too much oil?

Post Reply
DevonCbx
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 155
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 7:39 pm
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

too much oil?

Post by DevonCbx »

If a bike might have too much oil, could this perhaps cause excess smoking when revving the bike while idling or gearing down? :cry:

Thanks

Rick Pope
ICOA Rally Director
ICOA Rally Director
Posts: 2311
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 3:16 pm
Location: Lawrencburg, IN
Location: Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Post by Rick Pope »

Yes, but how did it get too full? Simple over-fill, or perhaps a leaky float needle?
Rick Pope
Either garage is too small or we have too many bikes. Or Momma's car needs to go outside.

Terry
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 2306
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2003 9:45 pm
Location: norcal
Location: Northern California, USA

Post by Terry »

A leaky float needle would cause GAS to enter the oil pan through an open valve right? A potentially very serious problem.
Last edited by Terry on Tue May 12, 2009 2:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
It ain't the destination, its the journey...

User avatar
Mike Barone #123
Posting God
Posting God
Posts: 2334
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2003 8:30 am

Re: too much oil?

Post by Mike Barone #123 »

DevonCbx wrote:If a bike might have too much oil, could this perhaps cause excess smoking when revving the bike while idling or gearing down? :cry:

Thanks
I always ran the ole dawgie a half quart high or so way back then and it seemed to run smoother and quieter than oil at the spec level. Surprise to everyone I am sure, but this over fill procedure was not done by any proven process or measurement......when it got near the top of the filler area that was about it.

The real reason ofcourse was to not have to top things off quite as soon on the brutal Marlinton sport rides.

So to answer your question....my personal experience has been that oil overfill for my CBX as described above did not bring on any exhaust smoke as you described.

I used Mobil 1 car oil....15/45 wt or whatever was closest to this since I really dont recall the exact weight designation.
My CBX lives near Harrisburg, Pa USA
Team222 = 2 Ole, 2 Fat and wayyyy 2 Slow

EMS
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 10151
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:55 am
Location: North East OH, ICOA 3904

Post by EMS »

Overfilling the sump may cause the crank to splash in the oil and cause foaming. This in turn could cause your oil pump to suck air, the oil film in the crank bearings to collapse and thus cause a catastrophic engine failure. There is a reason the design engineers put a max mark on the dipstick.

User avatar
Mike Barone #123
Posting God
Posting God
Posts: 2334
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2003 8:30 am

Post by Mike Barone #123 »

EMS wrote:Overfilling the sump may cause the crank to splash in the oil and cause foaming. This in turn could cause your oil pump to suck air, the oil film in the crank bearings to collapse and thus cause a catastrophic engine failure. There is a reason the design engineers put a max mark on the dipstick.
I did not recommend that Devon or anyone else overfill their CBX oil just because I did for years with intent, for a reason.... and without any issues.

I used this to point out that overfilling did not make my CBX smoke...which I thought was the question.

I would think over the past three decades there have been at least a few more things that people have done to CBXs besides me overfilling the oil level on mine... that worked out fine.... yet Honda CBX Engineers did not envision, nor would approve.
My CBX lives near Harrisburg, Pa USA
Team222 = 2 Ole, 2 Fat and wayyyy 2 Slow

EMS
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 10151
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:55 am
Location: North East OH, ICOA 3904

Post by EMS »

I think I need to quote myself in order to point out a few things:
EMS wrote:Overfilling the sump may cause the crank to splash in the oil and cause foaming. This in turn could cause your oil pump to suck air, the oil film in the crank bearings to collapse and thus cause a catastrophic engine failure. There is a reason the design engineers put a max mark on the dipstick.
It was intended to be a general warning to stick with the marks on the dipstick and trying to point out the possible ramifications if you don't. I have no idea how immune CBXes are to over- or underfilling the oil sump. I do not want to find out and I did NOT want to tell Devoncbx: "Overfilling is no problem, people do it all the time"

Also, splashing of the crank in an overfilled sump will also cause more oil mist to be sucked into the intake through the breather tube. This could be the reason for a smoking engine.

User avatar
Mike Barone #123
Posting God
Posting God
Posts: 2334
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2003 8:30 am

Post by Mike Barone #123 »

EMS wrote:I think I need to quote myself in order to point out a few things:
EMS wrote:Overfilling the sump may cause the crank to splash in the oil and cause foaming. This in turn could cause your oil pump to suck air, the oil film in the crank bearings to collapse and thus cause a catastrophic engine failure. There is a reason the design engineers put a max mark on the dipstick.
It was intended to be a general warning to stick with the marks on the dipstick and trying to point out the possible ramifications if you don't. I have no idea how immune CBXes are to over- or underfilling the oil sump. I do not want to find out and I did NOT want to tell Devoncbx: "Overfilling is no problem, people do it all the time"

Also, splashing of the crank in an overfilled sump will also cause more oil mist to be sucked into the intake through the breather tube. This could be the reason for a smoking engine.
Good points......Devon now has all he needs to make a decision on what path to take......lets simply leave it at that and see how it all turns out.
My CBX lives near Harrisburg, Pa USA
Team222 = 2 Ole, 2 Fat and wayyyy 2 Slow

Post Reply

Return to “OILS: Specs, Opinions, Preferences, and more”