Oil change questions

[Ak Yammy]

So in the manual it says to only add 2.1qt.s, run, then add the rest. I realize this is to circulate oil from the tank into the engine but anyone else a little nervous about running engine over a quart low? I realize this is spec by Yamaha and it's just for a few minutes but why would they want us to run the engine at all with low oil?
Also read on here about opening the plug on the valve cover and pouring some in there anyone do this and if so how much to put in there?
Lastly spec says add 3.2Qt with filter then says total ammount is 4Qt's so am I pouring in 3.2 or 4qt's?

P.S>Thanks to this site I have done my donuts, drive bearings and figured out how to grease all my wheels.
As always:

 

[Irv]

So in the manual it says to only add 2.1qt.s, run, then add the rest. I realize this is to circulate oil from the tank into the engine but anyone else a little nervous about running engine over a quart low? I realize this is spec by Yamaha and it's just for a few minutes but why would they want us to run the engine at all with low oil?
Also read on here about opening the plug on the valve cover and pouring some in there anyone do this and if so how much to put in there?
Lastly spec says add 3.2Qt with filter then says total ammount is 4Qt's so am I pouring in 3.2 or 4qt's?

P.S>Thanks to this site I have done my donuts, drive bearings and figured out how to grease all my wheels.
As always:

LOL, I went through the same confusion with my Vector!
I couldn't figure out why they said to add less with a filter/oil change than what the total was???
Turns out(imo/thinking) that some gets held up in the motor/oil tank with the sled sitting flat.

I used a floor jack and raised the front of the sled up carefully and got another 1/4-1/2 ltre off oil out of the engine and oiltank!

I was also very concerned running it with a litre short and said to myself, this is the last time I do this!!

As for the plug on top of the cyclinder, I have heard both stories, don't add oil in there and it is ok to add oil in there?????

I never did on mine, never even loosened it off, just added all the oil to the tank, minus a 1/2 litre of the full required amount, checked level after running it for a minute or two, let it sit for a couple minutes, checked level and then added the remaining 1/2 litre.

Good luck.

 

[theCATman]

The reason for only putting in 2/3 the amount in the tank & then starting it is that the full amount won't fit in the tank. So, you put in enough to keep the engine from being damaged, start it, let it circulate for a couple minutes, then top it off.

Add the extra oil into the tank, unless you would prefer to take apart the entire headlight/cowl assy. to get at the stupid valvecover cap.... didn't think so. The extra oil that was needed is now in the crankcase, leaving the tank low.

The only Yamaha 4-strokes that this is easily done on are the Deltabox I chassis sleds (RX-1, early RS Vector & early RS Nytro) They still had a functioning tilt hood with a more exposed engine. Once these engine were put into DB II, well.... I don't have to explain.

 

[LJ 452]

If you do remove the little cap on top of the valve cover to add the few oz. (Which by the way I only did once) make sure to get the seal with it, it's a little O-ring and it can stick to the valve cover, stick to the cap, or worst of all fall in the depths of doom. With out it, a small seep will occur and not only drive you crazy, but make a mess under the panels. If I were starting a rebuilt engine then maybe I would add to the cap, but for regular maintenance I say forget it, as mentioned it's so difficult to get to, enough people on here have skipped that step with no issues to prove it. I should mention that I also pre-charge the filter, in other words, I fill the filter as much as possible so that it doesn't take longer for the system to fill.

As for running it low, I just add 3.5 quarts to the tank, it will read above full but I know that it will draw it down in about 2 seconds anyway. Let it run, then add the remainder as needed. Make sure to let the oil warm up before topping off. Also, a bit under the max mark is better than over filling.

 

[langow]

I'm pretty sure the caution light won't even come on until you're well over a quart low, and even then, the light is coming on BEFORE it's too late, leaving you enough time to top off. No worries at all for running a quart low momentarily during oil changes.

 

[Ak Yammy]

Ok this makes sense now. It's funny after doing the donuts, drive bearings, slides and skid wheels this was the only thing that made me stop and say huh?

I still have it all apart so the engine fill is right there where I can get to it so I may add a bit but will def take note of that pesky o-ring. Filter is precharged as I always do on all my oil changes.


Much Thanks.