[Rolltide97]

This is my first motorcycle with a Goldwing engine, so correct me if I’m wrong. The correct way to check the oil is:

Let the engine warm up
Turn it off and let it sit 2-3 minutes
Sit on the bike and ensure it is upright and level
Remove the dipstick
Wipe it off
Put it back in but don’t screw it in
Remove it and check to see if the level is between the markers
If it is then put the dipstick back and screw it in place

This sounds easy, but I’ve read in multiple places where people were doing it differently.

 

[JackB]

That is right.

 

[Poncho]

this motor may be different? it is water cooled and operates at consistent temperature. It is built Honda tight. So unless your running it hard at excessive speed you shouldn't be blowing much any oil vapors, most route them back thru the airbox for EPA burn in the cylinders, they're trying to save the planet one tree frog at a time.


This motor has 4 quart pan for 112 cubic inch motor. I do this with all my motors at each oil change. I do a thorough drain and measure exactly how much comes out. Many Vtwins use 5qt pans. I always get exactly 5qts out. I always put exactly 5qts in. So, even though at any given time the dipstick may read some variable level, I NEVER ADD or attempt to TOP off the oil reservoir. That is a recipe for disaster. Over filling - Too much oil increases crankcase pressure and can degrade performance and it will blow excess oil and vapors into the airbox. you will have liquid oil in you airbox mucking up you motor.


I have only changed this F6c motor oil once at 2k. I got exactly 4qts out. I put exactly 4 qts in. I may check the level as it is an old habit, but I will never add more oil unless or until I recognize it is consuming oil when I change it. I don't expect that to ever happen with this motor. poncho

 

[Rolltide97]

I've changed my oil once so far with this Valkyrie and I measured what came out, too. I also drained the oil out of the filter as best I could and measured it. I filled up a gallon container and almost another quart container. I thought that was too much coming out of it. I put 4 quarts back in it and then started checking the level until I got it in the middle. It took a few more ounces to get it in the middle, which matches up with what the manual says if you are changing the filter, too. That was a couple hundred miles ago and the level hasn't changed since.

 

[DillPickle311]

I like seeing posts like this because someone is careful with their machine and want to be sure it is being maintained correctly.

I also like the design of these motors. With my experience with other bikes, this flat 6 is as simple as it gets. I hated having to look at a looking glass to see where the level was on other brands.

Everything from checking/adding oil to accessing oil drain plug and the filter... easy peazy!

I have changed it once and checked it once. Spot on with my oil level as well as the way OP described correct way to check. Ain't nothing more important than taking care of the oil in these valkys.

 

[Poncho]

that sketch leaves much to be desired. the motor is WELL lubricated from full to the low mark. Some fellas freak out when the level reads something less than full. As if the motor is suffering or performs better at top full. Often the stick just flat out lies to you as we don't always read it exactly the same at all times and often it just lies . but the motor is not suffering for lack of lubrication.


I would NOT add oil until it got to the Low mark and then Only if I were traveling and not in a position to service change the oil. IF it were near its cycle time, I would just go ahead and change it rather than add to it. poncho

 

[DillPickle311]

I'm almost under the impression you may really never need to add oil to ours unless there is a problem or riding under extreme conditions.

I do agree over filling oil is a no no!

 

[Poncho]

I'm almost under the impression you may really never need to add oil to ours unless there is a problem or riding under extreme conditions. I do agree over filling oil is a no no!

so you are just "almost" what gives you just an impression? .
I am saying that you do not need to ADD oil to your motor every time you see the dipstick read something less than full. most of the time either we are reading it wrong or the stick is showing it wrong. you could re read the dipstick 2 or 3 times in a row and get 2 or 3 different level readings. So? even if you had just 3 qts in your pan, do you think the motor is starving for lubrication?
I would offer to say that at any given time only 1 quart is actually in circulation while the rest is sitting in the pan waiting its turn thru the pump and around the block.


IF you found your reading to be all the way on the low mark, Probably only because you are riding hard and/or at speed such as when you travel on Interstates, you might be "consuming" oil as in blowing vapors into the airbox. THEN you should add a full quart / top off only because you are traveling. IF I found this to be the case and I was either near finished or not traveling, I would just change the oil and filter and start new.


I would measure how much came out. Something less than a full 4qt charge? This is how I read how my motors are behaving. What kind of oil consumption do they use (zero) , what kind of mileage does it get - is it varying any? and why? are there any performance issues that need looking after? Air Filter all clogged up with too much oil vapor and accompanying dust? spark plugs, I used to check them for color and gap. it would tell me how the motor is doing or if I needed to pay attention to something.


I suspect there are fellas that beat on their machines and ride them pretty hard. They may consume more oil, gas, tires, etc than the average bear. ok, so maybe they need to stay on top of their shenanigans and keep their motor overly lubricated as opposed to ever running it dry. If you are going to play hard will then you should play safe. poncho

 

[DillPickle311]

so you are just "almost" what gives you just an impression? .
I am saying that you do not need to ADD oil to your motor every time you see the dipstick read something less than full. most of the time either we are reading it wrong or the stick is showing it wrong. you could re read the dipstick 2 or 3 times in a row and get 2 or 3 different level readings. So? even if you had just 3 qts in your pan, do you think the motor is starving for lubrication?
I would offer to say that at any given time only 1 quart is actually in circulation while the rest is sitting in the pan waiting its turn thru the pump and around the block.


