oil level in oil tank
 

Hi,

When my 1vj 1987 Tenere is not running and I look in the oil tank, is it correct that this should empty ?

What is the best way of checking that the oil is circulating properly ?

cheers,

Simon

ALWAYS check oil level immediatly after riding. oil temperature should be at least 60°C (or in other words: you have to ride at least 10 kms, depending on weather conditions). then let engine run idle for about a minute with bike in upright position. check oil level. refill if necessary. oil consumption up to 0.6l/1000kms is normal.
this is the only way to get relaiable results.

regards
klaus

Thanks Klaus,

I'll try that out tonight and see what I discover.

Hello! Sorry for my inglish...and thanks for this forum. I have XT600E (2003 year).
I cannnot measure a real oil level, because instead of original oil dipstick installed
RR OIL-TEMPERATURE GAUGE without marks MIN and MAX ( RR OIL-TEMPERATURE GAUGE for YAMAHA XT 600 E (3TB/96) - Louis - Motorcycle & Leisure ).
I need your help to give me sizes your original oil dipstick between thread and marks (MIN and MAX).

Hey, as I recall, minimum is at the end of the dipstick, so no oil on the stick = low. Its shorter than the original stick.

High is around halfway up on you're new dipstick.

Hi Simon,

Your 1VJ works on the 'dry-sump' method where the oil is pumped up to the oil tank, leaving just enough oil in the sump to do the lubrication. So the oil tank is the highest point. (Most other modern bikes use the wet-sump method where most of the oil is stored in a 'bath' down in the sump itself).

If your 1VJ is left for any time (e.g. days), it is possible for the oil to drain down into the sump (known as wet-sumping) - this is why Klaus suggests running it first, before measuring, so the oil can be pumped back up to the oil tank. Looking into the top of the oil tank, while the engine is running, you should be able to see the oil being 'squirted' back.

Fyi, there is a check valve intended to help stop the oil from draining away from the tank, and you can see information on this in this post:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...649#post285107

Hope this helps?

Geoff

The mysterious XT6 oil system
 

Geoff,

Reading your post I feel obliged to make some corrections ...

Dry sump system - this is actually used to make the height of the engine smaller - no need for an oiltank below the crankshaft as there is a separate oiltank. In case of our XTs this translates into more ground play.
The system on the XT has actually 2 pumps (although it is one item), one which sucks from the oil tank and lubricates crankshaft, piston, valves, rockers, camshaft, part of the gearbox. The checkvalve referred to is located at the discharge of this pump, to avoid that the oil line to the head empties itself when the engine is stopped. This avoids that the head runs without oil after starting the engine.
The other oil pump sucks from the sump (there is one, although smaller) and lubricates the other part of the gearbox and returns the oil to the tank. So, the capacity of this second pump is higher than of the other, otherwise there would be no balance in the flow hence resulting in empty oiltank.

Most XTs have the issue that with wear of the oilpump the oil indeed tends to flow from the tank to the sump. That is why after the engine being stopped you will measure a different oil level in the tank.

Anybody has the measurements for Kuler?

Ah, so it is the oil pump itself that stops the drain from the oil tank (or tries to). Thanks for the clarification, and the explanation for the check valve.

I wonder why nobody has marketed a check valve for the oil tank? I think it would make electric starting so much easier. They exist for a number of older British bikes.

Geoff

Hello Kuler,

To answer your question...I checked the stick on my xt 600 hoping it's the same one.

Overall leght 120 mm Low 110mm and High 70mm exactly.

Hope this help!

gwel

Gwel! Thanks!

Dipstick measurements
 

My 2001 XT600E 4PT has the same dipstick measurements as Gwel's, 120, 110, & 70. :thumbup1:
Bob