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Oil Level Confusion Oil Level Confusion
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 26 Feb 2017
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Oil Level Confusion
Hi

This is my first post, can I ask if it is normal to be able to see the oil from the filler hole at the top of the frame? It has never came out of the filler cap its just after a ride when I check the level I can always see the oil. After 3-5mins it falls and I can no longer see it.

When it is cold you cannot see it from the filler hole.

There is no oil in the air filter case.

Just want to know if this is normal?

Bike: 2002 XT600E
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  #2  
Old 26 Feb 2017
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Yes its normal, its the oil tank. The stick you remove you can check oil level in engine, If oil drops from tank after some hours you need to change the oil valve Yamaha XT600 Z/E/K Engine Oil Valve QZ27815 | eBay

You find info if search forum about this.
Last edited by xtrock; 4 Mar 2017 at 17:39.
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  #3  
Old 26 Feb 2017
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Ok brilliant, thank you.

I have done an oil and filter change but needed to put in 3.2l in instead of 2.8.

I was worried that it could be overfilled.
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Old 26 Feb 2017
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I have never used more than 2,8l, problem is that this system can be hard to read. Ride bike to normal temp, let it stand for 3min on idle, stop bike and check oil level. If you have problem with the valve it can be hard to tell if it drains fast. BTW open the small screw on top of the oil filter cap and oil must come out.
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  #5  
Old 27 Feb 2017
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Check the oil level when bike is upright (level) not on side stand.

Mezo.
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  #6  
Old 27 Feb 2017
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Thanks for all your advice, I checked the air bleed screw and all was fine. I sit on the bike so it is upright on a flat surface when I check the oil.

I think the issue is that I didn't fully warm the bike up when checking level, this then led to false low reading and then I added more. I split a bit of oil which is frustrating so can't say exactly how much I put in. I don't think it could be more than 100-200ml I lost.

Is the best thing I could do is drain the system and then refill to exact measurements? Or just remove some and keep checking the oil each time?

If I was to drain the system again I have a few questions-

As I will not be changing filter how much oil should I put in? 2.7l?
Will I need to do the air bleed screw again?
Is it ok to reuse the fresh oil that I would have drained?

Thanks for your support
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Old 28 Feb 2017
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Buy a small pump/big syringe and suck out 3-4dl from top tank and measure again. Then its clean if you need to add again.
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Old 28 Feb 2017
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The bike holds just over 3 liters dry, being 1-2dl low or high doesnt matter.

Just learn and move on, dont worry be happy

If you have oil all the way up in the frame, just remove one of the oildrain-bolts, and let a bit oit. You could also remove the cover for the oilfilter.

Another almost free option is buying a soapdispenser, and use the (cleaned) pump, to pump out excess oil from the frame.

For next time...As a general rule, if you can see oil doen the frame easely, the bike is fine. Check at the end of a good ride.
Last edited by Jens Eskildsen; 1 Mar 2017 at 18:07.
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Old 1 Mar 2017
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I always overfill my bikes on purpose , I just like having as much as possible . If it isn't smoking no worries being an external tank too much oil does nothing bad like it can when the oil is stored in the engine itself . There are limits to how much a person should/could overfill though . 1/3 to 1/2 quart to me is common but that's always pushing it, there does need to be room for expansion. Always best to make sure the anti drain valve is working and in good shape.
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Old 1 Mar 2017
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Thanks for the information and help, I have brought a big syringe and plan to remove about 2dl (200ml) from the frame and then recheck the level.

I will make sure after a ride I can see the oil in the frame from the filler hole as theses seems to be normal?
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  #11  
Old 4 Mar 2017
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Today I took the bike out for a ride, after the ride I opened the oil filler cap and could see the oil at the top of the frame, I also checked an no oil in the air filter case, there was no blue/grey smoke coming from the exhaust.

Would you say all this is ok and should just leave the oil level as it is?
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  #12  
Old 4 Mar 2017
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The cap you remove have a stick for measure, check this max/min if its in spec its ok. And if oil is coming out in air filter case its too much yes.
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Old 5 Mar 2017
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If the oil level is down about 2 inches or so from the top and it doesn't smoke as it's revving you should be fine . It needs room for expansion and for good circulation .
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Old 5 Mar 2017
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The problem is the dip stick always gives me different readings, sometimes 2 X's from the top of dip stick and sometimes above the X's so looks overfull.

There is no oil in the air box

I can always see the oil at from the filler cap at the top of the tank but about 1-1.5 inches from the very top

No smoke when revved

Thanks everyone for your responses
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  #15  
Old 5 Mar 2017
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When I bought my XT it took 2.6 litres to get the tank up to the right levels so my reckoning was that someone had been running it on around half a litre of oil. It seems to run fine though as proof of just how bullet proof these great bikes are. I also get variable oil level readings so now only trust the one I get after a few hours of riding. If that shows within the max/level markers after ten minutes of letting it settle then I reckon it's fine. The XT seems to run on just about any amount of oil it gets - but this is my first project so please don't take my word for it.
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