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Oh boy,,, I must of messed something up....

did my first oil change last week,,, went out riding today. after I had been riding for an hour or so, the bike started to make a "knocking" sound and then started to loose oil from the overflow tube, that comes out of the air box!

I went back to the truck to call it a day I try and figure out what the deal was. when I took out the dip stick, there was very little oil hitting the stick.

Questions:
1. how much oil does the 230 take?

2. What would cause the oil to work back thru the system to the air box and out the tube?

3. how high up the dip stick whould the oil go? there are no markings on the stick

4. what caused the knocking sound??

Did you also just clean and oil your air filter? If so, you may have put too much oil on your air filter and that's what you see coming out of the airbox. I doubt it's engine oil coming out of the airbox.
Not sure about the knocking sound, could be not enough oil.....Check your manual, it should tell you how much you need. My guess would be about 1/2-3/4 inch of oil on the stick.
If this is your first 4 stroke you may just need to get used to the thump thump of the 4 stroke.

this was not a little bit of oil coming out... it was a bunch

I do have about a 1/2 inch on the dipstick

should I be able to see the inside parts?? or should they be covered with oil??

Not sure, I don't have a 230f, but I imagine you need to add a little oil. Do you recall how mouch you put in when you did the oil change?

I'll wait for one of the pro wrenches to chime in, but I think it's odd for engine oil to come out of the air box. Have you opened up the airbox door to see what it looks like?

I HAVE not opened the air box yet.. I will

I looked it up and the bike only takes 1.1 quarts... I am sure I put in more than that

You should pull your air filter and see if you can trace the oil back through the air box.
I would think you would need to add a s^*t pot load of oil for it to come out of the airbox.

Let us know what you find.

I mean I might have put double the amount needed... should I drainthe whole system??? or just let it work it's way out...

I am guessing that the drain tube off the box is for this very kind of thing

The 1.1 quarts is correct.
If you have put much more than that the engine will pump it out the breather into the aircleaner housing.

The dipstick has two lines and the oil level should be between them with the bike upright and screwed in.

Drain out the excess and clean up the filter and housing and hope you haven't upset any seals.

I just changed the oil in my wifes 230, DO NOT JUST BLINDLY add the amount of oil written in the book.

You have a dipstick which allows you to actually measure how much is in there.

I suggest draining your whole system, don't wait for the motor to push it all out. Then refill with about 800mL. Start it to get the oil through everything.

Shut the bike off. Stand the bike up straight and pull the dip stick out. Wipe it off, then place the dipstick back in the hole BUT DO NOT THREAD IT IN!!!

NOW check the oil level by pulling it out. Add oil until it is between the two lines.

I usually run it again after this and then re-check it just to be sure.

Note: the 1.1L in the Honda manual is assuming you get ALL THE OIL OUT. This never happens unless you are rebuilding.

Hope this helps.

jack

Too much oil is big trouble, drain and fill it correctly!

1 LTR of oil is spot on

Check the drain plug. Is it tight?

You should check your valve clearance. A slightly louder knock generally means it’s time to adjust them.

If the bike suddenly started to bang and spit oil… you blow it up! Hard to believe with a 230.

I use a full quart and it seems to be the right amount. On my bike it is certainly not too much.

I pull the drain plug and let it drain while I clean the air filter or some other task to make sure I get what I can out of it.

yeah i agree with Riley, that is exactly what i do with my 230.................very good advice i must say

I looked it up

Now there's an idea.
You do know that this post looks like some kind of humor,don't you ?
It's really very important to read your owners manual, and to change the oil how they very specifically tell you how to do so.
A 10th of a liter here or there doesn't mean a thing, but really now...read the manual. Doug