i jsut changed my oil and i remeber last time i did i put in three quarts =....i drained it today and only a little over 2 quartz came out.......i read manual and it says to get oil at normal operating temp before sdrainging i did not do this but you think it could be the reason why???i out in three and oil level was too high so i drained a little bit....

Is this a new bike?If it is you should execpt to lose that amount while the engine is breaking in.If its not look for leaks,put cardboard underneath.Last but not least rings,guides.what year is it?Blue smoke out the pipes?Fouling plugs alot?Need more info chris.

i jsut changed my oil and i remeber last time i did i put in three quarts =....i drained it today and only a little over 2 quartz came out.......i read manual and it says to get oil at normal operating temp before sdrainging i did not do this but you think it could be the reason why???i out in three and oil level was too high so i drained a little bit....

Remember, our engines are dry sump, which means you are draining the oil tank, not the sump at the bottom of the engine. However, once the bike sits, some of the oil does drain back into the engine from the tank. If you drain the tank cold, the oil that has drained back isn't going to come out.

Remember, our engines are dry sump, which means you are draining the oil tank, not the sump at the bottom of the engine. However, once the bike sits, some of the oil does drain back into the engine from the tank. If you drain the tank cold, the oil that has drained back isn't going to come out.

That is what most likely happened. Run the bike a while before any oil change to scavenge the oil from the sump. Then drain right away.
Ted

no leaks or anything like that.......i assumbed it might be that reason i guess i will run the engine on monday and buy more oil and drain it hot.......how do you get the oil at the bottom out just by getting it hot????.....b/c the tank seemed aot more full than usual after i drained and did refilled it today

oh and no it is a 99 sportster

no leaks or anything like that.......i assumbed it might be that reason i guess i will run the engine on monday and buy more oil and drain it hot.......how do you get the oil at the bottom out just by getting it hot????.....b/c the tank seemed aot more full than usual after i drained and did refilled it today

Running the engine until the oil gets hot gets all the oil back in the tank. When it sits, some of the oil drains back into the engine. You want to drain the tank before this happens.

well it looks like im doing two oil changes due to my ignorance.....thanks for all your heklp guys

Don't forget the filter holds a fair amount of oil too:)


Cheers,

Luke

Remember, our engines are dry sump, which means you are draining the oil tank, not the sump at the bottom of the engine. However, once the bike sits, some of the oil does drain back into the engine from the tank. If you drain the tank cold, the oil that has drained back isn't going to come out.

Exactly. Warming the engine gets most of the oil into the tank and the warm oil drains much better. With the tank above the crankcase, it will never be possible to get it all out through the tank.

well it looks like im doing two oil changes due to my ignorance.....thanks for all your heklp guys
I wouldn't do that. Put in the two quarts of new oil to replace what you took out, then run the bike to drain the sump and check your level, if it's low then fill til your at a happy level. The oil that you might have left behind isn't going to be so rotten that it won't be fine when diluted with the new oil. Then maybe do your next change a little early if you want to.

Gazza

ahhh it will just be easier that way ya know....might as well jsut go the extra quart it dont excactly cost much

ok im new to this, so if its hot you drain the tank ,howmuch is left that you cant take out,and is there any benefit in changing the oil at say 2500 klm ?? this is my first harley and i have to treat her right , thanks

ok im new to this, so if its hot you drain the tank ,howmuch is left that you cant take out,and is there any benefit in changing the oil at say 2500 klm ?? this is my first harley and i have to treat her right , thanks

A dry sump system is always going to leave some oil in the engine and the oil lines that you can't get out. That's why I can only put 3 quarts in when I change the oil (without overfilling) even though the specs say she holds 3.4 quarts.)

I changed my oil the first time at 500 miles. I'm planning to change it again at 1500 miles.

this is also my first harley and this is my second oil change i changed whnei got it and now ii pout on 2000 miles since august so im going to change it again....i also changed the transmission then...maybe ill do trhat tooo not sure

Dont worry about how much goes back in as long as it reads correctly on the stick when hot. I just changed my oil yesterday afternoon after riding home from work. Engine was very hot after 24 miles of 80 on the hwy and 5 miles of bumper to bumper. Got home I drained the oil tank and primary. I dumped 2.5 qts back into the tank and 1 in the primary. Cranked it up for a few minutes. Checked levels. Way high. Today I guess Ill be cleaning the side of the bike after she pukes the extra oil all over herself.

