I just bought a new 2006 Tiger and have less then 300 miles on the bike. I have noticed oil weaping on the left side of the engine case with less then 50 miles on the bike. I thought it might be cosmoline heating up and running to the lowest point. The bike was not cleaned up when it was picked up from the dealer so I gave it a good cleaning and for a few days no weaping or drips. I rode about 30 miles last night and when I pulled the bike in the basement I ran my hand under the left side of the engine and it is weeping oil. I checked the oil level with the bike on the center stand which I should have done earlier and the level is over 1 1/2" above the hash marks on the dip stick. I have less then zero faith in the local dealer, with 300 miles on the bike should I go ahead and change the break in oil for new synthetic or drain the break in oil and put back the correct level. Also could running this high level of oil done any major damage to the engine?
I would make sure (and have documented) that the dealer is aware of the problem before doing anything else. Otherwise they'll probably allege you did it yourself. Also probably worth taking photos (I know oil on a dipstick won't show up very well!).
Too much oil could potentially cause hydraulic locking under the pistons (probably unlikely) but also could end up being pushed into the airbox through the breather, contaminating the air filter, creating deposits in the combustion chambers, dripping out of the airbox drain etc. And of course creating leaks.......
Like you I have less than total faith in the dealer network. After 40 years of riding bikes this is the first one that I've ever bought from a dealer (the others all being shall we say of mature years) and the service I got from mine was hopeless. I'm doing all my own maintenance work on it now after being told downright lies (or perhaps experiencing complete incompetence).
Jim,
I would double check the oil level and, if it is over filled, use a piece of plastic pipe through the filler and suck out some of the oil. Tell the dealer that you've done that and (sarcastically) inform him how to check the oil levels on a Tiger.
It could be that he's just poured 4 litres of oil in and not bothered to check it. When I change my oil & filter, I've noticed that I have about 100ml of oil left out of a 4 litre can when the level is correct.
I purchased my 2006 Tiger new and found (at about 500km) that that it was seeping oil from the top of the clutch housing where the clutch release shaft enters the top of the clutch cover. Upon investigation I found that the engine oil level was about 1" past the maximum. I undid the drain plug and drained out about 1 litre of oil to get the oil back to the correct level. The seeping of oil stopped with the oil at the correct level. It would seem that many bike mechanics do not know how to correctly check the oil level of a Tiger. :oops:
the problem with the so called shop mechanics is that they don't screw the dip stick all the way in and just sit it on top of the oil filler hole thus putting to much oil in the bike
just change out your oil and you should be fine
I have done all my own maintenance since day one on my bike and it isn't really all that hard
The hardest part is taking the thing apart
That's probably because that's how a lot of Japanese bikes are measured. I'm sooooo pleased mine's out of warranty and I'm doing all my own work on it now so I don't have to depend on someone else. I know they're not all bad (well it stands to reason some must be OK) but as long as they're working under the pressure of having to get the bike out of the door in a certain time they're never going to pay the attention that's necessary.
I am and always have been with Robert Pirsig on this one.
Quote from: "zombie"the problem with the so called shop mechanics is that they don't screw the dip stick all the way in and just sit it on top of the oil filler hole thus putting to much oil in the bike
But with some bikes, that's how it's supposed to be done. If not so for the Tiger, the shop needs to be made aware of it.
I have an 06 tiger and the dealer told me the book was wrong. You don't screw the stick in, you measure from on top. With this method, my level is even with the 2nd hash mark. If I screw it all the way in,its over the hash marks.
Are they lying?????
The owner's manual for my Jeep has mistakes in it...
If it's near the left rear of the engine, it could be the countershaft seal. That's what mine ending up being. Got it fixed under warranty. Like you, I think many of the dealers are terrible. The only one I use in So Cal is Southern California Triumph. Ask for Eric. He knows how to turn a wrench.
(http://joeberkphotography.com/1893314-R1-042-19A.jpg)
Quote from: "PowerOfSoul"I have an 06 tiger and the dealer told me the book was wrong. You don't screw the stick in, you measure from on top. With this method, my level is even with the 2nd hash mark. If I screw it all the way in,its over the hash marks.
Are they lying?????
The dealer is wrong , check the triumph manual as it's very specific on this , my 01 has over 40k on it with out an issue and I have been screwing the dip stick all the way in every time I check the oil
I talked to the Triumph Rep and was told that the book is correct. You must screw the dip stick all the way in to verify the oil level. So, there it is.
Dang, I better check my new '06's oil level tonight!!!
:?
Quote from: "PowerOfSoul"I talked to the Triumph Rep and was told that the book is correct. You must screw the dip stick all the way in to verify the oil level. So, there it is.
So that tells you all you need to know about your dealer.
Thanks for the clarification.
Quote from: "iansoady"Quote from: "PowerOfSoul"I talked to the Triumph Rep and was told that the book is correct. You must screw the dip stick all the way in to verify the oil level. So, there it is.
So that tells you all you need to know about your dealer.
Very true and at the same time, very dissapointing.
Mine has weaped oil from the RIGHT side since I bought the bike new in 05.
Long story short...no problems thus far and fortunatly my dealer and the two mechanics that work on the bike know their stuff. They're both Tiger riders so I lucked out.
A friend of mine who has ridden Jap in-line fours his whole life said to me one day that he has never had a bike that didn't weap oil and not to worry about it.
What do you guys think of that?
Not a drop from mine. If a bike's properly put together it shouldn't leak anything - my Commando never wept from anywhere despite some hard miles in France, Italy and Greece.
My 02 Bonneville has never wept any oil and I have had four Hondas that have never wept any oil.
My 06 has never lost a drop, but I also Have a Velocette and a Royal Enfield: You guys don't know what oil loss is. Weep? I'll say I did!
Yes, I forgot about Royal Oilfields. They are an exception - I never managed to get my trials bullet oiltight. Mind you it did spend a lot of time upside down.
Good Day Fellas,
I know that there is lots off helpful stuff on this site but on the subject of the amount of oil our bikes have in the sump is still a mystery to me.
My hand book tells me that the bike needs 4Lts I drained the oil and get 2.7Lts which is to the top of the hash marks when I screw the dipstick in.
when I put 4Lts in it is at the top of the hash mark when I don't screw it in so who the bloody hell is right?
The way I see it maybe I'm not running enough oil in it at 2.7lts and that is why it runs a bit hot in traffic?
I also looked on the Castrol site and when you check there amount they say 3.7Lts recomend.. :roll:
My bike is the 2004 model with the mag wheels not sure whats going on I'll try and find out more.
My blue all ok didn't run the bike for a while after doing the change right on the mark when dipstick screwed in :oops:
Additional confirmation of the correct procedure is found in the Triumph Tiger 955 workshop manual (Issue 2, 06.2005).
Oil capacities are given as:
dry fill, incl. filter 4.3 litres
oil and filter change 4.0 litres
oil change only 3.9 litres
Also section 8, Lubrication, says very clearly in BOLD print, that:
"The actual level is indicated when the motorcycle is level and upright, not on the side stand, and when the filler has been screwed fully home."
This is the same as in the owners handbook and not likely to be a mistake.
Quote from: "geoff"dry fill, incl. filter 4.3 litres
oil and filter change 4.0 litres
I'm curious what the difference between these two is, and why they are different quantities?
They both include the filter's capacity, right?
Because there is always some oil left no matter how long you leave it to drain. A dry engine has to fill all the bearing surfaces galleries etc. so the 0.3l is what does that
Got it. Makes sense now. Thanks John :)
I would make certain it is not chain oil dripping from the front sprocket.
It would be a BLACK color.
Your 'from the factory' engine oil is Mobil 1 4XT... it will be honey yellow and stay that way about 2000 miles ( This not a break-in oil ... it's the real deal ).
