Steps to Check the Engine Oil Level on Your Bike
Steps to Check the Engine Oil Level on Your Bike
Published on March 28, 2023. EST READ TIME: 4 minutes
Two wheelers have been a favoured mode of transport for Indians for a while now. Just the sheer amount of convenience, along with affordability, makes them quite popular. And not to forget the lower running costs of bikes. Over the years, their reliability has also improved significantly. However, one must be a bit careful in pushing their limits. You must stick to the regular maintenance schedule and buy bike insurance to ensure a hassle-free ownership experience.
By following a few simple measures, you can ensure that your bike is operating optimally and that there are lower chances of a breakdown. One such crucial measure is to check the engine oil level on your bike. If you do not know how to check engine oil level in bike, you can follow the steps mentioned below. A bike with healthy engine oil and engine oil levels runs and performs better.
What your engine oil tells you about the conditions of your bike
Engine oil is one of the most important lubricants for a bike. It ensures that the engine functions smoothly. It does so by lubricating the engine and its different parts. By doing so, it reduces any friction and, thereby, loss of power. A bike whose engine oil levels are low or have not been changed over a prolonged period might impact its performance.
Due to the added friction, the bike might lose some power. If it is not changed for a longer period, the chances are high that it can even do damage to the engine. A bike with well-regulated engine oil not only runs smoother but also performs better.
For added protection for your bike and its engine, it is recommended to buy bike insurance. Since the engine is an indispensable part, you might want to secure it with an engine protection cover. You can use a bike insurance calculator to find out the premium for a policy. You can choose an engine protection cover, and the bike insurance calculator will help you to find out the policy premium.
Though third party bike insurance will also serve you well, it does not offer damages to your bike. A third party bike insurance is affordable and will get you the legal clearance to ride your bike on public roads.
Signs that your bike is low on engine oil
If you want to know how to check engine oil level in bike, there are quite a few ways to do so. Here are some of them.
● Some modern bikes have engine oil lights on the console. If due for some reason, the light glows, it means that your engine oil level is low. You can then inspect the engine oil level using the techniques mentioned below.
● If it has been a while since you last changed the engine oil in your bike, it might be the right time to do so. Depending on the bike that you ride, the interval for changing the engine oil will differ. If you do not remember the last time that you had to change the oil, you might need a change of oil.
● At times, you might hear a loud metallic sound coming from your engine. It is an indication that your bike might be running low on engine oil.
Procedure for checking the engine oil level:
If you aren’t aware of how to check bike engine oil, here are two ways to do so. And both ways do not require any major skills.
1. Checking with a dipstick:
● The first step involves you parking the bike on the centre stand or the main stand. If your bike does not feature such a stand, you can use a paddock stand or ask anyone to hold the bike for you.
● You must check your engine oil levels when the engine is cool. If you have just completed a ride, give it a rest for 10 to 15 minutes before checking the engine oil levels.
● Ensure that you clean the dipstick with a clean piece of cloth and open the engine oil filler cap.
● You must then insert the dipstick till it touches the thread of the cap.
● Remove the dipstick, and you can see the engine oil level.
Usually, the dipsticks have two nudges, one to mark that the engine has enough engine oil and the other to mark that the engine oil is running low. Your dipstick should have oil anywhere between these two nudges. If the level is below the lower nudge, your engine needs a top-up. On the other hand, if the level is above the top nudge, you will need to drain out the excess oil.
2. Checking visually via the engine casing:
● The first step involves you parking the bike on the centre stand or the main stand. If your bike does not feature such a stand, you can use a paddock stand or ask anyone to hold the bike for you.
● Let the engine cool down for 10 to 15 minutes before you check the engine oil levels.
● Visually check the engine oil level using the transparent window in the engine casing. This feature is available on some of the bikes.
The engine casing also has a low and high mark on the transparent window. The engine oil level must be between these two levels. If it is below the low mark, you need to top it up with engine oil at the earliest.
How to know engine oil health
The steps on how to check bike engine oil can also reveal a few other things. You can use the above how to check engine oil level in bike steps and also get to know the quality of the engine oil. The following steps will help you to easily identify the quality of the engine oil and its health.
1. If the colour of the engine oil is a bit golden, it means that the engine oil is in good condition and the engine is operating smoothly. There is no need for an oil change.
2. If the colour of the engine oil is black, it means that the engine oil has lost most of its lubricating properties. You must change the engine oil at the earliest.
3. If the colour of the engine oil is whitish, then most probably the engine coolant has mixed with the engine oil. In such cases, you must immediately take your bike to the service centre and not ride it any further.
Conclusion
You can use the above methods to check oil levels if you aren’t sure about how to check bike engine oil levels. Regularly checking the oil levels will ensure that your bike keeps running smoothly and you can easily identify any issue well in advance. Also, make sure that you buy bike insurance to receive complete protection for your favourite bike.
Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.
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