Author Topic: 1977 CB550 Check oil hot or cold? Dipstick screwed in or out? (Read 10569 times)

jorwesflow · « **on:** September 13, 2013, 09:57:48 AM »

Kind of an elementary question, but I can't seem to find a straight answer on it... my shop manual and Clymer don't specify. Should oil be checked hot or cold? And should the dipstick be screwed in or unscrewed and just touching?

flybox1 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2013, 10:10:46 AM »

hot, and unscrewed.

just the way we like 'em!

zipper · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2013, 10:13:05 AM »

Quote from: flybox1 on September 13, 2013, 10:10:46 AM

hot, and unscrewed.

just the way we like 'em!

+1

OT7 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2013, 10:31:01 AM »

jorwesflow · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2013, 10:50:34 AM »

Easy enough.. just curious, does this apply to all SOHC4's? I swear I've different answers for 750's

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2013, 12:58:01 PM »

750's use a different oil system from all the other SOHC4's, that's why the process might be different too.

The factory manual just says check with the dipstick unscrewed. No mention of temperature. Hot oil will flow more easily back down to the sump, so the oil level should be about the same cold as checking a couple minutes after shutting down the engine.

ekpent · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2013, 02:53:33 PM »

The main reason to check the 750 after a ride or while still warm is because many bike will have the oil drain from the tank back into the engine if the sit for a long period. Cause of overfilled machines from newbies.

OT7 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2013, 01:21:43 PM »

CB500-550 Honda Shop Manual page 13.
"Check the oil level with the dipstick gauge without screwing it into the case."
Date of Issue: July 20, 1977

Trad · « **Reply #8 on:** September 14, 2013, 05:57:15 PM »

Quote from: flybox1 on September 13, 2013, 10:10:46 AM

hot, and unscrewed.

just the way we like 'em!

cb650 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 14, 2013, 06:44:45 PM »

I always do my 650(s) cold and unscrewed. And keep them right at top unless a short ride before a oil change.

dave500 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2013, 07:35:27 PM »

hold the bike vertical when checking,or on its centre stand.

mjstone · « **Reply #11 on:** September 14, 2013, 07:52:37 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on September 14, 2013, 07:35:27 PM

hold the bike vertical when checking,or on its centre stand.

+1 What Dave said, even if he can't spell center correctly.

MJ

dave500 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 14, 2013, 08:22:14 PM »

http://grammarist.com/spelling/center-centre/

Mooshie · « **Reply #13 on:** September 14, 2013, 09:05:03 PM »

On my CB550 I check the oil while cold, bike level, dipstick unscrewed. Never had any issues. My oil level while cold is either at the line or 3/4 full.

Don R · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2013, 09:28:54 PM »

Quote from: dave500 on September 14, 2013, 08:22:14 PM

http://grammarist.com/spelling/center-centre/

Of course, he was speaking Australian. We can translate if needed. :')

RAFster122s · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2013, 09:52:48 PM »

Dave's wife filmed a clip recently he shared and while some of it was discernable there were sections I could not understand and needed translation services to understand.

I grew up in NE Tennessee and went to college here. A pair of female roommates in dorm were from Georgia and New York City (Brooklyn) and they could not understand each other and needed a translator as their dialect & idium usage was so thick they couldn't understand one another.

Black 750K8 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2013, 10:31:38 PM »

I just look in the tank on my 78 750 my oil pump does not leak down. Just learn to know your bike they all act a little different just like people.

dave500 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 14, 2013, 11:11:18 PM »

the 550 has a wet sump black,no tank,the 750 is the dry sump type.

Oddjob · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2013, 09:03:10 AM »

I always used to check while cold, as the new oil when changing oil will be cold it makes sense to check it that way. I've just consulted a CB550 owners handbook and it says to fill it with 3.2L (or 3.4 US quarts) of oil, run for several minutes and then recheck. The reason for this isn't to get the oil hot but to fill the new filter and also to refill oil pockets located around the engine which may have been drained when changing the old oil.

If you check whilst the engine is hot and don't allow any time for the oil at the top of the engine to drain down you may end up overfilling it. Far easier to just check cold as all the oil which is going to get to the sump is already in there, however you can do it hot so long as you wait 5 mins or so for drainage as above.

TwoTired · « **Reply #19 on:** September 21, 2013, 11:26:04 AM »

The oil level needs to be low enough to clear the whirling crankshaft and cyclone of air that rotates with it. I believe this is the relevance of the dipstick mark. Checking it cold may show a higher level, because all the splashed oil will go back to the sump. But, what matters is how it will be run in a normal operating regime. If you check the oil meet the proper level when hot, there is no risk of overfilling it, imo. Even if the oil goes above the mark when cold, it will be back where it should be very shortly after start up, clearing the whirling crank.

Dos · « **Reply #20 on:** March 16, 2019, 01:43:56 AM »

Quote from: flybox1 on September 13, 2013, 10:10:46 AM

hot, and unscrewed.

just the way we like 'em!

Hmm I was told on my 350f the best reading is cold over night so all the oil goes down from the top end?

When I ride my oil level spikes up too

TwoTired · « **Reply #21 on:** March 16, 2019, 10:48:01 AM »

Quote from: Dos on March 16, 2019, 01:43:56 AM

Quote from: flybox1 on September 13, 2013, 10:10:46 AM
hot, and unscrewed.

just the way we like 'em!

Hmm I was told on my 350f the best reading is cold over night so all the oil goes down from the top end?

Didn't read that in the Honda operators manual, did you?

The dipstick level is there to prevent the spinning crank from whipping up the oil. ...while running. Oil in the top end or splashed on engine block walls, won't get whipped by a spinning crank.

For air cooled motors it is best not to skimp on oil supply.

Cheers,

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #22 on:** March 17, 2019, 05:12:59 AM »

Oil is cheaper than parts.

TwoTired · « **Reply #23 on:** March 17, 2019, 09:55:02 AM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on March 17, 2019, 05:12:59 AM

Oil is cheaper than parts.

Well, it depends on how much of each you buy, now, doesn't it?

Certainly easier to put oil in the motor than parts, though.

Cheers,

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #24 on:** March 17, 2019, 11:11:40 AM »

Personally if I check the oil when I hot I wait a few minutes after Iut down the engine to let the oil settle back into the pan.

dave500 · « **Reply #25 on:** March 18, 2019, 01:01:41 AM »

anywhere between the full and low it aint danger critical.

TwoTired · « **Reply #26 on:** March 18, 2019, 10:01:13 AM »

Quote from: dave500 on March 18, 2019, 01:01:41 AM

anywhere between the full and low it aint danger critical.

...if you are not burning or leaking...

...or somewhere between brown eyes and blue eyes?

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Author Topic: 1977 CB550 Check oil hot or cold? Dipstick screwed in or out? (Read 10569 times)

Black 750K8