New owner, Questioning the engine oil sight glass

Hello all. I love this site. Y'all are great people.
I have a question about the oil sight glass. I know about the high and low level lines, but none of the manuals I've read tell you if you should check the sight while the bike is on the center stand or kick stand. I found the oil capacity and filled it to that but if the bike is on the kickstand there is a no show and if it's on the center stand, the sight glass is filled. I am on level ground during the check. Help?

 

On the center stand is OK, on level ground. If the sight glass is full then, you may have overfilled the crankcase. How much oil did you put in? DId you change the filter at the same time?

 

You have to check the oil level on the center stand, or with a friend holding the bike upright. Oil will not show in the sight glass when the bike is on the side stand. Filled to the proper capacity the oil will be about 9/10ths up the side of the glass. Which model XJ do you have?

 

Another note is that anywhere between the hi and low level lines (level bike, on center stand) is within "spec," however, a consistent recommendation on this site is to fill the with oil until you are at the high line.

This is due to the tendency of a failure on the float needle and petcock (on bikes that haven't been maintained), which will fill your crank with gas. If you can't see the bubble, you know you have more liquid (oil + something) than you had before, and you should be suspicious. Gas thins the oil, which can cause serious engine damage, so you'd want to catch that immediately.

Also, you have to let the bike sit for a few minutes (5-10) after running it to let all the oil fill the pan.

quebecois59 is right, if you can't see a bubble in the sight glass on the center stand, you've put too much. But run it first to distribute the oil (and fill the filter if you changed it) and then check. But usually the amount stamped on the case is just barely enough in my experience.

 

What could be, in cc, the difference between the low line and the high line on the glass? 200cc?

 

That is a good question!!

 

I asked it because I think I got caught myself! I firstly put 2500cc of oil and ran the engine for a few minutes, then I added 300cc for a total of 2800cc required when changing the filter.

I looked at the sight glass and wasn't happy with the oil level (roughly in the middle of the glass) so I added 100cc. It seems that was too much because now the glass doesn't show anything but oil on the center stand and I can still see something (but barely) when put on the side stand.

 

It's overfilled. On the sidestand, you should have very little or nothing showing in the window.

As above, it needs to be checked with the bike on the centerstand or held vertical after the engine has been off for at least 10 minutes.

Your oil capacity is the little number cast onto the case right by the filler; + about 200CCs "insurance" to get the level close to the top.

 

sorry i haven't posted. between school and messing up my knee i haven't been thinking about my bike. thanks all who posted it was very informative. i was finally able to get out to work on her this week. double checked the oil level and made a new wiring harness. she's running great. thanks again.