IF you found your reading to be all the way on the low mark, Probably only because you are riding hard and/or at speed such as when you travel on Interstates, you might be "consuming" oil as in blowing vapors into the airbox. THEN you should add a full quart / top off only because you are traveling. IF I found this to be the case and I was either near finished or not traveling, I would just change the oil and filter and start new.


I would measure how much came out. Something less than a full 4qt charge? This is how I read how my motors are behaving. What kind of oil consumption do they use (zero) , what kind of mileage does it get - is it varying any? and why? are there any performance issues that need looking after? Air Filter all clogged up with too much oil vapor and accompanying dust? spark plugs, I used to check them for color and gap. it would tell me how the motor is doing or if I needed to pay attention to something.


I suspect there are fellas that beat on their machines and ride them pretty hard. They may consume more oil, gas, tires, etc than the average bear. ok, so maybe they need to stay on top of their shenanigans and keep their motor overly lubricated as opposed to ever running it dry. If you are going to play hard will then you should play safe. poncho

I'm on the same page ponch! I have never "added" oil to any bike I've owned. They have always been fine until I changed oil which in most cases falls between 4-5000 miles on the speedo.

I have been pretty impressed with the vtwins. This is first time I've had a different engine type.

I caught a fairly strange sound yesterday after firing it up before riding. I've always tried to be very sensitive to motor sounds. Motor just turned 10000 so not that concerned at the moment. Later, did not notice any funny sounds... except roaring of brand dunny tires. I've always had loud pipes so tire noises were a non issue.

 

[Poncho]

I'm on the same page ponch! I have never "added" oil to any bike I've owned. They have always been fine until I changed oil which in most cases falls between 4-5000 miles on the speedo..

DP, gotcha, I have seen so many fellas overfill their motors and then deal with the residuals of oil in the airbox, often dripping down the side of their motors. When pressed as to why they keep topping them off, reply is they think that the motor needs to be full for it to work right.
Many of these new motors have separate oil cavity that holds most of the oil so that the crank is spinning in a dry sump cavity. Because the oil is distributed, So the diptstick is going to give a different level reading almost everytime you read it. Air cooled Vtwins tend to have 5qt capacity, probably more for heat excavation than lubrication. It is just that so many non motor heads that freak out about oil levels being just so and they do more damage than allowing the level to decrease a full quart before adding or better yet changing it.
I got a chuckle watching Utoober change oil n filter on F6c. going to the trouble of prefilling the new filter with oil b4 installing it. Risk of making a mess vs the 1 second of non pressure oil at startup. Clearly a case of analology. Residual oil film on all surfaces will provide plenty of start up protection. these motors are known to go 1m miles. The same guy who over cares for motor and bike will think nothing of hammering it hard and riding edgy risking the bike and his life. balance is the key to 1m smiles. poncho

 

[DillPickle311]

DP, gotcha, I have seen so many fellas overfill their motors and then deal with the residuals of oil in the airbox, often dripping down the side of their motors. When pressed as to why they keep topping them off, reply is they think that the motor needs to be full for it to work right.
Many of these new motors have separate oil cavity that holds most of the oil so that the crank is spinning in a dry sump cavity. Because the oil is distributed, So the diptstick is going to give a different level reading almost everytime you read it. Air cooled Vtwins tend to have 5qt capacity, probably more for heat excavation than lubrication. It is just that so many non motor heads that freak out about oil levels being just so and they do more damage than allowing the level to decrease a full quart before adding or better yet changing it.
I got a chuckle watching Utoober change oil n filter on F6c. going to the trouble of prefilling the new filter with oil b4 installing it. Risk of making a mess vs the 1 second of non pressure oil at startup. Clearly a case of analology. Residual oil film on all surfaces will provide plenty of start up protection. these motors are known to go 1m miles. The same guy who over cares for motor and bike will think nothing of hammering it hard and riding edgy risking the bike and his life. balance is the key to 1m smiles. poncho

As you often do, you have provided interesting and useful info. I don't know if I'll hit 1m mark but I'm going to try.

I didn't like putting in 5qts of oil but understood the reason in some vtwins. As for making a mess, I'm always able to do it so make sure I have plenty of paper wipes. :|

 

[Rolltide97]

I sit in front of a computer all day at work, so I sort of enjoy making a little bit of a mess when changing my oil. Gives me a temporary false sense of not being a nerd for a little while.

 

[Geepers]

I sit in front of a computer all day at work, so I sort of enjoy making a little bit of a mess when changing my oil. Gives me a temporary false sense of not being a nerd for a little while.

Best comment on the forum!! Love it.

 

[DillPickle311]

I sit in front of a computer all day at work

Yeah! What the heck did we do before those things came around? I'm in the AC all day and worthless now that it's hot.