newb, just bought a 250 n i'm havin an oil prob

SoK · 08-08-2005

alright, this is pretty much my first post on this forum so hello to all n thanks in advance for any help i hope to get on this. I really don't know much about bikes yet, just bought my first 3 days ago. its a 2000 ex250 w/ 3500 miles bought locally. heres the deal,

I went to change the oil today which went fine. however, when i drained, only like a half quart came out

i picked up a new filter/oil earlier at the dealer and put that in and filled w/ the recomended 1.9 quarts, started and warmed up and turned off to let settle.
came back out a few minutes later and everything looked fine, so i took off n rode around for about 9 miles not noticing anything wrong during the ride.
well when i pulled n the driveway n put the stand down, oil was draining pretty quick down from above and kinda around the kickstand so i shut it off quickly.
heres where i start gettin confused. i pulled off the seat, left fairing above stand and could see oil (def. oil) drippin from behind the brake resevoir, so i unbolted that. now i can see the battery attached to a black casing (which i'm guessing is the air box/filter) and there is a small hole bout 0 <-- that size in it on the right bottom corner. the oil was dripping from here when sittin on the stand and ceased when i put the bike up on the centerstand, and its scared the **** out of me.
so i started thinkin maybe i overfilled and f'd something up which is forcing oil up the engine into the air box, so i drained to find that about a half quart or 3/4's quart came out again :f'inworried:
now i need help. i really am a newb w/ bikes still n i'm hopin i didn't blow up my first in only 3 days

someone help please!

hot_shoe_cv · 08-08-2005

To start with, I know nothing about your bike, but it sounds like the bike has two places to drain the oil from in order to drain completely. You might check the tranny for an additional drain plug. In any case you certainly need a manual NOW! Apparently you don't even have an owner's manual and if you plan to do any sort of other maintenance or repair, order a shop manual. You should be able to get the owner's manual from Kawasaki online.

SoK · 08-09-2005

just checked kawa's website and they only have manuals for 2002 n up, i'll try the dealer today after work... anyone have any knowledge of 250's? i do have the owners manual that came w/ the bike and followed that exactly for how to change the oil

windrider18 · 08-09-2005

There should be an oil drain plug off to one side of the filter housing which will drain most of the oil. From the left side of the bike (as you're looking at the filter from below) it should be to the right of the filter. You'll need a 17mm socket to remove the bolt. Then you loosen the filter which will drain the oil that's still in the filter. Make sure you don't lose any parts. I almost missed a washer because it stuck to the old filter. I would also recommend gloves unless you like smelling like oil for the rest of the day. There is no way to avoid getting it all over you due to the bottom-drain setup.

The online diagrams don't tell you much except part numbers. The owner's manual makes some assumptions on knoweldge and doesn't cover everything. I would suggest getting the service manual and supplement (you'll need both) if you're going to be doing your own wrenching.

SoK · 08-10-2005

thanks for the help, i think i just ended up overfilling, which blew some oil back into the airbox, cause i tried to drain through the filter opening and not the drain plug... yeah i'm still new

DarphBobo · 08-16-2005

WindRider beat me to it. I'll second what another poster said: the manuals are a must. Half a quart is about the capacity of the filter housing. Similarly, after draining and changing the filter, this housing will be empty, so the sight glass will show full after about 1.5qt. Once the pump fills the filter housing, it will accept more.

If I recall from doing the last oil change on WR's 250 (which was Sunday, and I don't think my memory is that bad yet) the drain bolt is the regular-looking, hex-head bolt on the left (kick-stand) side, located just behind the filter housing. The bolt is fairly long - probably in the 3/4" area. Be careful not to lose the washer as it may stick to the crankcase.

What you experienced is common if overfilled - the oil usually is pushed out of the crankcase breather, which usually ends in the area of the airfilter. If the filter has absorbed this, it needs to be addressed. I don't recall what type of filter it uses. If it's the oiled foam type, it can be cleaned and oiled again, although the cost to replace them isn't much.

