Oil capacity issue in KZ650 1977

Hello,

Yesterday I changed the oil and oil filter of my bike that I have been riding without issues for the past 1.5 year when I had the top engine rebuilt.

I saw online that the bike is supposed to hold 3.8 liters of oil (it's a 3500cc capacity).
maintenance.kz650.info/GeneralMaintSpecs.htm

However when I drained the oil only maybe 1 or 1.5L came out.
I moved the bike and got it very empty, the garage next door actually came to help me (I'm unfortunately a newbie at mechanic).

I then replaced the filter (K&N) and the oil. I put less than 2 litres in the bike and the peep hole on the side shows that the bike is full when I put the bike upright!

Therefore 2 questions:
- Do I need to have the bike on the kickstand or straight when I look in the peep hole?
- Any idea if it is normal that I put so little oil in the bike?

I am scared of damaging the engine now.

Also the engine kind of clunks in low revs, it was doing so in the past already, I think it should not be the lack of oil but the cam chain tension being not enough. not sure here either.

Thanks for your help
Tibo

Oil change with new filter 3,5 liter = 3500 ml
Oil change without new filter 3,2 liter = 3200 ml
Are you sure you have calculate in metric volume units?

Bike straight on the ground or on the center stand, NOT on the side stand, to control the max. or min. oil level in the peep hole.




Welcome to the KZR forum Tibo and introduce your bike with some pics please.

Thanks Scirocco for your answer.

Yes I am sure I calculated in metric volume units, and I did check with the bike straight on the ground.

The mechanics from the garage next door were also stunned by the volume difference between reality and the theory.
Their advice was to try to ride it as is and see if the oil level changes, but it hasn't the peephole shows a full capacity.

When I open the oil cap I don't see any oil, is it normal?

Really dont know what to do here., any suggestions?


Thanks
Tibo

Did you drain the oil while on the center stand? If not and on the side stand you would have not got all of the oil out......... I changed my oil and filter yesterday and 3 quarts and 12 oz out of a 4th got me about 3/4ths of the way on the sight glass ....... and no you see no oil looking in the oil fill hole as its at the bottom of the cover.

Does the barely used new oil now in the crankcase appear fresh and clean? Or does it look relatively dirty, as if some quantity of old dirty oil had somehow remained in the crankcase which instantly mixed with the newly added fresh clean oil?

If the existing crankcase oil already looks dirty, would consider again changing both the oil and filter.

Perhaps there's a significant layer of sludge built up inside the crankcase, which is effectively reducing the crankcase capacity.

Good Fortune!

Tibo KZ650 1977 wrote: . . . Also the engine kind of clunks in low revs, it was doing so in the past already, I think it should not be the lack of oil but the cam chain tension being not enough. not sure here either . . . .

A good carb sync often helps produce a smooth and quiet idle.

Good Fortune!

Did you start the bike up then check the oil? The new oil filter will suck up some of the oil.

Have you taken the sump bolt out as well as the one that is sometimes on the oil filter cover if only the oil filter cover bolt and cover removed you will have left some oil in the motor.

Hi All,

Thanks a lot for your answers.

I did the oil change on the centre stand and then moved the bike in all kind of positions to empty it completely.

I also opened the sump cap.

I then started the bike and let it run for a couple minutes for the oil to run through the engine.

After all this, still looks like im full with these almost 2 litres.

I’ll check if the oil looks clean or if it is already dirty that should be interesting.

If there was a layer of sludge built up inside the crankcase, how would I get rid of it?

Yesterday when I started my bike (parked flat) it released a large cloud of white smoke, which would mean that I burnt oil right?
In which case I am indeed full (actually slightly above the maximum oil mark).

Again thanks a lot for your help guys

Tibo

Tibo KZ650 1977 wrote: . . . I also opened the sump cap. . . .

What's a sump cap?

Good Fortune!

Hi Patton, I thought I replied but I cannot see my answer here.

I saw "sump bolt" in Kevski's reply and looked up what it means, I understood it is the the crankcase cap...might have understood wrong

Anyway I looked at tutorials to drain my oil and I did the same steps as recommended so I don't think I forgot something.

The only thing I see is the possible sludge built up inside the crankcase. How can I remove it?

Thanks
Tibo

It's NOT going to be sludge buildup. Don't go there, whomever told you this knows nothing of these engines. I'm going to say it's probably something your doing.