Kohler V-Twin Oil Capacity

[Riddler]

I understand that my 25 HP Kohler Command V-Twin (Model CV25S) is supposed to have a 2 quart oil capacity. When I change oil though (including filter), I only seem to get about 1 and 1/4 quarts out and back in. I even warm the thing up before I do the change, so everything drains well. When I'm done, I let engine turn over a bunch to refill the filter before checking the oil level. It reads past the "full" line. Is there a trick to getting a more complete change?

In a related question, does this engine have a low oil level sensor or cut off? I found out the hard way that the engine in my Kawasaki Mule doesn't. Curious if this powerplant is protected to some degree from dummies like me.

 

[RandyT]

all of the kohler commands that i have ever changed oil in have always drained two quarts out and two quarts in. are you draining through the drain plug or are you using a oil suction evacuator through the dip stick tube. make sure you prefill the oil filter before installing. i have found that if you suck the oil out of the command you cannot get to the bottom of the oil sump because of a shelf in the oil pan that you cannot push the suction tube past.

 

[Riddler]

Randy, I am draining from plug in the bottom of the pan. Actually, because the plug is inaccessible (there is almost no space between it and the metal support base for the engine), MTD adds a 12" hose from the drain pan plug to an open area beyond the support base. From the looks of it, the oil should evacuate just as well from the end of the hose as it would from the plug. Is it possible that the oil cooler doesn't drain completely out when the oil is changed?

 

[RandyT]

there have been a few models where when the full 2 quarts are put in and the unit was ran on a incline it would mosquito fog smoke. they may have a revised dipstick that read at a lower reading due to special application. the oil pickup sits right at the bottom of the oil sump so it can get almost empty before it fails to pick up oil at least on level ground. i was thinking most of the command twins have a oil shutdown sensor but in reality it is more of a selling point than accual functionality. damage would occur prior to engine shutdown.

 

[Riddler]

Randy, your post has me wondering. What is the worst that can happen if I refill with two quarts despite the dipstick reading full at one and a half quarts? Perhaps the dipstick wasn't installed accurately when the engine was put together (i.e., it sits slightly low in relation to the bottom of the oil pan)? If I find that everything functions normally with a full two quarts, then I simply recalibrate the fill line on the dipstick and go from there. I guess what I am saying is that if the engine is designed to accommodate two quarts, perhaps I should go with that regardless of what the dipstick is telling me.

 

[RandyT]

I was thinking after my last post about the dipstick. Do you have the screw in fill/dipstick. If so do not screw in. check level when sitting on top of threads