first oil change done..woohoo

camneely8 · 09-23-2005

Hey,
Just did my first oil change on my bike myself. Woohoo...everything went well but talk about messy !! The toughest thing, other than getting that damn drain bolt undone, was figuring out how much oil to put back into the bike. I had to put it in, then wait, then put it in then wait, etc.. The waits were to check the oil level. Then when I started the bike, its almost like the oil got sucked into the machine cause the level would get lowered etc, so again the cycle of putting it in and waiting. Anyway now it looks like I have overfilled the oil. Whats the best way to get the oil out, short of opening the drain bolt again ? Any ideas ? I am thinking a long syringe or something. Thanks.

**Freakinout** · 09-23-2005

Can you still see a line on the level hole thingy? (its early, and I can't get technical this early)

camneely8 · 09-23-2005

Nope...the oil fills the glass thing completely. I am going to reduce the level out a little but dont wanna have to undo that dang drain bolt again. Have heard abt using a baster with a pipe and so on. Will have to look into all those things.

chesthing · 09-23-2005

why did you start the bike to check the level? drain the oil out and start over. You should have a rough idea of how much to put in from your manual, but some always stays in so don't go strictly by that. With the bike on its center stand or holding it straight up engine off, thats when the level should be between the lines in the window.

windrider18 · 09-23-2005

Congratulations on your first oil change

I recommend gloves

I got oil all over me when I did oil changes on my Ninja. Between the oil and the hand cleaner, I smelled like oily oranges all day *blech*.

Your owner's manual should tell you how much oil you'll need to put in when you do an oil change. I've found it's pretty accurate. You pretty much did it correctly though. And yes, when you change the filter and start the bike, the oil level will drop. Basically the oil filter holds a small amount of oil all the time, so you need to add a bit after that.

With the bike on the center stand, check the oil sight glass. Is the oil level close to or below the "full" line? If so, then you're good. If it's above, then something to suck the excess oil out a little at a time would probably work best (like your syringe or a turkey baster).

camneely8 · 09-25-2005

I ended up just pulling the drain plug to get some of the excess oil out and then added a little bit more. Tried the baster thing but no way I could get the pipe attached to it into the casing deep enough to suck the oil out

Was just easier to pull the drain plug and then get it back on there when a little bit came out. BTW thats a very fun activity when you still have oil in the tank and have to get the screw back in

Not messy at all

I def dig the gloves idea windrider...will be doing that the next time.

Slowride · 11-05-2006

Just go by what the manual says. It's right on.

rangerscott · 11-05-2006

on my 250 if its on the centerstand the glass needs to be half full. If its in wheels then the glass needs to be full. Even when completely full, the engine will suck all the oil out of the glass view.

09-23-2005	#1 (permalink)
camneely8 Foil Inspector BTK Beginner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NW Chicago burbs Posts: 115	first oil change done..woohoo Hey, Just did my first oil change on my bike myself. Woohoo...everything went well but talk about messy !! The toughest thing, other than getting that damn drain bolt undone, was figuring out how much oil to put back into the bike. I had to put it in, then wait, then put it in then wait, etc.. The waits were to check the oil level. Then when I started the bike, its almost like the oil got sucked into the machine cause the level would get lowered etc, so again the cycle of putting it in and waiting. Anyway now it looks like I have overfilled the oil. Whats the best way to get the oil out, short of opening the drain bolt again ? Any ideas ? I am thinking a long syringe or something. Thanks. __________________ -- I refuse to have a battle of wits with one who is unarmed ! --

09-23-2005	#2 (permalink)
Freakinout The Absentee Forum Supporter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 7,149	Can you still see a line on the level hole thingy? (its early, and I can't get technical this early) __________________ Support Self Defense Freakinout

09-23-2005	#3 (permalink)
camneely8 Foil Inspector BTK Beginner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NW Chicago burbs Posts: 115	Nope...the oil fills the glass thing completely. I am going to reduce the level out a little but dont wanna have to undo that dang drain bolt again. Have heard abt using a baster with a pipe and so on. Will have to look into all those things. __________________ -- I refuse to have a battle of wits with one who is unarmed ! --

09-23-2005	#5 (permalink)
windrider18 Can't find time to ride BTK Expert Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 694	Congratulations on your first oil change I recommend gloves I got oil all over me when I did oil changes on my Ninja. Between the oil and the hand cleaner, I smelled like oily oranges all day blech. Your owner's manual should tell you how much oil you'll need to put in when you do an oil change. I've found it's pretty accurate. You pretty much did it correctly though. And yes, when you change the filter and start the bike, the oil level will drop. Basically the oil filter holds a small amount of oil all the time, so you need to add a bit after that. With the bike on the center stand, check the oil sight glass. Is the oil level close to or below the "full" line? If so, then you're good. If it's above, then something to suck the excess oil out a little at a time would probably work best (like your syringe or a turkey baster). __________________ Angela '02 ZR-7S Metallic Blue Violet "Bluebird" "I am not pretty baggage! I ride my own!"

09-25-2005	#6 (permalink)
camneely8 Foil Inspector BTK Beginner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NW Chicago burbs Posts: 115	I ended up just pulling the drain plug to get some of the excess oil out and then added a little bit more. Tried the baster thing but no way I could get the pipe attached to it into the casing deep enough to suck the oil out Was just easier to pull the drain plug and then get it back on there when a little bit came out. BTW thats a very fun activity when you still have oil in the tank and have to get the screw back in Not messy at all I def dig the gloves idea windrider...will be doing that the next time. __________________ -- I refuse to have a battle of wits with one who is unarmed ! --

09-23-2005	#4 (permalink)
chesthing Bridal Boutique Manager BTK Expert Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 334	why did you start the bike to check the level? drain the oil out and start over. You should have a rough idea of how much to put in from your manual, but some always stays in so don't go strictly by that. With the bike on its center stand or holding it straight up engine off, thats when the level should be between the lines in the window.

11-05-2006	#7 (permalink)
Slowride Forum Supporter Forum Supporter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 338	Just go by what the manual says. It's right on. __________________ Willis "If you don't make dust, you eat dust"

11-05-2006	#8 (permalink)
rangerscott I ride what I like BTK Intermediate Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 250	on my 250 if its on the centerstand the glass needs to be half full. If its in wheels then the glass needs to be full. Even when completely full, the engine will suck all the oil out of the glass view.

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