Oil level estimate

[Riverside]

Still less than 5 months with my 2004 R1150R and coming up with a lot of first time questions. The bike had just 5100 miles on it when I bought it. Single owner and mostly garage kept in winter and sometimes in the summer. On getting it home I immediately had the 6000 mile service done. Previous owner claimed to have changed oil and filter yearly. I had all fluids changed with the service. Everything is working fine. I read all the post about checking oil level. It is down slightly from the center of the circle after 2000 miles since the change. I have an extra quart of oil in the garage since reading on numerous occassions that these bikes consume oil. Now here is the question. I'm used to reading dipsticks of various sorts and know how much oil to pour in depending on where the level is on the dipstick. However, I have no idea how much to add when needed by looking at the sight glass. So two questions: 1. If the oil level reaches the bottom of the circle how much oil will it take to fill it back up to the center of the circle? 2.When I do an oil change and put in the 4 quarts it calls for, where will the oil be in the circle? Half? Top???? Experienced input is most welcome.

[Roy1150R]

CycleRob explains it best in the thread below. Cheers!

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=30409

[AZBMWRIDER]

I just topped off the oil yesterday, I would estimate from the bottom of the sight glass to the middle dot is around 8-10 fluid ounces .

If you have oil containers that have the clear 'window' molded into them, they usually have some sort of graduations molded in to bottle, use that as a guide .

Everyone had their own way of doing things, I usually underservice the engine oil, no matter what vehicle I'm doing an oil change on, then top it off after the leak check is performed and let the engime sit for a few hours before topping the oil off .

[MarkShelley]

Doing the oil level on these bikes is simple. After a run leave the bike on the side stand for 10 minutes so all the oil has chance to drain into the sump. Put in on the mainstand and check the level. As long as it is within the red circle on the sight glass it is OK. I always fill mine to roughly between the mid point and the top of the circle, but that is just my choice. Oil useage seems to vary from bike to bike. A common secenario seems to be that they burn a little oil until they get to around 16K miles then the amount of burnt oil will decrease greatly or stop completely if you are lucky. My 1100GS has 106K miles on the clock and it uses no oil whatsoever. My 1150R with 25K on it uses a miniscule amount.

[Riverside]

Thanks everyone... this gives me a good idea how to use the view window to guage how much oil to put in when it gets low.... i think I'm getting the drill for checking the level down pat by now. It just seems like a dipstick would have been so much more practical than a hole in the side of your crankcase.

[MarkShelley]

I don`t see how a dipstick can be an easier method of checking oil level than simply looking at it.
For information, after a few years the rubber surround of the sight glass will begin to deteriorate and oil can start to seep out around it. Thankfully replacement is a simple 5 minute process.

[Riverside]

I agree the sight glass is easier. I just think a dipstick arrangement is more practical. A personal preference really. Crankcases tend to become slightly pressurized from blowby, especially as an engine gets older. I've read some posts on the sightglass not only leaking oil but actually popping out while riding, spillinging oil all over the hot exhaust pipe below it. Mine showed signs of weeping oil when I brought the bike home, so I replaced it with a new one. Not anxious to be sitting along the side of the road and watch the bike go up in flames. There is a video on YouTube showing a simple method of removing the sight glass for replacement. I wonder if anyone has considered mounting a retention spring in place to prevent the glass from popping out.
Thanks again everyone for the input. I think I got the answers I was looking for. This forum has been a great help so far.