How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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:
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- CrystalPistol
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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?)
Make Courtesy your "Code of the Road" …
… & Have a Safe Trip!
… & Have a Safe Trip!

- Erdeniz Umman
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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.
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
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1988 Harley Davidson Sportster
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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.
2003 Goldwing GL1800 with CSC Cobra trike kit.
1988 Harley Davidson Sportster 883 with Hypercharger Bobber.
West GA Chapter 89 Southern Cruisers riding club.
1988 Harley Davidson Sportster 883 with Hypercharger Bobber.
West GA Chapter 89 Southern Cruisers riding club.
- Corkster52
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- Location: Naperville, IL
- Motorcycle: 1999 GL1500 Aspencade
1988 GL1500 (sold 4/17)
Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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.
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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
- Posts: 1419
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- Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500SE/'98 Lehman Trike
Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
Jiffy stand huh? I always heard it called a side stand or kick stand, but jiffy works.

Make Courtesy your "Code of the Road" …
… & Have a Safe Trip!
… & Have a Safe Trip!

- Big Blue UK
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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.
"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.
If at first you don't succeed, hide the evidence.
-
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/i ... this-pointCrystalPistol wrote: ↑Sat Oct 26, 2019 3:55 pmJiffy stand huh? I always heard it called a side stand or kick stand, but jiffy works.![]()
Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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
- Site Admin
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- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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.Mikesell wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2019 6:20 am 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.
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
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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.
since long before you published that video.
It seems to work well. I've had no clutch or shifting problems.
George in Jersey.
99 Goldwing GL-1500 SE
76 Goldwing Gl-1000
77 Honda CT-90 "Trail 90"
99 Goldwing GL-1500 SE
76 Goldwing Gl-1000
77 Honda CT-90 "Trail 90"
Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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 !!!
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
im sad that i wasted 5.12 minutes of my life watching this video.
- Maz
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
And then wasted another 5.12 minutes telling us that you're sad you wasted 5.12 minutes watching it!grahamlanghorn wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 2:59 am im sad that i wasted 5.12 minutes of my life watching this video.

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
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
We all have to start somewhere.grahamlanghorn wrote: ↑Mon Nov 04, 2019 2:00 pm 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
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!
- Rex Mericle
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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
- Posts: 34
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
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.
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
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Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
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Re: How to Check your oil: You're doing it WRONG!
Hmmmm
Is the video dead? It doesn't play.
Is the video dead? It doesn't play.
- newday777
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:21 pm
- Location: Milford NH summer/fall & Oceanside, CA winters(N San Diego) with lots of miles riden between
- Motorcycle: 2008 Cabernet Red. Level 4
1983 GL1100A Wineberry 36,000 miles
1975 CB750 K5 Planet Blue 7,800 miles
1976 CB750 K6 Anterris Red 25,000 miles
Past rides
1999A Restored from PO neglect & sold at 19,000 miles
1999SE Totaled by cager at 105,000 miles