South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

ran out of oil, dont know why though, there are no spills where i park up and it isn't burning any oil but my little view finder window is empty. Found a tub of Castrol GTX Magnetic 10 W - 40 oil in the shed. Will this do, i'm servicing it on friday.

I know this may sound completely obvious...but you are checking it with the bike upright, and not on the side stand, aren't you??

yup, even if i lean the bike towards me the oil only creeps into the bottom of the window. I dont have a dip stick for a more accurate reading but i think i can safely say my oil level is quite low.

i ordered an owners manul + haynes but it hasn't arrived yet

Not really as it won't be designed for a wet clutch. Just get a can from halfords, top it up and then use the rest when you service it friday.

At least it's showing in the window...there should be two marks on the casing upper and lower levels...it doesn't take much to get the oil level full, if it's just about in the window anyway, so you shouldn't be that low.
As far as i'm aware 10-40 should be fine, afterall a slightly wrong grade (as a minimal top up) is better than none, esp as it's only for a few days...
IMO anyway.

Tom L wrote:Found a tub of Castrol GTX Magnetic 10 W - 40 oil in the shed. Will this do, i'm servicing it on friday.

Hmmmm......10w40 is fine the thing is magnatec ain't bike specific oil,and there have been posts on here before about using car oil or not so i'd find out
if it's ok first m8

CvPiper wrote:Not really as it won't be designed for a wet clutch. Just get a can from halfords, top it up and then use the rest when you service it friday.

Don't use it, you said your doing it properly tomorrow so wait until then!

You cant check you oil just after you ran the engine, it'll all still be flying around the engine.. Like you cant check a cars oil just after running, have to wait for it too settle.. Best not to mix oils, you have a service manual? Consult that...

Sorry, didnt read the manual bit Tom..

Does the viewfinder window work? Sometimes they get a bit of crap in them and won't show the oil in there at all.

Still, assuming it does work. You say the bike isn't burning oil, but the view-finder is showing nothing...Where did it go?

Don't use the oil, your clutch will slip - seen it before - gets v expensive compared to using the right stuff, especially if you try to mix synthetic and non sythetic oils

i'm just about to head over to tremlets for a new rear tyre and some bar ends. I'll just add oil + filter to my shopping list. There goes another weeks wages . oh well i'll have some fun burning out the old tyre