[jif1025]

Hey everyone-  a recent fluid leak spurred me on to check the oil level my bike, and when I pulled the dipstick, it came out completely clean.  A quick look through some older posts showed that someone else said newer AVL Electra's can have a clean dipstick when cold and there is nothing to worry about...  Is this the general consensus?   When I checked, the bike was cold (hadn't been run in 3 days).  The bike is a 2007 Electra X with 123 miles and run in 100+ degree weather in Phoenix- so if it is in need of oil, what type does everyone reccommend?   Thanks- as always- to everyone willing to help a beginner!

[The Garbone]

A good rule of thumb is to keep it 1/2 way up the hash marks when screwed in.  The problem with the clean stick thing is that you could be out of oil and not know about it, and ruin your engine.   I would suggest using 20-50 fossil oil until your first oil change.

Once I finished the initial break in I switched to all synthetics.  But that just me, oils can be a point of contention...     

[scoTTy]

you don't check it till it's hot... rule of thumb... back out dip stick . clean set back in///  withot screwing in..  thickness of my thumb is the length  of the threads... i came to halfway  o the stick..  right on...    

[Tiny Tim]

Jiff,

 ???Maybe you need a longer dipstick?

1. Warm the engine.
2. switch off and have a cup of tea (coffee if you must)
3. check oil as per Scotty's post
Ignore this easy maintenance at your preseence, it may cost you something as big as a big end!

REgards

TT

[Spitting Bull]

Is that right, then - do Electras show no oil on the disptstick when cold, even though they are correctly filled?  (My iron engine 350 shows oil on the stick hot or cold).

Tom

[PhilJ]

jif1025

Yes, my AVL '08 Classic, will often have no oil or just very little even parked at TDC. I can kick through 10-15 times with comp. release and the oil will be about 1/2 on the dip stick. Close enough. When I check with engine hot after a 1 minute or so wait, it will measure just under the full mark.

Phil

[Thumper]

Yes it is normal to see zero oil on the dipstick of an AVL after it has sat for a length of time.

I check mine after riding by shutting off the engine and waiting no less than one minute and no more than 3 minutes.

Also note that when you change the oil, if you attempt to put in the specified 2.37 quarts it will overflow. Best to put in less, ride it, check it, add to it

Matt

[faltnerc]

Hello!
Our AVL-Engines have a "problem" that is called "wet-sumping".
This means that the oil from the oiltank behind the crankcase will flow back into the crankcase.
This was a problem at elder machines, when a big cloud of black smoke came out of the exhaust after a longer time of being unused, but our new engines have new oil scraper piston rings, who prevent oil getting into the combustion chamber.

So, don´t be worried!

Let the engine run for a few minutes, stop it and wait two minutes.
Then measure the oil level at the dipstick.

Regards
Chris

[birdmove]

   Thats on the iron head engines too, unless you park with the piston at TDC.

    jon

[clamp]

What scraper rings have to do with wet sumping or oil getting into the combustion chamber I can not imagine.

[Kevin Mahoney]

What Faltnerc is talking about is what happens if you over-fill the bike. If the oil tank is too full oil will drip through a vent into the crankcase. The correct procedure on a Lean-Burn is to run the bike for a couple of minutes and then check the oil

[clamp]

I am aware of what wet sumping is but scraper rings have nothing to do with it.

    And as far as getting into the combustion chamber,--oil dont run upwards