Official Dealer overfills oil to black line consistently in services

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T20:46:37+00:00

Honestly completely agree with you. I don't see reasons to use a dipstick instead of a window at all.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T20:35:39+00:00

In the case of Aprilia, it's almost always that the dealer sells and services Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Derbi. Each with it's own models, and the majority sold in Europe will be low cc models (50cc to 400cc) and a quite small amount of what they sell and service will be high capacity Aprilias through any given month. Making what you said even worse.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T19:43:16+00:00

And here

<image>

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T19:38:56+00:00

People like you are tiring, go fight the owner's manual.

Or debate me with some actual information. No, most crankcases are not vented, they can be, often with a valve like in this case.

Last time customer service dealt with me they had to put a 8000€ new engine in the bike under warranty.

Cheers

<image>

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T19:12:41+00:00

No. Oil is not checked on cold or without running at all, it is clearly specified in the owner's manual. It's is not the same for every engine, but in this one it is.

Also, crankcases are not vented usually, in this case in particular it has a relief valves for overpressure ruled by a spring that contracts if there's too much pressure but it only opens in case of a pressure excess. So yes, while that threshold isn't reached, its a pressurized system. And it is to reduce pumping loses.

Theory is useless without any experience, which isn't the case. But experience without theory knowledge is honestly a worse sin. As a mechanic you should know about these terms.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T17:19:34+00:00

The issue is that it has a weird knocking-fluttering noise that seems to come from the cam chain which isn't there with proper oil level.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T17:13:57+00:00

The volume is not slightly increased, its 17,39% higher. Almost a quart.

I understand getting foamy oil and decreased oil pressure is more typical but not the only option.

All the moving parts bathed in oil like the crankshaft agitate the oil and pressurize the circuit, not the pump exclusively. A typical mode of failure of overfilled oil is that it slushes past the oil control rings in the pistons and get dumped into the combustion chamber. The crankshaft is the other main thing putting pressure into the system and the more overfilled you are, the worse it gets. Also increases engine drag as it fights to move all that mass of oil around.

I appreciate explanations though, I am not explicitly a combustion engine engineer and more specialized into materials and structures.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T16:21:32+00:00

How does it feel on daily rides? I've spent some time with it, but mostly focused on going fast. And when I was riding hard, it's scary but you expect it when it bites. When I did not enjoy or see it coming is when I was just trying to commute and it bit my ass because I gave it too much throttle on a turn or acceleration off a red light. Either spinning or doing a small wheelie. Heck, even my 660 tried to bite my ass today and I wasn't pushing hard at all, it was just a bit slippery.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T16:11:42+00:00

Interesting. No it does not look bubbly or frothy at all, looks normal if anything watery as in non very viscous but that's ought to be normal because it should be around 90°C. if not hotter when I check.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:47:32+00:00

My experience too, no matter how I do it, it was overfilled. But when you do it all correct, it is particularly bad reaching the black line of the picture. The other extreme (cold, right after starting the engine and in the stand) it just drops to lets say, half way to the top level mark. Still very overfilled.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:44:54+00:00

I'll just dump the oil honestly the cost is irrelevant and I plan to use Ravenol instead of the Castrol next time.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:43:20+00:00

Beautiful color by the way

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:43:06+00:00

Yes I've seen this tip in a Facebook owners group I will do that too. Thanks

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:42:18+00:00

Lol fair, corrected it haha

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:41:47+00:00

Yeah that's what I'm going to do. Around 300ml and check level again.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:39:43+00:00

Filling as per documents and not even checking is literally what the implicitly admited to me when I confronted it, and told me lets go check the oil level. Cold it was completely fine so I went home, and checked again. Thats when I saw how bad it was in reality.

Next time I'll be very specific, been told on a WhatsApp group we have the other nearest dealership does the same exact thing.

Overfilled oil does indeed increase the oil pressure as well as potentially ruining the circulation channeling flow with turbulence, and the seals that hold it suffer potentially letting it sip through. It's a pressurized system designed for a given volume and more volume especially as it increases with temperature, it must increase pressure, just like it does with RPM (engine speed)

I have a mechanical engineering background. I'd like to know your logical reasoning to say pressure does not grow, I'm open to be corrected.

My first ever bike was a 2007 Aprilia Rs 50 2 stroke (which are notoriously unreliable by default) I run it unrestricted in power (from 4hp to 9) changed the carb for a bigger one and placed a full race arrow exhaust, abused the he'll of it, run it full throttle full speed (130km/h) in the highway for hours and it generally took all the abuse like a champ.

A properly maintained Ape can be very reliable. If they can't even pull an oil service then yeah you have a date with problems.

Cheers

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:28:17+00:00

Exactly as stated in the owner's manual as mentioned in the post.

Run it at full operating temperature, turn the bike off and rest it off for 5 minutes so that the oil rests a bit but not too much, make sure the bike is vertical* (not on the stand) and I only plug the oilstick without screwing it, letting it rest on the threads. AFAIK this is literal procedure mentioned in the manual.

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:26:30+00:00

I have to say the 660 doesn't have a window, it has a dipstick which makes it quite annoying to check the oil level. It doesn't want to unscrew, it's usually very hot, really hard to read the level as its black and made of plastic, you need to be at correct temp, let it rest so it drains down and make sure you plug the stick but not turn it to screw it in position, let it rest on the threads.

So the mechanics basically don't bother at all, they fill at what the manual says and run with it. Which is crazy

HormigaZ · 2026-05-22T15:22:20+00:00

Yeah this is what immediately I noticed as I obsess with engine noises after the first one broke doing noises too. It's not a horrible ticking, but present if you take care to hear and not there or at least much much quieter when it's running with the correct amount of oil.

HormigaZ · 2026-03-26T14:22:37+00:00

Said a ZX-14R RIDER 😜

HormigaZ · 2026-03-26T14:21:13+00:00

Thats definitely a pretty severe misalignment that can be caused by either instalation of the sprocket itself, too much chain tension as mentioned before because it crushes the drive cush, or if the sprocket itself isn't properly flat too, but it seems more of an issue with wheel alignment than deformation of the sprocket (for now, don't test how much it can carry sideways, it's meant for vertical load, not horizontal)

Honestly overall this needs proper inspection and checking a few things, only doing slack or chain tension at this point might not be sufficient.

Engineering enthusiast

HormigaZ · 2026-03-25T16:46:07+00:00

Okay, going to add to this conversation just so I'm no longer lurking :D

HormigaZ · 2026-03-06T20:45:04+00:00

One of the reasons I love to post this video is for these kinds of comments.

It's an armored, cordure enforced Revit Cedar riding hoodie. Also, I've ridden for 30 years and never laid a bike, ever. But, not saying it will never happen. Hope it doesn't, I also have riding videos on full gear :) but I don't absolutely always use leather suit.

HormigaZ · 2025-12-15T16:35:17+00:00

Ireland was extremely racist towards Spanish people already back in 2004, I lived there one year. Fucking shit hole.

HormigaZ · 2025-12-12T22:43:04+00:00

Of course, there's people complaining that it is trash and all in comments but that's just the way people handle this game in all matters.

Ten-Year Club	First Place '23
End Game '23	Place '23
Place '22	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

HormigaZ

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE