I check the oil level fairly regularly on my FZ6 (04-06 model), but whilst on a ride-out today I noticed that the Oil Warning light was lit. It went out before I could do more than think "hang on, that shouldn't be on!", but it got me a bit concerned...
At the next stop I did quickly check the oil level which seemed to be down at the bottom of the marks on the dipstick, but even though I put it on the centre stand it was on a slight slope to the left and I didn't have time to let it drain down properly.
When I got home I checked again in my shed (which also has a slight slope, but this is from front to back) giving it more time to settle and the oil was half-way between the max and min marks so it's possible that the slope or the lack of time when draining compromised the first reading.
Either way, it seems that, having done about 6000 miles since the last service, adding some oil would probably be a good idea, except that I'm not sure what to get.
The manual recommends anything from SAE 10W30 to 20W50 depending on the tempertures it's likely to be ridden in and it seems that 10W40 (which covers from -10 to +45 degrees centigrade) would be the best, but then says "Recommended engine oil grade: SE, SF, SG type or higher" which means nothing to me and I don't know whether, if it has a different type in there already, would mixing that with a different grade cause a problem?
So I'd welcome some advice and any useful information here...
At the next stop I did quickly check the oil level which seemed to be down at the bottom of the marks on the dipstick, but even though I put it on the centre stand it was on a slight slope to the left and I didn't have time to let it drain down properly.
When I got home I checked again in my shed (which also has a slight slope, but this is from front to back) giving it more time to settle and the oil was half-way between the max and min marks so it's possible that the slope or the lack of time when draining compromised the first reading.
Either way, it seems that, having done about 6000 miles since the last service, adding some oil would probably be a good idea, except that I'm not sure what to get.
The manual recommends anything from SAE 10W30 to 20W50 depending on the tempertures it's likely to be ridden in and it seems that 10W40 (which covers from -10 to +45 degrees centigrade) would be the best, but then says "Recommended engine oil grade: SE, SF, SG type or higher" which means nothing to me and I don't know whether, if it has a different type in there already, would mixing that with a different grade cause a problem?
So I'd welcome some advice and any useful information here...