Below is a picture of my 1991 evo oil temp dipstick. Is the level checked from the end of the stick to the ring around the stick or should the level be between the ring and the small dot toward the gage/cap end?

 

Dude you have a softail, you check oil level by holding the bike straight and looking in the filler neck.
The oil level should be just below where the neck connects to the oil tank.

 

The ring indicates full. Or, like texashillcountry says, just below the neck when held straight. Fill the bike above the ring and it sometimes overflows when hot.

 

Well I've been told just below fill neck, 1/2" below fill neck, straight up, on side stand, tip to ring, ring to dot. So aparantly not everyone shares your opinions. The filler neck is 2" long. The dipstick from the tip of the filler neck to tip is 4" long. The ring is a half an inch from the end. So in my book if the ring is the full mark it would be 1 1/2" below the neck. Not a very exact method when everyone keeps warning do not over fill. By measurement the dot would be at the bottom of the fill tube with the ring 1 1/2" below it. I have no stock dipstick and no manual. The way you are describing sure sounds like the dots would be the full mark with the ring being the add.

 

I didn't give you an opinion, I told you how to check your oil level.

BTW the Factory Service Manual has the answer to this and many other simple questions.

 

The best way to check it is when it's hot. And it has to be really good and warmed up to be accurate.

With the bike hot the top of the stick where it meets the rubber is considered "full". I try to leave it down from there a little ways. The ring on the bottom is " low" when hot. And this is measured with the bike straight up.

When the bike is cold I generally look to see if it's just on the stick with the bike straight up. A lot of times it will be rignt around the "low" mark. And that's plenty full.

The oil level isnt that critical in these because it's a dry sump system. Just don't run it out. If you overfill it it's not the end of the world it will just push the extra oil out the breathers and make kind of a mess.

 

~ an inch from bottom of the filler neck. I don't use the dipstick as a measure...unless you bought the bike brand new, and you were the only owner, you never know if the dipstick is the correct one for your bike. Or an aftermarket one that is not the correct length.

Remember..it's an external oil bag, it's not like measuring the level of oil in a car engine. You could have that oil bag 2/3 empty...but your engine will still get oil fed to it from the pump....your engines oil level will not be low.

Just stand her upright...pull the dipstick...look down the hole...should be below filler neck a bit. Or...lean on kickstand..learn where the oil should mark on the filler neck..and judge by that. As long as the oil bag is "mostly full".

 

And is worth every penny! Available from your local friendly dealer.

 

Yeah only had the bike a short time. Manual is coming when I get a chance to get to the dealer. Guess I'll just fill her up and hope I don't get oil overflow.

 

Thanks for the info!