How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!

[WingAdmin]

We hit 1,000 subscribers in only four days on our new YouTube channel! Thank you everyone! Here's a new video to celebrate...on a simple topic most people don't realize they're doing wrong:



   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

[CrystalPistol]

Good that someone showed this. Thank you. It is how I've been doing since starting with my '85 GL1200A (no sight glass on '85 and later anyway, I don't know about "84 back 1200s?)

[Erdeniz Umman]

It is a nice video.
WingAdmin, not related with this subject, but I have noticed that the handlebar switch assy is loose and moving as you turn the throttle.
I thought you may have not noticed.

[2003Cobra]

Good info. Each manufacturer seems to have their own way of checking oil. Even from year to year some change the procedure. You mentioned the Mobile one is extremely good in the 1500 how is it in the 1800? I used the 20w50 in my harleys and I thought it worked quite well but others complained of engine noise.

[Corkster52]

We hit 1,000 subscribers in only four days on our new YouTube channel!

As I mentioned on your new channel, I am so glad that you were able to get into the YouTube crowd! I hope it continues to work for you, possibly to the extent that you will be able to ask of many of us that follow you to chip in a few bucks to support the countless hours that you spend supporting all of us. I do this for a couple of other rider/trainers that haven't offered nearly as much support as you have over the years that I have been in this group.

[doxbike]

One important thing not mentioned-Goldwing needs to be on a centerstand or held level when checking the level. FWIW, Harleys are checked on the Jiffy stand.

[CrystalPistol]

One important thing not mentioned-Goldwing needs to be on a centerstand or held level when checking the level. FWIW, Harleys are checked on the Jiffy stand.

Jiffy stand huh? I always heard it called a side stand or kick stand, but jiffy works.

[Big Blue UK]

Great quality vid WA.
"Are you doing it right" would be WAY better than "You're doing it WRONG" implying you are the only GoldWing owner who knows how to check the oil.
Probably would have more than 29 likes, or am I being British.

[doxbike]

One important thing not mentioned-Goldwing needs to be on a centerstand or held level when checking the level. FWIW, Harleys are checked on the Jiffy stand.

Jiffy stand huh? I always heard it called a side stand or kick stand, but jiffy works.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/i ... this-point

[Mikesell]

Firstly, I would be amazed if any Gold Wing owner, who I would imagine are mainly mature experienced bikers, did not know the correct way to check the oil........it has been the same for all Honda motorcycles since the year dot. Secondly, this guy spends the first part of the video telling us to use motorcycle specific oil and then goes on to tell us how wonderful the non motorcycle specific oil is that he uses in his own bike. You could not make it up. If you are a Gold Wing owner who did not know how to check your oil, please make yourself known.

[WingAdmin]

Firstly, I would be amazed if any Gold Wing owner, who I would imagine are mainly mature experienced bikers, did not know the correct way to check the oil........it has been the same for all Honda motorcycles since the year dot. Secondly, this guy spends the first part of the video telling us to use motorcycle specific oil and then goes on to tell us how wonderful the non motorcycle specific oil is that he uses in his own bike. You could not make it up. If you are a Gold Wing owner who did not know how to check your oil, please make yourself known.

You'd be surprised at the HUGE number of "wow, thanks for posting this, I had no idea I have been doing it wrong all these years" type comments that I got from that video.

Also, I mentioned using a motorcycle-specific oil, and then WHY you want a motorcycle specific oil - because they don't have friction modifiers.

I then went on to describe an automotive oil that works EXTREMELY WELL in GL1500's, and works because it does not have friction modifiers. This specific oil (the 10W40 Mobil 1 High Mileage) is well known in the Goldwing world as being an excellent oil for GL1500's that provides excellent lubrication and protection, and significantly quiets and smooths transmission shifts.

[offcenter]

I have been using the Mobil 1 High Mileage in my Goldwings for quite some time,
since long before you published that video.
It seems to work well. I've had no clutch or shifting problems.

[Scanjo]

I used the 20w50 in my harleys and I thought it worked quite well but others complained of engine noise.

