Oil and Filter Change Level and Weight

[TechPoet]

I put approx 4 quarts in and it looks like I put too much...

I drained from a still warm engine for at least 10 minutes.
Removed filter and drained well.
Cleaned all around, replaced O ring in filter cover plate.
Tightened up with the torque (first time using one of these)

Then 4 times, I filled up my left over 1qt jug
I ran the bike on idle for 3-5 minutes, didn't see any leaks.
Let it sit for a few minutes to let the oil settle and show level
It looked like there was none, then I thought it's too full but no...

It's just clean oil and difficult to see against an amber background.
(I think these bikes were built for well-lit workshops and keen eyesight.)

Now the bad news. I screwed up on the oil weight.
Why did I buy a 5L jug of 10w/50w? (http://www.beemerboneyard.com/lqm10w505l.html)

I live in SoCal where today it is 80. I am planning a ride through Utah and up into the Rockies (where it is 20).
And possibly spend the summer up at 6000' west of Fort Collins.

Should I drain the oil and start over? On review it looks to me like 20w/50w would have been a better idea.

Comments? Critiques? (Bring it) :dunno2:

[bikerboy]

20/50 10/50? It will only be 20 or 10 when the oil is cold and you start the engine. Both oils will be 50 when it has run for more than a few minutes. Either oil is fine in the handbook so don't worry, I use 5/40 in mine.

[Chaos]

You're fine, I run 10-40 all year round.  I overfilled mine, easy fix, with bike on center stand, loosen the oil filter cover, let oil dribble into a pan keeping an eye on the sightglass.  Tighten the bolts when the level gets to the middle of the glass. 

[JamesInCA]

Yup, your oil choice is just fine. (Just horrifically expensive, what with Mobil1 15w50 $25 for 5qt at WalMart.)

I fill mine to just about 3/4 of the way to the top of the red circle in the sight glass. It loses so little (even though it does have a visible drip) that I don't have to top it up between oil changes.

The "amber background" is interesting. Maybe discolored sight glass (plastic)? Or is the metal piece behind it discolored? Mine is clear and the metal behind it is shiny, steel-colored.

[johnny]

i once drained mobil 1 20 50 and installed castrol standard 20 50... then as i needed oil i eventuly used up a full quart of mobil 1 15 50 i had on hand...

i betts you could spoon in crisco and it would be fine...

i have even topped it off with 10 wt fork oil before...

its a f ing motobrick...

j o

[JamesInCA]

The Crisco might smell nice when it blows out all the smoke on starting.  :)

[kioolt]

Any oil is better than no oil.