Correct oil amount?

In my manual it says 3,500 CCs of oil including the filter. Is this correct? I have heard that the best thing to do
is 3,000 ccs + the oil filter full of oil. I have measured this and this would amount to 3,250 CCs.

Is the manual advising me to overfill my GRiSO?

Don't bother with an amount. Fill the filter as best you can and install it. Then add oil until it is half way between the 'Add' and 'Full' marks with the bike upright and the dipstick resting on the threads. Screw the stick in and run the motor for a minute, then turn it off and let the oil drain down for five minutes. Stand the bike vertical again and re-measure the oil level. It should still behalf way between the 'Add' and 'Full' marks. If it's lower than the 'Add' mark? Put a bit more in. As long as it isn't above the 'Full' mark you're golden.

Most Guzzis will pump out oil into their airboxes if filled to the 'Full' mark. If you keep topping them up they'll keep pumping it out. This is bad because it will foul the throttle bodies and can clog the stepper motor. What you will find is that somewhere between that halfway point and the 'Add' Mark it will stop using any appreciable oil. That's the 'Happy Place' for your engine and riding style. Check your oil regularly and don't add any unless the level drops below the 'Add' Mark and you will soon establish where that point is. Once you have found it by checking the oil with the bike upright you can repeat the check with the bike on its sidestand on a flat surface. Mark the stick accordingly with a file mark or some such and 'Voila'! You no longer have to do the silly balancing the bike upright to check the oil.

All big blocks have ample oil. There is no need to keep them filled to the brim. So don't worry and let the bike find its 'Happy Place'.

Pete

Will do. Lucky for me I have a bike stand, so the vertical check is easy.

Pete, upon reading this I've realised I've overfilled my bike. I checked this morning and I'm above the "Max" line. I've done about 500km since the oil & filter change. I'll remove some oil tonight, but is there anything else I need to look for?

I've noticed some fluid escaping around my rear brake fluid reservoir. I've found signs of it spraying onto the front of my pants just above my boots. I can't work out where it's coming from and it doesn't seem to be from the rear brake res. Could this be excess engine oil?

Also you mentioned excess oil getting into the airbox. Would this effect the air filter? Should I replace it with a new one (it was replaced same time as the oil change)?

I thought I'd measured out the right amount but must have overestimated how much was needed.

Underneath the bike there is a clear hose with a bung in the end. Does it have oil in it? If so put a container underneath it and pull out the bung and let it drain. No more than a few ml should come out.

What I'd do in this circumstance is take off the airbox lid and remove the filter and have a really good look in the box to see if there are signs of a lot of oil pooling. If there is then it may well be that oil has been drawn down the inlet trumpets and through the throttle bodies. Run a finger around the bottom of the TB's where the spindle protrudes to the linkage. If it is wet with oil that may well be where your splatter has come from.

For now simply drain some oil out until it's at the correct level, half way between 'Add' and 'Full', dipstick resting on threads with the bike upright. It'll probably sort itself out. If this doesn't cure the splatter? Well, we have to look elsewhere for a leak point.

Pete

Thanks very much Peter. I will do the above tonight and report back. I'm (hopefully) off on a 3-day ride this weekend so this has been very timely advice.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

There are two air box drain hoses, one below the air filter and the other one under the battery which can be accessed via an inspection hatch. The one under the battery is more likely to see engine oil as the vent hose inlet (yellow circle) from the vapour recovery system is just above it.

I copy and paste the following from the other forum which I posted 4 years ago. Since then, I further reduce the engine oil level from mid point of dipstick to the quarter point. I fill 2750cc to 2900cc (inclusive those in the oil filter) depending on how thorough the oil drained.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While I was doing the quarterly battery tray inspection/cleaning today (my battery leaks a little, that’s another story), I took a peek at the air box and snapped some photos to share with you guys.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Last air box inspection was done at 10,000km (6250miles) ago when the bike has 2000km (1250miles) on the odometer. It was bone dry inside the air box. This time, a tablespoon of oil was pooling at the front left corner of the air box (bike on side stand, obviously). I never over fill the engine, the air box drain tube has no oil accumulated since new.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

As you can see, the air box drain hole (yellow circle) is located at the center rear, unless you have a significant amount of oil accumulated inside the box (or wheelie a lot) otherwise you will not see oil in the clear PVC drain tube at the bottom of the gearbox.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Soaked it up with a piece of kitchen paper towel and I think it is good for another 10,000km before I check again. Intake bellmouths look good as well as the butterflies.

Speaking of air box drain hoses, mine became brittle and broken into pieces recently.

It's 5 years old, bike always park in the basement so unlikely caused by the UV.

I just replaced them with tygon hose which should last a bit longer than the PVC type.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thanks all for posting these photos, makes it a lot more understandable for us newbies.
I took the bung out of my drain pipes this arvo and one of them gave a few drips only.
When I service the bike next I will remove battery and check in there. I removed the air filter and had a look, all good there.
Did notice the UFI filter (989) I bought was the wrong one, it was around 50mm too long.
Cheers

I checked all over for oil leakage but it all looks clean. No pooling oil in or around the airbox that I could find (thanks Phang for your advice on where to look). The overflow tubes were dry as a bone. I've corrected the level so hopefully that's all good now.

I looked closer at the fluid leakage around the RHS foot peg. Seemed to be some oil around the head gasket so I've tried to fix that and will wait and see if that stops. I may have over tightened the head bolts. Not sure how that would have been getting down to my lower leg though and can't see where else it could be coming from. I'm off on a long ride this weekend so will see how it goes.

Thanks again to Peter and Phang for your help.

What year model is it? Does it use the 'Floating' or 'Non Floating' rocker cover? If it's pre '12 it'll be non floating and it's probably shat a sealing o-ring.

Pete

It's plated March 2010 but has the A5 motor.