, this is the only time i've ever seen this kind of event.

Don't worry about what the stick shows.

As long as it's not burning or leaking oil and you put in 4 quarts with a filter changed then you are OK.

Doc

Welcome to the Road Star oil level check! That is perfectly normal. As long as you put in 4 quarts then you will be fine. For some stupid reason these bikes are real funny about checking the oil level. I just make sure that I have oil on the stick when I check mine (I don't really care where it is on the stick). I know how much I put in. The only time I would be nervous is if there was no oil on the stick at all.

I think the dipstick on the Roadies was designed by the same dipsticks that designed the healthcare reform bill! It can't be trusted and it's different every time you read it! Just make sure you changed the filter and put 4 quarts in it like Doc said and you'll be O.K.

Thanks guys, 4 quarts and a filter, i'm good. Being new to this ride I didn't want to screw things up.

Don't go by the owners manual. First,It says 4.33 which is too much even though they never say to just pour 4.33 in. It tells you to pour in 2.5 quarts, start and rev it (that part is right), then add the remaining oil until it reads right on the dipstick. First, the dipstick is never right. Second, checking the oil that way goes against the procedure Yami themselves tells you you need to follow to get an accurate reading. 4 qts(no more) and screw what the dipstick says about it it.

Caffinated1 you probably did it but just checking. You removed BOTH motor oil drain plugs right?

yes i did, great fun on that crankcase plug.

caffinated1 wrote:
yes i did, great fun on that crankcase plug.

Yes but not nearly as fun as changing the oil in the wifes Vstar 1100!

whats not fun about taking the pipes off first?


hmmm, like wasn't it the vega that you almost had to pull the motor to change the rear cylinders plugs? Maybe yamaha took some cues from old GM designs on preventative maintenance parts. No, i'll not say that, thats wrong.