Checking the engine oil on M8's when the engine is hot is a dump idea and design issue I think. Why? Because, who carries oil with them when they ride? The best design is to be able to check the engine oil when the bike is cold, and still at the house, BEFORE a ride, not AFTER a ride. That is stupid ( imho)

Anyway, maybe I am over reacting again. When they say to check the M8 engine oil when the engine is hot, how hot do they want it? Can we just start it up and let it idle for 5 minutes? Is that hot enough?

 

But if you check it after the ride, isn't that checking it before the next ride?

Just thinking of loud.

 

Wow, what dump post!

 

No its not.

 

After reading the owners manual, I am positive that one of the reasons some riders have oil blowby in the throttle body is because they do not know how to check the oil level. According to the owners manual, you have to ride the bike until the engine temperature gets to 200 degrees F. That assumes you have a temperature dipstick. They do not make a simple temperature dipstick for the M8. They have one for $149 dollars that has poor reviews.

 

its Hot and i need to take a DUMP

 

Check your oil ONCE while hot........then check after it cools down......THAT level on the dipstick is NOW your main gauge on how much oil is in there........

 

Well the oldest Harley I have is a 1997 Sportster, and you have to check the engine oil when it is hot.

So checking the engine oil level hot is nothing new on Harley's.

 

Doesn't work if some oil leaks down out of the oil tank into the engine. On my old Sportster if you let the bike sit for a couple weeks without riding and check the oil there is nothing on the dipstick. Ride down the block and back, check the oil and it's half way up the dipstick. Ride it until it is good and hot and check the oil and it's full.

 

Ok, after reading the owners manual carefully, here is what it says...

It says ride the bike until the oil temp is 200 degrees F. The oil level must register between the Add Qt and Full Hot marks on the dip stick.

Ok, here is what I did....

I read the oil level when the bike was cold on the side stand. It was right at the Add Qt mark.
I started the bike and let it idle for 5 minutes.
I read the oil level again. It registered between the Add Quart and Full Hot marks. (It was at the third row of dots)

Since I register between the Add Qt and Full Hot marks after only 5 minutes, I think my oil level is good to go, even though I am sure the oil temp was much less than 200 F.