Maybe someone has an idea regarding my '78 GLs oil level. I stored my bike last October for the winter. I looked at it today 6 months later.
Prior to storage I changed the oil and filter. The oil level settled 1/16" below the top line in the sight glass. Then I ran the engine for 2 or 3 minutes to circulate the oil, and put it in hibernation.
Today I checked the oil level and it's 3/16" below the line. There's not a drop on the floor. Is the difference in the filter, or someplace else, or what?
Thanks..............Dave
Oil Level Before and After ???
- Solina Dave
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2014 6:38 pm
- Location: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1978 Honda Goldwing GL1000 (bought in fall of '77)
!977 Honda CB550F (my 1st motorcycle)
- Fred Camper
- Posts: 1339
- Joined: Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:15 pm
- Location: Metro Detroit, MI
- Motorcycle: 1977 GL1000, 1976 LTD GL1000
Re: Oil Level Before and After ???
Perhaps it left an air bubble in the filter due to the short run, or perhaps the valves leaked a bit into the cylinders during the long spell sitting still.
- Solina Dave
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2014 6:38 pm
- Location: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1978 Honda Goldwing GL1000 (bought in fall of '77)
!977 Honda CB550F (my 1st motorcycle)
Re: Oil Level Before and After ???
Part 2 of that sounds like a good possibility Fred. I was just checking out a few things on it today, prior to it's spring startup. Hopefully that will happen in the next day or so. It's generally very stubborn in starting after a winter layover, and it does burn off quite a bit of oil before it calms down, and runs smoothly. I have a feeling your right, and it is seepage into the combustion chamber. I store it on the centre stand in an attempt to prevent that somewhat, but it is getting old.Fred Camper wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2019 9:09 pm Perhaps it left an air bubble in the filter due to the short run, or perhaps the valves leaked a bit into the cylinders during the long spell sitting still.
Thanks for that Fred........................Dave
"Assume Nothing"
- tfdeputydawg
- Posts: 1151
- Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:59 am
- Location: Indianapolis, In.
- Motorcycle: 06 Wing III/2010 Hannigan
Re: Oil Level Before and After ???
You changed oil, checked the level and then ran it.
It simply flowed into the motor and tranny, hence 1/8" lower on the stick when checked again!
It simply flowed into the motor and tranny, hence 1/8" lower on the stick when checked again!
- Solina Dave
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2014 6:38 pm
- Location: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1978 Honda Goldwing GL1000 (bought in fall of '77)
!977 Honda CB550F (my 1st motorcycle)
Re: Oil Level Before and After ???
When I first put the oil in, wouldn't it fill the pan to a point on the sight glass, then circulate through the engine during running, and then settle back to the original level in the pan during the 6 month layover?
"Assume Nothing"
Re: Oil Level Before and After ???
Was the 3/16 measurement on the same temperature engine. Hit and cold could vary that much.
- Solina Dave
- Posts: 668
- Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2014 6:38 pm
- Location: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1978 Honda Goldwing GL1000 (bought in fall of '77)
!977 Honda CB550F (my 1st motorcycle)
Re: Oil Level Before and After ???
Probably about the same. Once on Oct.30/18, and then again yesterday. I can't remember the temperature in October, but me changing the oil, if it was cold out, would have been highly unlikely.
I forgot to mention in the OP that a level of 1/16" below the top line was also recorded (cold) the day after running the engine.

"Assume Nothing"