Hitchcocks Forum

I have recently bought a new RE Continental GT & covered about 50 miles so far. I have checked the oil level as described in the Owner's Manual and it is just below the inspection window. I contacted my motorcycle dealer and it appears that R.E. delivers these bikes with the oil at this level. Should I top the oil up to the recommended level?

The oil should show /between/ the upper and lower marks. It should not be over the top mark "do not over fill". You will notice that the lower mark is near the bottom of the window. These motors will not show the same oil level twice. Therefore any oil showing in the window with a bubble of air is good. There are a lot of weirs and dams in the engine that stop the oil falling into that sight glass pocket. If you can see oil, best leave it alone and check again tomorrow.



The book says 350ml between lower and upper marks, I've found this to be 100ml or less. Only add an eggcup of oil at a time

Doing an oil change I've found that the pumps will pick up oil at just over half filled. Therefore oil in engine good, overfilled bad.

Thanks JEFRS for your reply. After reading it I feel more confident about checking and topping up the oil now.
Donny

It seems everybody has this problem.. why didn't they just put a dipstick in the thing..?

On my RE CGT I use the following method to check oil level, take bike for a run to get it hot, Without stopping the engine put bike on its main stand on a flat level surface and allow engine to tick over for two minutes, stop engine, give it five to ten minuets and check oil level in window, it may be near the top mark and as it cools it will lower slightly, as long as you can see the oil level in the window its fine, if you need to top up just add a small amount this small amount will not show in window until you run bike again and check as above.

Exile: a dipstick wouldn't make any difference. As Jefrs says the design of the engine is compartmentalised is such a way that the oil level is inconsistent. It doesn't matter how you measure the oil level; if it varies it'll still vary with a dipstick. Personally I drain as much oil out as I can and add the amount specified in the w/shop manual (2.4 litres). It has never breathed oil into the airbox. As long as I can see some oil in the sight glass and there are no visible signs of leakage or burning oil I don't worry.

If the oil ever drops to a dangerous low level, what will happen is the temperature will start to rise rapidly and the only way you will know is by having an oil temperature gauge. The probe hole in the oil reservoir drain plug can be drilled and tapped by any hydraulic hose firm like Pirteck or engineering firm for a couple of quid.

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