An update: Checking your oil level…

We’ve had a couple of calls from folks who observed that their oil level has “increased” in the oil viewing port.  Their concern was:  Why does this happen?

When I was in Chongqing last week I asked the Zongshen engineers why this occurs, and they had the answer.   Even though you only add oil through one port, the RX3 engine actually has two connected oil reservoir areas (one for the engine crankcase and one for the transmission).   There are two oil pumps (one pumps from the crankcase to the transmission, and the other pumps from the transmission to the crankcase).

These two oil pumps operate at different rates, and because of that, the oil level (as observed in the oil view port on the right side of the motorcycle) will vary, even after the engine is shut off.   It’s all a question of where the oil level near the view port happens to be at the time you observe it and where it was when the engine ignition is shut off.

The Zongshen engineers told me that the appropriate way to check the engine oil level is as follows:

• Allow the engine to come up to operating temperature.
• Close the throttle and allow the engine to operate at idle for one minute.
• Close the ignition and wait for one minute.
• Hold the motorcycle in the vertical position (i.e., off the sidestand) and observe the engine oil level in the viewport.   If the engine has the right amount of oil, the level will be between the upper and lower scribe lines, as shown in the photo below.

That’s it, folks, straight from the guys who designed the RX3 engine!