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511 oil level variation normal?

DrRobotenstein

DrRobotenstein

Husqvarna
AA Class
The oil level in the sight glass on my 2011 SMR511 changes quite a bit. When the bike has sat for a day or two the oil level is below the glass. When I start the bike and warm it up the oil level is somewhere in the middle. After the bike has been running hard the oil level is right up to the top of the glass. Is this normal?

(I hope I'm not asking something that has already been discussed in other threads. I looked and couldn't find any info on this topic...)
 
Heat = expansion, the oil expands thus the oil level rises in the window, it does it on every bike.
 
I guess the there are a few things that make it hard for me to believe that expansion due to heat is the whole story.

1) Previous bikes I've had didn't have such a drastic changing of oil level between hot and cold (85 honda shadow, 04 yamaha XT225). Not the same grade of bike, I know... But still...

2) With the 511, when the bike sits for 1 day (arguably quite long enough to cool down completely) the oil level will be about half way in the glass. After another day or two the oil level goes below the bottom of the glass. I don't believe it's continuing to cool for 2 days... If I get the bike hot but only ride moderately the the oil level won't hit the top of the glass. But if I ride hard the oil level goes over the top of the glass.

3) For the oil to contract/expand enough to go from below the bottom of the glass to over the top of the glass it would have to expand like crazy. There's only just over a liter of oil in there. Maybe I'm just a born skeptic... :thinking:

So I'm guessing if its normal, its something to do with the dry sump system and how the pumps circulate the oil. I guess if other owners of the 511 confirm that their bikes do what I describe in point #2 above I'll be satisfied its all good. Any feedback anyone has would be greatly appreciated.
 
My theory is that there is air trapped in the oil filter chamber and when it heats up and expands it causes the oil level to rise. I am going to try to bleed off the air by leaning the bike over to the left while it is idling. I will report any change I notice.
 
Depends on the oil type and grade you run. Thicker oils expand more than others. I typically recommend Mobil1 0W40 or equivalent for these engines which does not expand as much. Proper oil quantity in this engine puts the oil close to the top of the glass when cold, 1150cc to be exact. When starting cold, the engine absorbs approximately 300cc of oil into the oil filter cavity, the galleries and the valve cover area. This will show lower on the sight glass. Over time when the oil heats up, it will expand back up and beyond the top of the glass. This is a good thing as it will cool both your primary and secondary clutch and keep you from failure.
 
Radar's "leaning the bike over" comment got me thinking...

It turns out that after i ride if I park the bike perfectly upright the oil level is as Tinken describes, essentially near the top of the glass cold. I left it sit for 3 days and the oil level stayed there.

If i park the bike on the side stand for 2 or 3 days the oil seems to slowly trickle off somewhere. After 2 or 3 days of being parked on the side stand when I stand the bike up the oil is below the glass. I've never let it sit long enough upright after being parked on the side stand to see if it trickles back.
 
DrRobotenstein said:
If i park the bike on the side stand for 2 or 3 days the oil seems to slowly trickle off somewhere.
Click to expand...
It slowly trickles through the RH main bearing into the crankshaft area. In order to get it back to the main reservoir, you must start the engine.
 
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