Get someone to look over your shoulder while you do the change. It doesn't matter that you know nothing about it at this stage - I assure you it's straight forward and simple enough.
There are one or two tricks to learn which is why an old hand watching over you is good. Before you start - if playig with oil ain't your chosen profession (i.e. you don;t already smell like a diesel mechanic) then a pair of disposable gloves will keep oil out of skin and nails.
Tips
1) Warm the engine before the change
2) Take the filler cap off before you drain the oil out - this'll allow air in at the same time as the oil goes out - not a big deal but the odd "glup" of oil on a concrete pad deson't add to the look.
3) When the oil plug comes out, let it drop into the container. It'll be hot, and so is the oil following it. Let it fall - it's easy enough to fish out later (an old spoon does the trick). Wipe it down - you'll be good to go.
4) A screwdriver nailed THROUGH the old oil filter makes a wonderful handle. This is where the old hand comes in. Get it right - it'll be a doddle... try to nail it through in a place where you can spin it right round... ideally (although rarely doable)
5) Expect the old filter to be tight... hit it left and rigfht, or on the end. Not too hard - but shock it a bit
6) When the filter comes off - you'll get a little more hot oil. See points 2 and 3 above. Let all the dripping finish before you start on the new filter. Not important... but I figure I want as much crud out as I can get.
7) Smear some new oil onto the o-ring sealing the new filter, then screw it on, hand tight is fine - but make it "best effort" - i.e. as tight as you can with your hand
8) replace the drain bung. Do it up, and double check you did it up.
9) Fill 'er up. Put in the amount required... less a bit. It's easier to put more in than get a bit out... top it up to the full mark
10) Start the motor and go for a wee toodle... come home, let her sit for a min or two - then recheck the oil level. That new filter will have taken some out of the sump. Probably not a lot, but again - while you're on the job... might as well do it right.
Last - triple check you did up that drain bung, and give the oil filter another go. Oil coming out has a number of serious consequences associated with it.
I think that's it. Take it step by step and you'll be fine. First time with someone watching over you, and after that it'll be one more thing to add to your "to do" list... and something you can pass on to your mates, kids... or whoever. It's generally worth a 6 pack if you use it for trade
Re the oil question - 15/40 should do the job. Go for "good but not best" oil. Likewise with the filter.
Buy 3, 4 litre oil containers
1 is for the new oil - buy it 4 litres at a time (having a 4l container dedicated to this makes it easy to measure "4 litres"
1 is for the waste oil coming out of the bike
1 is for the "new oil... "imbalance". When you fill the bike with oil you'll use 2 litres, or 3 litres, and ALWAYS have this odd amount left. Keep it, and on the NEXT oil change use it up then top it off with the new oil in the other new oil container.
Hope this helps. Comments welcome (in case I missed anything?)
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