If you determine it is engine oil; Verify the dipstick reading and notify the dealer. Correct way to read oil level on your 2006 Tiger is:
1. Up on centerstand or vertical position.
2. Remove dipstick/wipe clean.
3. Re-insert dipstick SCREWED DOWN.
4. Remove dipstick and read level: Full is at TOP Rib.
If it is over full... Contact your dealer and tell him that apparently his service dept overfilled your new motorcycle with oil. Does he want to pick it up and verify and check for any damage?
If someone says " just drain some out and it will be OK", I'd say, I could probably do that but I am not touching this until you determine what is wrong and you correct it. This is brand new and a sizeable investment for me, I'd like you to make certain no damage has occured and correct the problem.
ALWAYS give the dealer to opportunity to correct the problem.
2004 Tiger. When I changed oil and filter I refilled with 4 QTS, ran the engine briefly and let it sit 10 minutes. Checking the oil level, it was overfull. After I let out .9 QT it measured to the top rib on the dipstick, fully screwed home. It surely holds less than 3 LTS upon oil and filter change.
It would be interesting to know from any of you when you do your next oil change how much oil you have drained including filter. I got 2.7Lts from mine with the dipstick screwed in, to the top hash mark.
i put in about 3.5 lt. with a filter change and on the sidestand.
Just to resurrect this thread and confuse people even more than they already are... changed the oil on my 02 tonight and started with 4 quarts which is roughly 3.7 liters... and added a little more. I reckon I got close to 4 liters and everything checks out fine.
One more time.....I just bought a used 2006 Tiger---checked the oil several times in the last couple of weeks and it was in the middle of the hash marks when checked.
I changed it out yesterday....filter, oil, on the center stand when warm, and let it drain for a long time.....rocked the bike left and right to get as much oil out as possible. It looked to be about 3 qts that drained out.
The 2005 copyrighted owner's manual says 4 liters of oil with a filter change and I did this. Checked it after a ride today and it was about 1" over the top hash mark line and I removed 750cc of oil to get it to the proper place on the dip stick. It was checked on the centerstand with the dipstick fully screwed in.
I know the 06 Girly is a transition year for the new 1050 cases.....so, what is the correct fill for this year with an oil filter change??
It seems that the owner's manual information may be wrong (I own a KLR so I know of owner's manual errors).
Clear me up on this..........
Hey whisperquiet !! i never measure the oil i put in my bike, i just keep filling it till its at the top of the hash marks, thats where it should be for full !!
the bike should be on its wheels when checkin the level !! altho it wont be to far off on the centre stand !! its good you took some oil out as to much oil can cause other problems :shock:
KK
KK,
Thanks for the info.......I think the bike should be running 3.2 liters like the 1050 Tigers do since the '06 Tiger has the 1050 cases. Anyway, the oil level is correct as I removed about 750cc..........I poured 4 liters, removed 3/4 liter, and it has approximately 3.25 liters in it now. I'll ride it tomorrow and check it on level ground with the tires on the ground.
Thanks
http://www.tigertriple.com/forum/viewto ... =oil+level (http://tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,6891&highlight=oil+level)
this is why ......................
Quote from: "Mustang"http://tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,6891&highlight=oil+level
this is why ......................
That is like changing the red zone on a temperature gauge because the bike is overheating.
I am going to run the 3.2 liters with filter change..........I rode the bike 1400 miles after purchasing it and the old oil level was midpoint on the hash marks the 6 or 7 times I checked it before the change out. It never varied so the previous owner must have run it at 3.2 liters or so also.
Thanks Mustang!! - nothing like a long memory coupled with institutional knowledge. So to sum it up: those of us with the 05 & 06 tigers with the 5 1/4" dipstick (measured from O ring to full mark - which is whats in MY 06) should figure on about 3.25 Qts to fill? That will save me some "oil sucking" with wifes turkey baster next change. (she wondered why the last TG bird tasted like %&$! motor oil ? - What ?! "Tastes fine to me Hunny" - guess I shoulda splooged it out with gasoline) I figured I just didnt let it drain long enough, or should have been on side, instead of center stand. Nice to know - thanks all!! j