what is the proper way to check the oil?
warmed-up or cold?
side-stand or center-stand or hold up-right?
checking oil??
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Leeroy Jenkins
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Keys
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I DOES need to be upright...the centerstand works just swell for this application. As for cold or warm, I check it cold because I then know that it has all run down into the crankcase and I am checking the ACTUAL oil level, thereby NOT running the risk of overfilling.
--Keys
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ScooterDave
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Why do you need to be upright to check the oil?Keys wrote:I DOES need to be upright
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toddrw2251
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lobsterman
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I doesn't know what keys is talkin' about. I doesn't need to be upright.ScooterDave wrote:Why do you need to be upright to check the oil?Keys wrote:I DOES need to be upright
Dave
I find that if I am inverted all the blood runs to my head and I can think more clearly about the oil level.
Kevin
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The Buddy Manual specifies Checking the engine oil volume after a 2 or 3 minute warm up, it states also to check on Flat Road.........
With that said and for those that are not mechanically inclined I would recommend doing the following...
Let warm up the 2 or 3 minutes. Shut it OFF.........wait about 5 minutes.......Make Sure the Scooter is on the Center stand and not the side stand........makes no sense to park on a FLAT road if you are going to have the scooter leaning to one side..........and then dip it! there is still a debate going on whether or not to screw it in all the way or just stab it in and pull it out.....it is my understanding that just to stab it and not screw it all the way in has been a standard practice....more to follow on that one, Pete at sportique scooters was following up with Genuine scooter and I think he told me that they sent out a memo that we are supposed to be screwing it all the way into get an accurate reading........I will call him in a couple weeks and see if he got any clarification on that issue.
Anyway.........this is what I would recommend...and is my opinion only....
Upright on Center Stand on level Ground.
Start and let warm up for 2 or 3 minutes.
Shut it OFF.
Wait 5 minutes.
Stab and do not screw in to check oil level.
With that said and for those that are not mechanically inclined I would recommend doing the following...
Let warm up the 2 or 3 minutes. Shut it OFF.........wait about 5 minutes.......Make Sure the Scooter is on the Center stand and not the side stand........makes no sense to park on a FLAT road if you are going to have the scooter leaning to one side..........and then dip it! there is still a debate going on whether or not to screw it in all the way or just stab it in and pull it out.....it is my understanding that just to stab it and not screw it all the way in has been a standard practice....more to follow on that one, Pete at sportique scooters was following up with Genuine scooter and I think he told me that they sent out a memo that we are supposed to be screwing it all the way into get an accurate reading........I will call him in a couple weeks and see if he got any clarification on that issue.
Anyway.........this is what I would recommend...and is my opinion only....
Upright on Center Stand on level Ground.
Start and let warm up for 2 or 3 minutes.
Shut it OFF.
Wait 5 minutes.
Stab and do not screw in to check oil level.
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Keys
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Syd
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I have heard both arguments on when to check oil level in the past. My thoughts have always run off on tangents themselves, but that's a different story. But anyway.SCOOTER SOLDIER wrote:Upright on Center Stand on level Ground.
Start and let warm up for 2 or 3 minutes.
I've always thought that the reason to check my oil is to make sure that there is enough oil in the engine to keep the engine from being damaged when it is started. So I've figured that if I start the engine before checking the oil, that kind of defeats the purpose of checking the oil in the first place.
So I always check the oil when the engine is cold, with the scoot on the center stand, dipped, not screwed, myself seated.
Jim
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Keys
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"I've always thought that the reason to check my oil is to make sure that there is enough oil in the engine to keep the engine from being damaged when it is started. So I've figured that if I start the engine before checking the oil, that kind of defeats the purpose of checking the oil in the first place."
***You can check it and make sure you have oil in it before starting it, but for checking the proper and required oil service level I would recommend doing what I and others stated doing earlier.
The following can damage your engine.
Not enough oil.
The Wrong Type of oil.
Too much oil.
and Dirty oil that has not been changed at the proper intervals.
Clogged or Dirty oil filter.
a common sense approach to basic maintenance keeps things working Cool and efficient, anything and everything mechanical is due to fail at some point and time.......the better you take care of your equipment the better it takes care of you, and no one is going to do a better job at maintaining a vehicle than the owner with knowledge and some mechanical ability.
The Dealers and or Manufacturers although they may have Designed the vehicles or sell the vehicles do not always have the best methods for maintaining those vehicles,
Sometimes they cut corners on products used (TYPE OF OIL) and sometimes they RUSH through maintenance as the quicker they do it the MORE MONEY they make........they are not doing the service cause they likes ya........they are doing it too make money............
I took my F150 to a Ford Dealership and asked how much for Transmission service (replace the Filter and Transmission oil), the service writer stated
"we do not replace the Filter sir, we do a system FLUSH which removes and replaces all the old oil and cleans the filter."
I said thanks and left with a chuckle.........there is a MAGNET in the bottom of the transmission pan designed to collect any metal particles and keep them from floating around in the transmission, if they were not going to drop the pan how did they plan on cleaning that magnet? all they were doing was a fast easy procedure which costs me a lot of money and not the best maintenance procedure for maintaining my transmission, all that does is push the dirt or impact it into my old filter they were not going to replace and leaving that dirty magnet in the pan all caked up with metal particles thus reducing the magnetic pull and effectiveness of that magnet.
I dropped the pan and as suspected it was filthy, I did the maintenance myself, it cost less, I know I used a premium ATF vs whatever they were going to put in and I have peace of mind that the best maintenance was performed.
So as you can see even Dealers which tout certifications of its mechanics etc....do not always do what is in the best interest of your vehicle and or you...........they want money and could care less if your vehicle breaks down 10000 miles earlier than it would have if serviced properly, it just makes them more money if it does break down early, you will either pay to get it fixed or buy a new one.
Here is another quick story, I took my wifes minivan which she does not own any more to Dodge for a recall item, they stated the gasket COULD leak on top of the gas tank which is close to the exhaust and cause a FIRE!
I took into ASAP of course to get the work done, a few days later I took the minivan to the gas station and filled up, I filled it up and went in to pay, as I was walking out I saw GAS just pouring out of the bottom of minivan!!
I knew right away why, I called Dodge and told them about the recall item and how I brought it in and that now it is spewing gas.........the service writer then asked can ya drive it in?
After wanting to climb through the phone and punch him in his nugget......I asked....ya had me bring it in because the GASKET could leak and possibly cause a FIRE! and now that it is LEAKING you want me to drive it in?
The story is not over, I did finally get the minivan to the dealer and they fixed it, kind of, I went out of town the next week and my wife called me, she said " I am hearing a scraping noise when I go over the speed bumps in our neighborhood" she said a blue strap was hanging down and that the noise was not the loud, I thought for a moment thinking this was something small, but then I asked........where is this strap thingy you mentioned? she said in between the front and rear tires on the passenger side.........I SAID DONT DRIVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I came home a few days later and sure enough......the mechanic who fixed the LEAKING gasket neglected to raise the gas tank bank up using the two supports and the gas tank was hanging....one of the nuts was gone on the rear support and the other was hanging on by a thread......they were speeding through the maintenance as they get paid piece work and missed a vital step like securing the gas tank back in place.
Pretty crazy but it shows how if you can do the maintenance yourself, ya have the know how and the patience and the tools. then do it........you will be happier later and your scooter will probably last much, much longer in my opinion.
***You can check it and make sure you have oil in it before starting it, but for checking the proper and required oil service level I would recommend doing what I and others stated doing earlier.
The following can damage your engine.
Not enough oil.
The Wrong Type of oil.
Too much oil.
and Dirty oil that has not been changed at the proper intervals.
Clogged or Dirty oil filter.
a common sense approach to basic maintenance keeps things working Cool and efficient, anything and everything mechanical is due to fail at some point and time.......the better you take care of your equipment the better it takes care of you, and no one is going to do a better job at maintaining a vehicle than the owner with knowledge and some mechanical ability.
The Dealers and or Manufacturers although they may have Designed the vehicles or sell the vehicles do not always have the best methods for maintaining those vehicles,
Sometimes they cut corners on products used (TYPE OF OIL) and sometimes they RUSH through maintenance as the quicker they do it the MORE MONEY they make........they are not doing the service cause they likes ya........they are doing it too make money............
I took my F150 to a Ford Dealership and asked how much for Transmission service (replace the Filter and Transmission oil), the service writer stated
"we do not replace the Filter sir, we do a system FLUSH which removes and replaces all the old oil and cleans the filter."
I said thanks and left with a chuckle.........there is a MAGNET in the bottom of the transmission pan designed to collect any metal particles and keep them from floating around in the transmission, if they were not going to drop the pan how did they plan on cleaning that magnet? all they were doing was a fast easy procedure which costs me a lot of money and not the best maintenance procedure for maintaining my transmission, all that does is push the dirt or impact it into my old filter they were not going to replace and leaving that dirty magnet in the pan all caked up with metal particles thus reducing the magnetic pull and effectiveness of that magnet.
I dropped the pan and as suspected it was filthy, I did the maintenance myself, it cost less, I know I used a premium ATF vs whatever they were going to put in and I have peace of mind that the best maintenance was performed.
So as you can see even Dealers which tout certifications of its mechanics etc....do not always do what is in the best interest of your vehicle and or you...........they want money and could care less if your vehicle breaks down 10000 miles earlier than it would have if serviced properly, it just makes them more money if it does break down early, you will either pay to get it fixed or buy a new one.
Here is another quick story, I took my wifes minivan which she does not own any more to Dodge for a recall item, they stated the gasket COULD leak on top of the gas tank which is close to the exhaust and cause a FIRE!
I took into ASAP of course to get the work done, a few days later I took the minivan to the gas station and filled up, I filled it up and went in to pay, as I was walking out I saw GAS just pouring out of the bottom of minivan!!
I knew right away why, I called Dodge and told them about the recall item and how I brought it in and that now it is spewing gas.........the service writer then asked can ya drive it in?
After wanting to climb through the phone and punch him in his nugget......I asked....ya had me bring it in because the GASKET could leak and possibly cause a FIRE! and now that it is LEAKING you want me to drive it in?
The story is not over, I did finally get the minivan to the dealer and they fixed it, kind of, I went out of town the next week and my wife called me, she said " I am hearing a scraping noise when I go over the speed bumps in our neighborhood" she said a blue strap was hanging down and that the noise was not the loud, I thought for a moment thinking this was something small, but then I asked........where is this strap thingy you mentioned? she said in between the front and rear tires on the passenger side.........I SAID DONT DRIVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I came home a few days later and sure enough......the mechanic who fixed the LEAKING gasket neglected to raise the gas tank bank up using the two supports and the gas tank was hanging....one of the nuts was gone on the rear support and the other was hanging on by a thread......they were speeding through the maintenance as they get paid piece work and missed a vital step like securing the gas tank back in place.
Pretty crazy but it shows how if you can do the maintenance yourself, ya have the know how and the patience and the tools. then do it........you will be happier later and your scooter will probably last much, much longer in my opinion.
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Leeroy Jenkins
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- Location: Athens of the South