You don't want to use oil that heavy in your Goldwing. As the video states, the oil is shared by the wet clutch. Using heavier oil than recommended by Honda will cause clutch slipping and in the older bikes, it also causes starter issues. I'm not sure if the 1500 and newer have this same type of design internally for the starter.

The owner's manual has a chart to show what weight oil to use based on ranges of temperature. 10/30 in colder climates and 10/40 in warmer ones is usually a safe bet. If you're like me then you'll always have 10/40 in your bike because when it's cold enough to need 10/30, it's parked.

[wildanimal84]

The info WingAdmin posted is good for the beginner wing rider, but the experienced wingmen already knows this, although its good to remind us every so often !!!

[grahamlanghorn]

im sad that i wasted 5.12 minutes of my life watching this video.

[Maz]

im sad that i wasted 5.12 minutes of my life watching this video.

And then wasted another 5.12 minutes telling us that you're sad you wasted 5.12 minutes watching it!

Seriously, though, as WingAdmin stated, you WOULD be surprised at the number of motorcyclists who don't know. If you feel that you've wasted your time, that means that you already knew and should consider yourself more knowledgeable than some others. Don't knock it, just let those who found it useful absorb the info and become more accomplished at carrying out their own servicing and keep their machines in a good, usable and reliable condition.
Maz

[grahamlanghorn]

if they didnt know how to check their oil level i dont think i would encourage them to try do anything else. it could prove to be fatal. their were other things thatare eonot quite right as others have pointed out. im all for helping others but just get it right first time. simple tasks are covered in the riders handbook if the owner dont have one he/she should get one

[Maz]

if they didnt know how to check their oil level i dont think i would encourage them to try do anything else. it could prove to be fatal. their were other things thatare eonot quite right as others have pointed out. im all for helping others but just get it right first time. simple tasks are covered in the riders handbook if the owner dont have one he/she should get one

We all have to start somewhere.
Maz

[Rex Mericle]

Hey ya'll! I've been visiting this site for years but never joined, even though I've had a 79 GL1000 "builder" in storage for quite awhile. It's still in my storage container because work got busier, life got more complicated and I'll end the song and dance with that. Recently I acquired a beautiful black 96 GL1500 Interstate and I love it! Now that I have a "rider" I decided to join the forum and subscribe to the You Tube channel. I want to keep the "new girl" up to snuff and eventually get to the "old girl", but that will be a while. Nice short video on checking the oil and, since I have other Honda's, I've always checked oil like that. I'm 67 and as a youth rode a BSA, where I used the specified Castrol motor oil. Never had any issues so I've used Castrol in all of my vehicles for the last 50 years. Anyone have an opinion on running Castrol in a Wing? Thanks in advance for the join!

[Road Ranger]

I have used Castrol in all my cars and bikes for over 40 years and never had a problem, I have built both street and race engines for over 50 years. Race engines are torn down every so often depending on how it is used and I have never found one lubrication issue with Castrol. I have seen various studies that it even beat Mobil 1. Why pay more for the same or less. I used it in my 1500 for 20 years and no ploblem, make sure you use Castrol motorcycle oil in your wing and you will be fine.

[Pam]

Read the posts and watched the vidio, as this was the opposite of how I was checking oil. Didn't make sense to check the oil after the engine was run. Then read the manual. Went and checked the oil on the cold engine, right near the end of the dip stick. Started and ran the engine and after waiting a few minutes recheck the dip stick. Oil was right up, don't make sense to me but I will be changing my ways. Makes some sense as this procedure is the same as checking the oil after a oil change.

[woebeckla]

Thanks for the info, not screwing in the dipstick does make a difference and is not obvious as some people seem to think.
As for oil I have always used Shell Rotella 5w40 synthetic in my other liquid cooled bikes, have some you guys tried it and is Mobil 1 better.

[newday777]

Hmmmm
Is the video dead? It doesn't play.

[WingAdmin]

Hmmmm
Is the video dead? It doesn't play.

Anyone else having issues? It plays fine for me.

[newday777]

Hmmmm
Is the video dead? It doesn't play.

Anyone else having issues? It plays fine for me.

Now it's working for me....