I'm curious, my '02 handbook says wait a few minutes after shutoff before checking the level.

The shop manuals simply state to shut off and check the level.

I think my shop manuals are newer than the handbook, but i wondered if Honda ever issued a service bulletin, updating the check method to be immediately after shut off?


I consider this important based on the level staying the same right after shut off, for about a minute, then a lot more oil comes down from the heads after that.

 

the FSM leaves out some of the simple language. I guess they figure that it will be used by technicians more than the average user. All that simple stuff uses space that is better filled with the stuff that is too in depth for the average Joe.

With that said, to measure how much oil is in the bike, you gotta let as much of it get into the sump as possible. After a minute or so, most of the oil will be in the sump. The amount that drains back after that is not enough to consider in the measurement. The oil measurement is not really an exact science as it uses a sight glass that changes with every degree of lean.

 

Makes sense of course.

Interesting note; when i had mine over filled by checking it before waiting long enough, the oil level in the glass would run along the bottom line. With the correct, lower fill, engine running, the oil level runs mid way between the lines.