Hitchcocks Forum

What is the best procedure for checking oil ?

Is it to warm engine up or do it from cold ?

Best to check it a minute or so after a short run. If you check it cold there is a possibility oil will have drained from the tank into the sump giving a false low reading. After a run all the oil will have been pumped back into the tank.

If this is a classic we're talking about don't fill it too full. Half way between the marks is plenty.

When cold, my oil level doesn't register on the dipstick at all. After a brief run and shutdown -allowing the engine to cool for 5 minutes or so- the oil appears to be about halfway (perhaps even 3/4) to the top fill mark. Is this normal? I'd expect to see a slight difference in the cold/hot readings, but surely not that extreme, right? I'm diligent about setting the piston at TDC each and every time I park the bike. I've got quite a bit of oil leaking past the timing gasket (need to fix that!) on my rides and collecting on top of the crankcase, so I'm fairly confident the level's sufficiently full when warm.

Please disregard my question here and instead see the new topic "Cold Engine Oil Level".