Curiosity here but I see there are 2 different oil level 'MAX/MIN' plates for the older M900 etc. engines as per; These stick on the side of the RH engine cover next to the window to show correct oil level and, obviously there is a difference due to the different levels on each sticker. I have read on various forums (fora?) that the lower level plate was used on earlier engines and the higher on later engines? Not sure what the reasoning for this is but my curiosity arises from the fact that, my M900 has the higher level plate attached however, I attached it after having stripped/painted the cover and so I am not sure if it is the original and therefore the type it left the factory with. The reason I'm asking is that I initially had oil consumption problems, mainly because I had an issue with the cylinder plating however, this has been resolved and, along with new piston rings, valve guides and stem seals should no longer be an issue. I also made an improved/larger breather tank to return any excess to the engine and there are no notable leaks or signs of excessive oil usage but, if I fill it to the 'MAX' level then after, only a fairly short ride the level ends up around the 'MIN' level but if I then leave it, it doesn't seem to get any lower, at least not over a short ride - case in point, on Sunday I topped up the oil from the 'MIN' to the 'MAX' and then rode it for about 140 miles and, now that I'm back the oil level is sitting on the 'MIN' level. Now I don't want to risk a really long ride on the 'MIN' level in case it is using/losing oil and so ends up too low so I tend to top it up fairly regularly but this got me thinking that, have I have been effectively over-filling it due to this level plate being wrong and it has been 'naturally' getting rid of the excess, in which case I've been stressing over nothing and wasting oil for all these years? I suppose I could try the longer ride on 'MIN' and take some oil with me in case it does run low and that maybe the best test. For the record although my bike is a '99 by registration, due to it's 'bitsa' origins it has an older (date stamped) '95 engine, the version with the oil cooled cylinders (later M900 were solely air cooled and so did away with the jacketed cylinders) so, maybe it should be sporting the lower oil level plate? Also, to note my '98 916 which has, basically the same bottom end has no level plate at all, rather just a couple of lines in the casting so, it looks like they were done away with at some point. If I do have the wrong plate, I'm not looking to change it as I can easily just use the 'MIN' as the 'MAX' but it would be nice to have a definitive answer. Any ideas?
There have been 3 variations on this decal but I couldn't say which changed the level markings. The 750SS and 900SS and Monsters up to '97 used part no. 433.1.028.1A. The i.e. models used part. no. 433.1.028.1C Yet the 907ie which was earlier used 433.1.028.1B The A/B/C changes must mean some detail was different but not much help I'm afraid.
I just had a look through my old photos and found one of my old '95 900SS when I was swapping the frame, the original one cracked behind the steering head. It has the uppermost of your 2 pictures.
'95 SS so same vintage of engine, so it certainly looks as if it should have had the lower level decal and, the way it seems to want to be at the lower level is like it's telling me so. I don't remember which decal I fitted as I also had an ST2 'donor' engine at the time and I may have swapped them over or, it could have had the wrong one on in the first place? It looks to me that the 'MAX' on the lower decal is about the same as the 'MIN' on the higher and, the difference in oil quantity between the MIN and MAX on mine is around 250-300ml. I suppose if the level stays steady on the lower setting, that will tell me what I need to know.
If I was you i’d ignore the stickers. There are two casting marks that have never changed that the sticker sits between. you’re talking about three variations of sticker but the common denominator here is the marks in the castings. Therefore, I would go as far as saying that the stickers are there to tell you that the min/max levels are what is represented by those two cast lines on the engine case, and that’s what I’ve always gone by. Those casting marks are there for a reason and it’s not to make a wonky sticker straight. Knowing how little oil the shallow sump engine holds, I always filled to near the top of the sight glass, which coincidentally happens to be around the level of the upper casting line.
As on my 916, no sticker just the lines but then I suppose you wouldn't see it behind the fairing anyway. Are the stickers maybe just for show on naked bikes?
I get the feeling it was one of those misguided attempts at trying to be helpful, and instead it just caused confusion as people got fixated and looked at the sticker rather than what it was trying to tell you, which was that there was an upper and lower mark stamped on the case. It would have jut been easier to leave the sticker off and just indicate the marks in the owners manual. Also, the italian mindset would probably have gone down the road of thinking that maybe they could have used the sticker to have different letters for regional variations rather than stamping Hi/ Lo on the casting itself like the japanese would have done.
Do you really need hi/lo or min/max? Just two marks suffice surely? Any engine I have ever seen the more oil you put in it, the higher the oil level (whether wet sump or a dry sump oil tank). The dipstick on my 50's MV Agusta just has two marks, as I'm sure did all cars I have checked the oil on. Will have to go and check whether my "modern" car (2016) has min and max etched onto its dipstick.
My technique has always been with engine off (& stood for a while ) get the bike vertical & if I can see oil covering half the sight glass, its good to go. If you’ve just stopped the engine time is required for oil to drain back into the sump, if your bored you could time that process to see how long it takes to get a stable (non rising) window oil level (or go watch some paint dry).
