Author Topic: topped off with too much oil...  (Read 4589 times)

Offline herseyb

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 366
topped off with too much oil...
« on: July 22, 2015, 03:48:44 PM »
Okay, I have a feeling this is a dumb question... but I don't know very much!

I had checked my oil about 500 miles into riding, and it was good, Just checked it again at around 1000 and nothing was visible in the sight.

Picked up a quart over lunch, and topped off to about 3/4s of the sight.  I guess I didn't wait long enough for the oil to drain back down, because I just checked it again and now the sight is completely filled.

I put in about 85% of the quart...  Is this a shrapnel spewing brick fire waiting to happen?  Should I drain a bit out when I get home (3.5 miles)? or is it okay to be a bit over and just use it up since the bike is eating oil?
  • Brooklyn
  • '93 K1100RS

Offline TX brick

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 102
Re: topped off with too much oil...
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2015, 04:52:26 PM »
If you decide to drain a little, loosen the filter bolts. Much easier to control the drainage.
Ron

91 K75RT

Belton Tx

Offline Motorhobo

  • +25 years of K75
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 1530
Re: topped off with too much oil...
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2015, 05:15:56 PM »
Problem is, if you can't see a level in the glass, you don't know how overfilled it is. I've done that, and it ate at me so much I just got the oil pan, got some blue gloves and unscrewed the main drain plug. Got oil all ov r the gloves but I was able to gget t the plug screwed back in while the oil was still draining. Maybe one of those $5 siphons from HF would be less messy -- anybody tried that?

I always stop filling as soon as I can see level -- that usually leaves it at about halfway once it's all drained to the bottom of the case. Last time I changed the oil I just measured out the correct amount and didn't need to look at the glass.
1994/1995 K75 ABS Frankenbike: original engine 136k miles, frame from Gary Weaver (RIP), 173k miles -- Current Odometer: 198k miles
1994 K75 since 2013, 82,000 mi (19k mine) w/California Sidecar Friendship II Sidecar & Black Lab 'Miss B' - RIP

Past: 1974 Honda 550/4 (first bike), 1994 K75 (sold), 1995 K75 ABS (parts bike), Sidecar Dog & Best Bud 'Bo' - RIP

Offline TimTyler

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  • Posts: 1884
Re: topped off with too much oil...
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2015, 06:42:34 PM »
Overfilling the engine oil will leave the at-rest oil level in contact with the rear main seal and the oil pump seal. That's less than desirable.

If you don't want to drain it you could suck some out with a long transparent hose through the filler cap hole.

Offline herseyb

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 366
Re: topped off with too much oil...
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2015, 08:58:33 PM »
I'm chasing my tail. I couldn't get any with the hose, drained some, added some. 

My glass is cloudier than Portland and darker than my mothers heart. 

Time to research pitting a new glass in.
  • Brooklyn
  • '93 K1100RS

Offline herseyb

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 366
Re: topped off with too much oil...
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2015, 11:10:25 PM »
Well, during dinner I had the bright idea of putting it on my side stand to see if even though it's foggy maybe I was still overfull.  Which was true.

I got a wrench on the hex key to help me break open the filter cap, and that was a much smoother drain.  Problem solved.

Thanks guys!   :clap: :clap: :clap:
  • Brooklyn
  • '93 K1100RS

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