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Oil Levels

Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:36 pm

Ok guys still new to motorbikes, but need some help with oil levels.

Toke the bike out for lunch, and as i do looked at the oil window, and and it was about 3/4 full (towards the top) on the way out to lunch it didn't sound right so i stoped checked the bike over and have alook at the oil window, and it's now empty :shock: :cry: So my question is should you be able to see oil in the window when the bike is running, and how do i check the oil level? (ie. i know my car states to have running then with 10sec of turning off, check oil level) Does anyone know the procedecure for checking oil levels in the zzr250. :(

Thanks in advanced

Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:43 pm

ZZRs and GPXs have a nasty habit of letting oil though the vacuum line from gearbox to airbox. Over time (months) you'll drain a few mls of oil from engine to airbox, where it is then burnt and lost. So it's a good idea to keep and eye on the oil level and yes they will need the occasional top up.

As for how to check, no the engine should not be running, oil will be circulating through the oil lines and sitting on top of the head with the cams and valves. Oil levels should be checked with the bike upright (not on centre stands) after the engine has been off for a few mins, to allow the oil to seep back down to the "sump". And obviously the level should be somewhere between the high and low mark.

Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:44 pm

)As far as I can remember, when running you don't get to see oil. I hink it is best to have engine off and let it settle, then hold bike level and look again (centre stand always helpful :lol: )

Thu Aug 18, 2005 2:46 pm

cool thanks for that just didn't know if i had ru nit out of oil or not, doesn't help me with the noise i can know here :?

Fri Sep 02, 2005 10:06 am

Depending on what the noise is it might be nothing. Worth checking out but don't be surprised if mechanic tells you it is normal. Bikes (and Kawasakis in particular) have a habit of making noises that are there one time they run and gone the next. I had an old GPz750 (the air cooled one) many moons ago and it made different noises everytime I started it. Drove me nuts because it was my first multi cylinder 4 stroke so it was all new to me too. Ended up learning to ignore it. Not telling you to ignore it though.

Tue Sep 06, 2005 8:23 am

centre stand always helpful


Yes, but if you put the bike on the front wheel or back wheel it changes the oil level drastically (ie. one over full the other shows no oil at all). Never was sure which was the right reading...

Tue Sep 06, 2005 12:24 pm

Both my manuals say to check the oil level after putting bike on centre stand and leaving it for a while, to let the oil settle. You need to have a level bit of ground to put it on in the first place though.

Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:01 pm

thank for the further info 8)

Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:29 pm

Felix wrote:Both my manuals say to check the oil level after putting bike on centre stand and leaving it for a while, to let the oil settle. You need to have a level bit of ground to put it on in the first place though.
That's what it says on the ZZR250 manual, but apparently it doesn't work that way.

Adz, what Marty10 said is correct. Let the engine run for a while, turn it off, push the bike upright(or get someone to sit on it for u) and view the window, I usually keep mine 3/4 to the top.

Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:24 pm

Yep agree. engine off and bike upright. Don't fill it to the top line though as it will blow smoke and oil into the airbox. 3/4 full should do it.

Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:49 pm

when i brought my zzr 250 it had 4.5L of oil , get that lol its only ment to have 1.9 lol , they tryied to kill me lol :P
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