Okay so I just did my spring oil change with Filter. got everything buttoned, up put 3.5 quarts into the engine and let it run for a couple minutes. turned it off and it is not showing any oil through the window. the bike is on the center stand and it looks fairly level. any ideas?
So I had my daughter lean the bike over a little bit more to the right and the oil did show... I guess I just forgot how sensitive these things are as far as checking the level
With the bike on the center stand and 3.5 quarts of oil, you should have oil showing in the witness glass within a few minutes of turning the bike off. Yes the site window is sensitive to bike being on level ground.
Fred
I noticed a difference in checking the oil on the stand or on the ground. i opt to do the ground now as bike is on the ground when its running. I altered my center stand, so I have no idea how accurate it is anyway.
Checking the level by yourself can be a bit tricky, though.
My center stand is not on mine regularly. When I am on long rides with no center stand or too lazy to put the center stand on.... I use this while sitting on the bike.
Fred
Do you have a spin on filter?
If so, plan for a tad bit more oil, depending on the size of your filter cartridge.
I don't use a centre stand either. I just kneel next to the bike and pull it up to the balance point and check the level. As has already been said, a few degrees either side of dead vertical changes the level in the sight glass a surprising amount.
My centre stand is twisted anyway, as I imagine it would be on many FJ's and the level shown when on the stand differs significantly from true vertical.
Don't forget, exact oil level is not that critical, as long as it's somewhere between the marks. Higher is better but don't sweat over getting it "exact"
Noel