I was told that the bike may use some during the break in period, which stands to reason, as the rings aren't seated yet, If it aint leakin out I would just keep an eye on my oil and wait till after breakin and if it still does it, take it in.

After just rebuilding my engine, when I first started it, I poured 3 quarts into the oil tank. The tank was filled to the bottom of the filler neck. The motor was dry. After getting it going when I checked the oil it was down more than 1/2 a quart.

As an aside, I did burn oil the first 1000 miles (bit over 1/2 quart) but it now seems to have stopped.
Good deal!

I just changed my oil last night on an 04 with 6250 miles. Was hot when changed, didnt leave it sit long before the drain and I only got about 2 qts out also. Put in 3.6 like the manual said and guess what. . . too full . . . drained some off and looked like it took about 2.8 qts total after drain. So to save you some work check it while you fill . . . I thought it looked a little full when I was filling it, should have listened to that little voice saying "STOP FILLING IT". Now I know and now you do too.

I just changed my oil last night on an 04 with 6250 miles. Was hot when changed, didnt leave it sit long before the drain and I only got about 2 qts out also. Put in 3.6 like the manual said and guess what. . . too full . . . drained some off and looked like it took about 2.8 qts total after drain. So to save you some work check it while you fill . . . I thought it looked a little full when I was filling it, should have listened to that little voice saying "STOP FILLING IT". Now I know and now you do too.

Just do what I do. Leave it overfilled and run the crap out of it. Makes for a real fun ride when that rear tire and the back of your right leg is covered in oil. I have yet to understand where the rest of the oil is every time I change it. Have considered cranking the engine with the oil filter off but havent tried it yet. I figure 2.5 qts of new oil will blend with the remaining 1 qt to make a half way ok mix.

But it bothers me that there is any oil left in there . . . I want it OUT! I didnt check . . . but there is no crankcase drain plug is there? But if you drained it would the sump oil system fail somehow?

To get all the oil out of the crankcase you do what the old timers call a five quart oil change. Change the oil like you normally do but leave off the oil filter. Take a piece of cardboard fold it and place it under the oil filter hole so it aims toward a bucket. Start your motor and let it run until fresh oil comes out of your oil filter hole. Top off oil level. Now you have 100 percent fresh oil in your scooter. If you are at all concerned about oil level getting low during this proccess you can add as you go. It is usually about one quart or less.

If i did not put 4 ounces of new oil in the filter is that bad?

what type of oil does everyone use?

i jsut changed my oil and i remeber last time i did i put in three quarts =....i drained it today and only a little over 2 quartz came out.......i read manual and it says to get oil at normal operating temp before sdrainging i did not do this but you think it could be the reason why???i out in three and oil level was too high so i drained a little bit....

There is a drain plug on the bottom of the crancase, small recessed allen head, when cold the amount of oil in the case and the filter is close to a quart.

The very small amount of oil left in the crankcase is not worth worrying about. When filling it back up. Add 2.5 qts to the tank. Then ride the bike about 5 miles get it good and warmed up then check the level. As far as primeing the filter. Some say you don't need to do it, some say you do. Personally I do.

You have 1 quart in the sump if you put in 3 quarts and you start the bike it will burp out the other quart. Some times when the bike sits oil will get by the check ball and it goes right to the sump.

The oil change described here in the last few posts is also referred to as a Scavenge oil change. I would not remove the oil filter and run the bike as then the main and rod bearings won't get any oil. Oil goes from the tank to the pump, then filter, then bearings, etc.

The correct way to do it would be to drain all the tank oil and remove the filter. Install fresh oil filter and fill oil tank. Remove return line from crankcase back to tank at the tank. My bike has permanent crimp ends so that part may be difficult. Let that line squirt into a bucket while the engine is idling. This return oil back to the tank is the oil off the bottom of the crankcase. As soon as the oil comes out clear, stop the engine and reconnect the oil line. Top off the oil tank again and go ride.

I've changed my oil twice. Each time I have always put in 3 qts of oil after draining. Have not had any troubles with too little or too much oil.

Guess I've been lucky :)

ya now what, ya don't even have to change your oil. it still works just fine after 3000 miles (or 2000 if your real anal)

its the shavings of metal that are bad for your engine , not the old oil.

if ya drain out all the oil and let the bike sit for a year with no drain plugs in it you will still have some oil in the motor, ya just can't drain it all out ...EVER..... its not possible

drain, change filter, refill till full and don't worry about it (well at least till ya check it for fullness again )