did a full complete oil change - still no oil on dip stick

[hks308]

alright. this is getting to be to much. i was having problems with no oil on the dip stick, so my friend said to drain out all the oil without warming up the engine... so i drained out the oil in both the oil tank and in the engine. put the plugs back in and filled it up with 1.5 quarts of oil and let it ran for a little, then put the other .5 quart in. total of 2 quarts in the quad. then i let it run some more, checked it and still no oil on the dip stick. there is no visible leak on my quad (outside) drain plugs are all tights with washers and everything.

do you think that the engine is just eating it all up or anything like that?

is there enough oil in the quad?

any ideas?


btw, i have a 02 400ex

[4TraxRider]

Alright, I can see your having trouble with this due to multiple posts and threads about it. Let's start off simple. Are you sure your using 1qt oil containers? Are you sure your putting the oil in the oil reservoir? It may sound really stupid, but sometimes new oil is so clean it's hard to see on the dip-stick, are you sure it's not on there? It's a pretty self explanitory job really. The oil can't go anywhere, and if it is there would be lot's of visable smoke from the exhaust and/or a puddle under the ground.

[hks308]

yea dude, i no sometimes people forget about stupid things like that. but i put 2 quarts (2 one quart bottles) into the tank. and its the stock tank to. and i even touch the stick to see if there is any oil on it, nothing. the stick is so dry i would lick it...

[4TraxRider]

I'd take it to a dealer and ask them to do it in front of you so you can see how to do it and/or if something was wrong.

[hks308]

thats the problem. i don't have a way of gettin to a dealer or anything...

[4TraxRider]

Hey, i have a friend who went to college to be a mechanic that lives in pittsburgh now. I'll try to give him a call tonight and see if he'd be willing to stop by and give you a hand. I haven't talked to him in a while but he'd probably be willing to, real nice guy. Only thing is, if he hasn't changed since college, exect him to have a few beers in him if he shows up. :)

[Which 450?]

When you run it are you revving the engine? Just let it sit and idle. When I revved my old one it would show up lower, but I also usually put 2.5 qts in it I think.

[hks308]

yea, that 2.5 quarts is it. whoever says 1.9 is full of crap. thanks guys

[rooster300ex]

Originally posted by hks308
yea, that 2.5 quarts is it. whoever says 1.9 is full of crap. thanks guys

It doesn't hold no 2.5 quarts. Maybe when freshly put back together. Its 1.95 quarts w/filter change. Let it Idle for about 5-8 minutes without ever touching the throttle. Shut it off and check it without screwing the dipstick in. If its not on the full mark it could be burning it on decel & startup or something.

My valve guides are alil wore out and I have to keep an eye on the oil level because its always low when I check it.

[Fear-Nuttin]

Your issue seems real strange. After you pull out the dipstick, are you certain its dry? On one of my old, old bikes (85' Honda) the stick was a light color and couldn;t see the oil level. I took a CLEAN popsicle stick, measured it with the dipstick for correct height and used that. The wood soaked up the oil and the oil level was easy to see. DON'T drop the stick in..or you'll be in a world of hurt!

[Kaleigh]

did you check the oil before you changed it.. you could have been burning oil..

[AtvMxRider]

Sometimes it will take alittle more than 2 quarts

[JOEX]

A few weeks ago there was a thread about oil capacity and it seems there are some 400ex's that do indeed require more than 1.95 qts. I think it was 2.5 qts and was even printed in the owners manual. Someone posted a pic of the manual too.

[noworries]

Keep adding a little oil until you see it on the dipstick. Worse case you put too much in and you have to drain some out or start over.

[hks308]

yea, i fixed it now. thanks

[Jgoad2]

Yeah i posted that pic of the manual, I tried finding the thread but i couldnt. In the manual it said 2.3quts. Anyways i have been puttin 2qts with a filter change. Since ive had the bike (a few months) I check the stick and the oil is almost up to the top on it. You are supposed to let it run, wipe the stick clean and then reinstall and check the level.

[NY06400EX]

http://www.exriders.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=258917

Hope this link works...

Edit: It works I just checked it.

[j450rking]

wear are the oil drain plugs? i know it's a dum question but i only know of the one under the oil lines on the right side of the engine

[Which 450?]

the other ones at the bottom of the oil tank, also doubles as a mounting bolt if I remember correctly..

[j450rking]

ohhhhhhhhhhh i just thought that was a mounting bolt and nothing else thanks!!

[JOEX]

Originally posted by j450rking
wear are the oil drain plugs? i know it's a dum question but i only know of the one under the oil lines on the right side of the engine
That is not a drain hole. It is an inspection hole for the lubrication system.

There are two drain holes: One on the bottom of the oil tank and the other is below the front sprocket.

[randallk00]

Real stupid question. Are you supposed to screw the plug in to check the level or not? Ive had people tell me different ways

[JOEX]

Originally posted by randallk00
Real stupid question. Are you supposed to screw the plug in to check the level or not? Ive had people tell me different ways
On the 400ex you do not screw the dipstick back in to check the level.

[randallk00]

What about a 97 300ex?

[Sjorge450R]

Originally posted by randallk00
What about a 97 300ex?

just one 17mm bolt on the bottom of the motor. Ride the quad up and down the street a few times first to get it hot then just take that bolt out. Then flip the orange factory kill switch to the non running direction and just blip the starter button a few times. WhenI do it this way, It always takes 2 quarts excatly. If you dont feel comfortable with the whole bliping the starter, it takes about 1.75 quarts.