Low oil level in new XL1200 C
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
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Low oil level in new XL1200 C
My girlfriend took delivery on her new 2005 XL1200C yesterday. After a few miles around the neighborhood she was going to start it up again and noticed that the oil light was still on after the ignition switch was on. She checked the oil level and found it to be low! No obvious oil leaks or heavy burning of oil.
Too late in the evening to call the dealer and we'll just go out and get some HD oil today.
Did the dealer just skimp a little on the oil when setting it up or does HD ship with some minimal amount of a preservative oil that just wasn't changed by the dealer?
Love the bikes and the dealer was great during the purchase process.
Also, I have read the discussions about the break-in process and the "run it hard" method does make sense to me. And it will be much more fun.
Jonnymo
Too late in the evening to call the dealer and we'll just go out and get some HD oil today.
Did the dealer just skimp a little on the oil when setting it up or does HD ship with some minimal amount of a preservative oil that just wasn't changed by the dealer?
Love the bikes and the dealer was great during the purchase process.
Also, I have read the discussions about the break-in process and the "run it hard" method does make sense to me. And it will be much more fun.
Jonnymo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,334
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
The dealer should not skimp on oil. That would be very bad for the engine since it's pretty much oil/air cooled. How low was the oil and how many miles have you put on the bike. People around here can tell you that 05's have problems with burning oil and that's something to monitor, but if you just rode it around the block I doubt it would burn enough oil. Especially if it was only something like 100 miles of riding.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
Just 10 easy miles on the bike. Oil light was off for the first few start up's and rides around the block. Then on the last start up, the oil light was on before it turned over and remained on after starting up. The engine was immediatly killed and the oil level checked and found to be very low.
Dealer should be open soon and will give them a call to make sure I am using the correct procedure for checking the oil level. But still, the oil light shouldn't remain on while the engine is running.
If the engine was delivered low on oil, I think I will insist on a FREE extended warranty.
Jonnymo
Dealer should be open soon and will give them a call to make sure I am using the correct procedure for checking the oil level. But still, the oil light shouldn't remain on while the engine is running.
If the engine was delivered low on oil, I think I will insist on a FREE extended warranty.
Jonnymo
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
My girlfriend just checked again this morning while cold and before starting up. Cold, it was at the "fill" level. She started it up. and now the oil light is off while running. She shut it off and checked it warm. Still at the "fill" level.
Also, she checked out my new 2005 XL 1200 C. The oil level is also at the "fill" mark.
Calling the dealer (Eastside Harley-Davidson Bellevue, WA) this morning. At the very least, I'll pick up two quarts of HD oil for FREE.
Unfortunently, now I have lost confidence in my dealer. Sending new bikes out with the minimum amount of oil. What were they thinking?
Jonnymo
Also, she checked out my new 2005 XL 1200 C. The oil level is also at the "fill" mark.
Calling the dealer (Eastside Harley-Davidson Bellevue, WA) this morning. At the very least, I'll pick up two quarts of HD oil for FREE.
Unfortunently, now I have lost confidence in my dealer. Sending new bikes out with the minimum amount of oil. What were they thinking?
Jonnymo
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
So I go to the dealer to talk to them. The service manager says that it's ok to have the oil at the "fill" line. Not to worry and, no, we won't give you a free quart of oil to top it off. I literally told them to f*** off and said it wasn't about a friggin free quart of oil. It was about listening to a customers concerns and addressing them. They lost me for life as a customer. What ever happened to "service after the sale".
What gives? I called another shop and they said the same thing, that they sell bikes with the oil at the "fill" line. Although that service guy said that personally he wouldn't keep his bike at that level. While another dealer (Destination, Fife) says they put in enough oil to keep it 1/2 to 3/4 the way up the dip stick.
I think what is going on is that many Harley dealers are putting the bare minimum amount of oil in them. Apparently, the bikes come dry from the factory and it is up to the dealers to fill them up. They save a few bucks on oil, by under filling, and then they sell you more overpriced oil down the road.
Then when you have engine problems they can deny warranty coverage because you didn't keep sufficient oil in the bike.
I understand that running the bike with oil at this level probably won't hurt a thing, but it just seems dumb to sell a bike this way.
I guess I am done with my rant.
Jonnymo
What gives? I called another shop and they said the same thing, that they sell bikes with the oil at the "fill" line. Although that service guy said that personally he wouldn't keep his bike at that level. While another dealer (Destination, Fife) says they put in enough oil to keep it 1/2 to 3/4 the way up the dip stick.
I think what is going on is that many Harley dealers are putting the bare minimum amount of oil in them. Apparently, the bikes come dry from the factory and it is up to the dealers to fill them up. They save a few bucks on oil, by under filling, and then they sell you more overpriced oil down the road.
Then when you have engine problems they can deny warranty coverage because you didn't keep sufficient oil in the bike.
I understand that running the bike with oil at this level probably won't hurt a thing, but it just seems dumb to sell a bike this way.
I guess I am done with my rant.
Jonnymo
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2004
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
That was actually a pretty good rant. an ya I'd be pissed too.
Dam dealers, Love to sell you a mutilthousand dollar bike and
hundreads of dollars in addons but boy go back with a problem
and there *********.
LV
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
The bike should show between the low and full marks at least, not at the fill line. The 05's have a valve seal problem that is being addressed by the MOCO under warrantee, and you should run the bike at least 10 miles or so before you should expect the oil to register in the hot zone (full line). If you over fill it , there will just be a mess to clean up when it pushes out the air filter breather lines. Keep check on the oil consumption and remember as I tell other people, if it uses a half quart of oil in XXX miles, and this is an excessive amount, the dealer should be told an amount that is double that or you'll get the "they all do that" syndrome.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
ORIGINAL: TCSTD
The 05's have a valve seal problem that is being addressed by the MOCO under warrantee,
The 05's have a valve seal problem that is being addressed by the MOCO under warrantee,
Hmmm, this is news to me and I have a 05 1200R. what are they doing to address this issue and is there any litature I can follow up with. I'm kind of bad about checking oil and I will admit I checked it awhile ago and it was real low so I topped it off but probably need to check it again. is there any type of recall or service bulletin out on this. Thanks.....
LV
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RE: Low oil level in new XL1200 C
Don't know if there is any recalls on this issue yet, but the dealers should be aware of it, there have been quite a few that have had the valve seals replaced under warrantee for excessive oil consumption. There was another member on this board that had the same problem and he was given new seals, rings and maybe something else. Try posting your question in the general HD tech section, the member that had the problem may respond to you, or do a search for 05 oil consumption, that should bring it up.