08-08-2005	#1 (permalink)
SoK Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 10	newb, just bought a 250 n i'm havin an oil prob alright, this is pretty much my first post on this forum so hello to all n thanks in advance for any help i hope to get on this. I really don't know much about bikes yet, just bought my first 3 days ago. its a 2000 ex250 w/ 3500 miles bought locally. heres the deal, I went to change the oil today which went fine. however, when i drained, only like a half quart came out i picked up a new filter/oil earlier at the dealer and put that in and filled w/ the recomended 1.9 quarts, started and warmed up and turned off to let settle. came back out a few minutes later and everything looked fine, so i took off n rode around for about 9 miles not noticing anything wrong during the ride. well when i pulled n the driveway n put the stand down, oil was draining pretty quick down from above and kinda around the kickstand so i shut it off quickly. heres where i start gettin confused. i pulled off the seat, left fairing above stand and could see oil (def. oil) drippin from behind the brake resevoir, so i unbolted that. now i can see the battery attached to a black casing (which i'm guessing is the air box/filter) and there is a small hole bout 0 <-- that size in it on the right bottom corner. the oil was dripping from here when sittin on the stand and ceased when i put the bike up on the centerstand, and its scared the **** out of me. so i started thinkin maybe i overfilled and f'd something up which is forcing oil up the engine into the air box, so i drained to find that about a half quart or 3/4's quart came out again :f'inworried: now i need help. i really am a newb w/ bikes still n i'm hopin i didn't blow up my first in only 3 days someone help please! Last edited by SoK : 08-08-2005 at 10:16 PM.

08-08-2005	#2 (permalink)
hot_shoe_cv *Vintage Rider* BTK Expert Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: central AZ Posts: 741	To start with, I know nothing about your bike, but it sounds like the bike has two places to drain the oil from in order to drain completely. You might check the tranny for an additional drain plug. In any case you certainly need a manual NOW! Apparently you don't even have an owner's manual and if you plan to do any sort of other maintenance or repair, order a shop manual. You should be able to get the owner's manual from Kawasaki online. __________________ 02 Mean Streak, Jardine 2/1 pipe, hiway bars w/pegs, floor boards,ISOgrips w/throttle boss, Kriss head light modulator, Corbin Young Gun ostrich saddle, etc. 660 Yamaha Raptor sport quad for the dirt.

08-09-2005	#4 (permalink)
windrider18 Can't find time to ride BTK Expert Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 694	There should be an oil drain plug off to one side of the filter housing which will drain most of the oil. From the left side of the bike (as you're looking at the filter from below) it should be to the right of the filter. You'll need a 17mm socket to remove the bolt. Then you loosen the filter which will drain the oil that's still in the filter. Make sure you don't lose any parts. I almost missed a washer because it stuck to the old filter. I would also recommend gloves unless you like smelling like oil for the rest of the day. There is no way to avoid getting it all over you due to the bottom-drain setup. The online diagrams don't tell you much except part numbers. The owner's manual makes some assumptions on knoweldge and doesn't cover everything. I would suggest getting the service manual and supplement (you'll need both) if you're going to be doing your own wrenching. __________________ Angela '02 ZR-7S Metallic Blue Violet "Bluebird" "I am not pretty baggage! I ride my own!"

08-09-2005	#3 (permalink)
SoK Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 10	just checked kawa's website and they only have manuals for 2002 n up, i'll try the dealer today after work... anyone have any knowledge of 250's? i do have the owners manual that came w/ the bike and followed that exactly for how to change the oil

08-10-2005	#5 (permalink)
SoK Newbie Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 10	thanks for the help, i think i just ended up overfilling, which blew some oil back into the airbox, cause i tried to drain through the filter opening and not the drain plug... yeah i'm still new

08-16-2005	#6 (permalink)
DarphBobo Newbie Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 23	WindRider beat me to it. I'll second what another poster said: the manuals are a must. Half a quart is about the capacity of the filter housing. Similarly, after draining and changing the filter, this housing will be empty, so the sight glass will show full after about 1.5qt. Once the pump fills the filter housing, it will accept more. If I recall from doing the last oil change on WR's 250 (which was Sunday, and I don't think my memory is that bad yet) the drain bolt is the regular-looking, hex-head bolt on the left (kick-stand) side, located just behind the filter housing. The bolt is fairly long - probably in the 3/4" area. Be careful not to lose the washer as it may stick to the crankcase. What you experienced is common if overfilled - the oil usually is pushed out of the crankcase breather, which usually ends in the area of the airfilter. If the filter has absorbed this, it needs to be addressed. I don't recall what type of filter it uses. If it's the oiled foam type, it can be cleaned and oiled again, although the cost to replace them isn't much.

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