Oil level xr 400

[kristian1ify]

XR400
I put the recomened oil amount in for a filter and oil change and rode it a couple of times, checked the oil and needed to put 800ml to get it to show on the dipstick 1st qauter??

Any ideas?

Checked oil off the side stand, there are no leaks or smoke..

[kristian1ify]

and I ran at idle for 5mins before checking.

[phil w]

Run for longer than that especially this weather. Even a jaunt around the block nice an easy. Then run the bike on tickover in an up right position, not on side stand,, for a few mins.
Switch off and check imediately, see how that goes. That advice was given to me by someone on here who spanners for Rally Raid preped XRs so seems to work

[416cc]

Going by the procedure in the Haynes (and the Clymer) manuals, I fill the frame tank until I get to the upper part of the dipstick measured height, then I run the engine for less than a minute...just to circulate the oil around the system and the new oil filter. I then allow the oil level to settle for about 1-2 mins with the bike upright on level ground. I then top up the oil level until it reaches to just below the upper measured height. I then restart the engine and allow to run for about 5 mins before stopping and rechecking the level as before. I find that this procedure works ok.

[dazzerrtw]

1.8lt required if oil and fillter changed.any more and you have over filled

[XR Mad]

1.8lt required if oil and fillter changed.any more and you have over filled

Dazzer's right once you put 1.8L of oil in it dont matter where it is on the dipstick you know you got the right amount of oil in. take it for a run and check it the next day

[kristian1ify]

If that's the case what's the dipstick for? Surley it's there for a reason. I Can't get my head round it I put in 1.8L but 2 rides later I check the oil (non showing) It then takes 800ml to register.

Correct me if i'm wrong but surly the dipstick is there so you can check your oil.

[jasonbc]

XR400
I put the recomened oil amount in for a filter and oil change and rode it a couple of times, checked the oil and needed to put 800ml to get it to show on the dipstick 1st qauter??

Any ideas?

Checked oil off the side stand, there are no leaks or smoke..

Hope that may help you with the correct procedure that is from a genuine manual for an RY model. Only thing i can think of is has the bike had a rebuild lately as it's 2.3 litres after a rebuild, are you really sure ( not making you sound stupid or being patronising) you put that amount in. Only reason i ask is if you over filled it by nearly 50% i would expect to see it coming out of the breather pipes in the crankcases and elsewhere and the bike would more than likely be smoking quite badly

[phil w]

Mine has been taking a whole load of oil lately.. 400/500 mls after a 120km ride and has never smoked excessively, but on chucking it in the garage needed a rebore so was burning oil more than it seemed to show when running, maybe yours needs a look also

[jasonbc]

Mine has been taking a whole load of oil lately.. 400/500 mls after a 120km ride and has never smoked excessively, but on chucking it in the garage needed a rebore so was burning oil more than it seemed to show when running, maybe yours needs a look also

Mine smokes but doesn't use any oil can't remember last time i filled it up and it had a brand new barrell, piston, rings etc a couple of years ago. I think if anythnig is at fault with mine it would be either the valve seals or rings. The thing that could cause an issue is spark plug changing if you don't blow out the head first with an air line as **** gets down there and if you pull the plug out the last thing you wan't is grit falling in and scoring the liner.