[hermiehunter]

So I recently purchased a used 2015 Rancher AT (DCT automatic) 4x4. It had 1.9 hours and 18 miles on it. Not the IRS model. I've been researching threads to answer my question, with no luck. Here goes...

If I let it idle 3-5 minutes and sit for a few minutes and check the oil level on the dipstick (on level ground and not screwing dipstick in), I get no oil on the dipstick. I've tried multiple times and never get oil on the stick anywhere. Now, if I go out first thing in the morning, oil reads okay. But the manual says to check after it's been idling. After idling, the oil level is up to the filler hole on the right side of the case but not reading on the stick. Is this normal? Is it low? I feel like it's low on oil from the factory because others get correct readings after the warm up procedure. But I don't want to overfill. I wanted to run it until the first scheduled maintenance but am a little concerned now.

I found threads that stated the same kind of things but no one ever clarified it really well. Can anyone help out? Should it be checked hours after letting it idle or is the level 3 minutes afterwards (not even on my dipstick) the correct level? It's very confusing. Of course, I could drain it, change the filter, and out 3.8 qts in myself to see how it looks, but now I'm curious until I get time to do that (maybe this weekend).

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[ktriebol]

You have an interesting situation and I think you are doing the right thing by approaching it cautiously but diligently. You wouldn't want it to be starved for oil or be overfilled, either. I don't have any direct experience with the DCT models, but based on your description, there seems to be some kind of problem with your machine, because if you are following the procedure as laid out in the owner's manual for checking the oil, you should get a reading that makes sense, and you are not getting that. One would think that a machine with only 1.9 hours and 18 miles would still have the correct amount of oil in it from the factory, but, anything can happen.

Did you buy this machine from a dealer? If so, I would ask for their assistance on this matter. If you bought it from a private party, you are more on your own. In that case, maybe a good first step would be to drain the oil, but measure how much oil comes out and compare that with the specification in the owner's/service manual. That should give you some comfort if the amount that is drained out is close to specification. If it is, then I would go ahead and drive it while continuing to look for an explanation of your dipstick reading anomaly.

 

[hermiehunter]

So tonight I drained it. Only 3 quarts came out, and I drained it very well. It was purchased from an individual who had never done anything to it, even riding it very much obviously.

I changed the filter and put 3.8 qts of new oil in it. Went through the normal warmup procedure and got a normal reading after it was cut off for 3 minutes. Given that, it was definitely low on oil from the factory.

Now my question is, how much do you think being .8 qts low for 50 miles would have hurt it. My friend has a similar machine with about the same amount of usage and his runs a little quieter than mine. I believe it's valve ticking that I can hear on mine, where his is quiet on the top end. I'm sure it's okay, but curious if anyone knows how critical thing could have been to any internal engine parts.

 

[b52bombardier1]

I would not worry. Check engine compression to ease your concern. Adjust the valves. You should be good to go.

Rick

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[ktriebol]

Good job on getting to the bottom of the oil level mystery. I don't think running .8 quarts low hurt your machine at all. Some valve ticking is normal, but you can't make any kind of informed judgment based on ticking noise. You're supposed to have the valve clearance checked and reset after your first 100 hours. It should be fine to drive it until then. I didn't even bother checking my valve clearance until 200 hours. I set clearance according to specs (.006 intake, .009 exhaust) on my Foreman, and now it makes ticking noises where it didn't before. I think next time I check clearance, I'm going to set it something like .003 intake and .006 exhaust. It was kind of a pain setting valve clearance for the first time, but now that I have some experience with it, it will go much faster next time.

 

[Melatv]

Hi: Make sure the oil filter was installed correctly not just the way it came out of the bike (CHECK THE MANUAL) -- your oil reading are good now.

 

[ATC4ever]

I would guess it likely wasnt low originally, but had to be broken in more & the oil was consumed in the process, same reason they say dont put synthetic in until its broken in so the rings can seat properly, otherwise you will use a bit of oil till they are .
Runner & check it now & then to see if any is being used.