Oil change near-mishap

Zorlac · Jun 23, 2010

"can you tell me how/why this oil level creep occurs"

There's an oil amplifier in the engine that's out of adjustment.

charismaticmegafauna · Jun 23, 2010

GMAK said:
In response to the questions I, and others, have/had on the oil refill problem where the fill level seems to grow over time, I've contacted Yamaha for clarification.And this was my question to Yamaha:

Like many FJR owners, I change my own oil and filter(s). The issue seems to be oil level expansion.

Upon refill, I carefully measure a 4 quart, 8 ounce fill volume. This brings the sight glass about halfway between the minimum and maximum markings, after run-in.

However, after 5-7 hundred miles, over several weeks, I'll notice the sight glass oil level beginning to creep up to, and beyond the maximum marking.

I'm pretty sure your FJR's do not manufacture oil, and I know my oil refill is accurate.

So, can you tell me how/why this oil level creep occurs, and if we should just ignore it. Personally, when this happens, I vacate enough oil to return the measurement to the mid-point measurement seen immediately after the last change.

I, like others, really like the bike, and this is just a minor annoyance.

Thank you very much for your help.

And this is the response from Yamaha:

"Thank you for your question. I have been told by our Technical Advisor that the oil may rise through the sight glass for several reasons. One reason may be condensation accumulating in the crankcase. This is most common when a vehicle is run for shorter periods of time and the condensation is not released through the crankcase breather tube. Another reason may be that fuel is getting past the rings and adding to the crankcase oil volume. Another reason that may contribute to a higher oil level may be that once oil is poured in and circulated it becomes aerated, and raises the oil level slightly. Any one, or a combination of any of these factors may be adding to your rising oil level. Thank you."

A simple "I/we don't know" would seem to have been sufficient...?

Especially poor for what is the spokesperson for the Yamaha Factory...!

It's been my experience that there's no "magic" in machinery -- it either 'is' or it 'isn't'. If the presicribed procedure for determining the quantity of oil in the crankcase is inaccurate/faulty? -- then the procedure needs changing.

GMAK said:
I'm just not sure I understand where the sump drain is on an FJR. I've seen a tube down by the drain plug, but assumed that was battery overflow. I certainly hope no one has fuel seepage into their oil.

The third cause, "Aeration of the oil", seems a possibility. But, to me, only seems capable of making a very small difference.

All my other previous bikes had dipsticks for oil measure-ment.

There is no sump drain -- the crankcase breather is from the crankcase into the intake air-box.

The battery is completely sealed -- no drain tube.

Oil-level checking with a dip-stick would give similar inaccuracies -- that is, if you accept Yamaha/Cypress' explanations/excuses... :huh:

fjrchooser · Jun 23, 2010

Nice find from the twilight zone, freakin classic thread with nearly all the players present. I really miss those guys..

Gary F · Jun 24, 2010

I change oil on my Toyota Venza and got an oil filter socket from them that fits the FJR filter as well. The socket was too much money but I am sure that a parts store would carry nthe same thing cheaper.

jmdaniel · Jun 24, 2010

I learned something this week, when changing my oil; that "quart" isn't a quart!

Oil needed, with filter change: 4.23 quarts

Four bottles of the Castrol: 4 x 1.05 quarts each = 4.20 quarts

I was thinking that they were quarts, and was always wondering why the bike seemed more full than it should be. BECAUSE IT WAS! Never again.