checking the oil

Hi -
Just wanted to see of this oil level looked ok?  I have not used my 2005 Silverwing much this year (only 10k it has in total ) but I just checked the oil level after riding it for 15 minutes and letting it cool down.  I had got a full oil change and filter a year ago but wondered if I needed one now since I probably drove it less then 200 miles all year. Its kept in warm climate and I usually try to ride it a couple hours each month .  Does this level and oil color look okay? I assume if I was low on oil the light would go on while the engine was on?  Also should the drive belt be inspected at this age even though has low mileage?

Thanks in advance

Dan

I'm colorblind, but it's still clear. Can't really tell on the level without the stick being pulled and held vertically. Looks pretty high if not dripping to a different level

Dan,

I have a 2004 here in the foothills of the Rockies. I bought it with only 6,000 miles on it a few years ago. I decided to replace the original belt at 7,000 miles because, well, it was OLD. Even the best Honda belts will age over 20 years. On fairly close inspection, it looked okay, but I didn't want to take a chance on looks. I still have the old belt for a 'just in case' use, but I ride with less apprehension with a new belt. And these days, I'm doing more riding than ever up and down I-25 to and from work.

As far as the oil level and purity goes, I'll leave that response to someone much more knowledgeable than myself. Although I have a sneaky suspicion that the top line on the stick means the oil level is full - and yours might be a little too full.

Cheers,

Mark

Depends on how the stick was pulled- did you check the level with the bike on the center stand and don’t screw in the dipstick? In other words, it’s unscrewed, you dipped it in just until the threads make contact, then remove and check the level? If you screw it in, it’s going to read high/ overfilled.

The oil looks OK but it is hard to tell the level as mentioned above. As to the belt, replace it! 20 years? Play it safe. Cao

COMick wrote:

Dan,

I have a 2004 here in the foothills of the Rockies. I bought it with only 6,000 miles on it a few years ago. I decided to replace the original belt at 7,000 miles because, well, it was OLD. Even the best Honda belts will age over 20 years. On fairly close inspection, it looked okay, but I didn't want to take a chance on looks. I still have the old belt for a 'just in case' use, but I ride with less apprehension with a new belt. And these days, I'm doing more riding than ever up and down I-25 to and from work.

As far as the oil level and purity goes, I'll leave that response to someone much more knowledgeable than myself. Although I have a sneaky suspicion that the top line on the stick means the oil level is full - and yours might be a little too full.

Cheers,

Mark

Thank you .. Was it the OEM Honda belt did you replace it with? can you send me the link..

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/23100-MCT-003?ref=5b3397bb8bae5d32f86096dbb29dd6b06529d153

Part number is 23100-MCT-003, so you may be able to get it cheaper by another vendor

This is the cheapest I’ve seen it for the OEM part:

https://www.ebay.com/p/1711841304

Even though it’s an OEM Honda part, I believe it’s made by Mitsuboshi (not Mitsubishi)

Yeah, Dan, I used a cheeper alternative, but one that had pretty good reviews. And I built my own little variator brace since I don't have all the cool tools you need to really work on the bike. It all worked well and I'm already 6,000 happy miles into the new belt.

At the same time, I put in some DR Pulley sliders and lowered my cruising RPM's by about 500. I lost some of my low speed pick up, but then I'm not a speed demon, having to tear out from every stop sign.

Hi Boating 123, the oil level looks good to me so long as you follow the correct procedure for checking. Also oil appears nice and clean.

When you have the bike on the center stand and you unscrew the dipstick and wipe it clean you insert it until the threads touch not screwing it in and pull it out, long as the oil level is between the lower mark and the upper Mark vertically you are okay to go unless you are like me and would like it more towards the full Mark like yours is. After one year whether you started the bike or not you should change your oil. Engines sitting will breathe 24 hours a day based on temperature and if it pulls in moisture as it cools during the night and it condenses you could have moisture in the crankcase over a year that can create a lot of damage if you don't change the oil, it's cheap insurance with a new filter as well compared to replacing the engine or prematurely wearing it out.