I am really bored - How to change your oil

**FEINT** · 30th June 2005, 16:36

Here is a write up on how to change your oil. Had a bit too much free time...

Tools Required:

-Rachet
-Sockets (usually a 14mm around there)
-Funnel
-Oil Pan

and OIL. There is a discussion about this, what to use, what not to use. I won't go in to that.

Warm up your engine before doing this. (I have heard some people tell me this, not too sure)

Find the sump on the bike, usually at the bottom of the engine. Looks like a box. There will be a bolt in it. That is usually your sump plug.

some of them are on the side of the sump.

Place your oil pan below the sump plug. (Oil will come out of this plug, so be careful. OPEN your oil refill cap.

Remove it with your rachet and socket set.

Just before you completely remove the bolt, get ready for the oil to pour out, so you might want to bring the oil pan up near the sump. Once the bolt is removed, oil should pour out from the sump and in to the pan. Wait until nothing more drips out.

Sump bolt

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If you want to do your oil filter, now is the time to do it.
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If you removed your oil filter, put a little oil on the new oil filters seal and replace on to bike. Do not screw on too tight. Hand tight will do.

Put the sump bolt back in to the sump and tighten. Do not over tighten. It doesn't need to be SEALED on there, it only needs to be tight enough so oil doesn't leak.

Fill with oil.

To check if there is enough oil, turn engine on, and let it run for a few minutes. This is for the oil to pump around the engine and in to the oil filter.

Turn engine off and check the level. There are usually two kinds, one is the dipstick

Unscrew cover and check wipe the dipstick, replace the dipstick. Take it out again and check the level on the stick. Should be between Full and Low.

and the window gauge

Make sure the bike is LEVEL. Check if the oil is within the two indicators. There should be two markings on the side of the window. One is high and the other low.

If you need to fill up more, fill more close filler cap and then turn engine on run a short while (minute or two) then check again.

HOpe this helps.

**R6_kid:Me** · 30th June 2005, 16:45

good stuff man! im bored, but sick so im not allowed outside atm otherwise i would be giving a full breakdown on just about everything about the ZXR250.

**vifferman** · 30th June 2005, 16:56

Well done, Feint.

A few extra points:
1. Be careful if the engine's quite hot. Hot oil burns.
2. Wear gloves - the engine oil will probably get on your hands, and it's very hard to wash the smell out.

3. It pays to replace the crush washer on the sump plug every so often. This is usually aluminium, and is designed to help seal the sump plug without it having to be ridiculously tight. After a few oil changes, they can get , well, crushed (as intended), so they lose their effectiveness.
4 Check for leaks. There usually aren't any, as bikes are pretty well made, but sometimes the filter will have a defective seal.
5. After a day or two, recheck the oil levels.

**bugjuice** · 30th June 2005, 17:13

and have plenty of old rags handy, just in case.

Good write up. You'll be starting your own series soon..

**MikeL** · 30th June 2005, 17:29

And another thing...
If your bike has a dipstick, check with your manual to see whether the correct oil level is shown when the dipstick is fully screwed in, or when it is just resting on the filler (usually the latter, at least for Hondas, I think) There will be quite a difference in the readings.

**bugjuice** · 30th June 2005, 17:37

oh, and whenever you check the oil level, check it with the bike up, not on the kick/sidestand. Centre stands and pit stands are fine.. Just be careful if you're balancing the bike yourself and squatting down to look, cos it could go over!

**monkey99** · 30th June 2005, 17:48

yup fab write up...hints of Tim the "Tool man" Taylor... I will use this page as a future bible on the matter...but, for posterity sake...yup you guys musta been bored

**Beemer** · 30th June 2005, 17:59

These hints and tips are great, thanks to all the members who are taking the time to list the steps to do things like this.

Me, I'm lazy and I'm married - therefore I expect my husband to do any maintenance!

**FEINT** · 1st July 2005, 12:26

Originally Posted by MikeL

And another thing...
If your bike has a dipstick, check with your manual to see whether the correct oil level is shown when the dipstick is fully screwed in, or when it is just resting on the filler (usually the latter, at least for Hondas, I think) There will be quite a difference in the readings.

Do all bikes require the dip stick to be fully screwed in when checking or at the top? Anybody can confirm this?

**ManDownUnder** · 1st July 2005, 12:31

Originally Posted by bugjuice

and have plenty of old rags handy, just in case.

Good write up. You'll be starting your own series soon..

Yeah like the idiots guide series... but we need a catchy name...

How to Biff in new Oil?
Biffing on an Oil Filter?
Biffing out old Spark plugs?

**Bonez** · 1st July 2005, 16:38

Originally Posted by FEINT

Do all bikes require the dip stick to be fully screwed in when checking or at the top? Anybody can confirm this?

With my hondas the dip stick is screwed, out wiped clean, then inserted so the bottem of the threaded portion sits on top of the filler hole. Check the bike user manual-w/s
manual if unsure or go to the local agent and ask the head mechanic for your make of bike.