oil change

ifiddles

ifiddles

Well-known member
i apologize in advance if this has been asked already but i did a quick search using "oil change" and got 20 pages of matches, so needless to say, too much to read through...

anyways, i'm going to do an oil change on my own for the first time and i know it's easier to drain the oil after the bike's been running for a bit...is there a specific amount of time i should let the bike run for this to occur?...is there a chance of the oil getting too hot and possibly burning my hand when i unscrew the drain plug?...what's the ideal time to let the bike after i put fresh oil in before checking the level?...how long does it take to let the oil drain fully?

sorry for the noob questions, but i am one and i've had them done in the past at a shop but want to try myself...

thanks,

ivana

p.s...i took a ladies maintenance course back in the fall but the bike sat for quite a while before we did our oil changes and i can't remember how long we let them run after the fact, nor how long it took to drain because we were talking and doing other things so never really kept track of time...
 
Clean your chain, take your bike for a 5min boot, come back, lube the chain. The oil will be warm enough to flow easily but not too hot and you'll also have a properly cleaned/lubed chain. If you're worried about getting burned, keep the socket on the drain plug as you unscrew it and that will prevent your hand from getting splashed with oil. If the drain plug falls into the oil, no harm done, just scoop it out.
 
Hello Ivana,

1) Yeah, get it nice and warm, as above give it a good 5 -10 mins boot.

2) Leave it draining as long as you can, 15 20 mins will do but overnight will be better, it really is no big deal.

3) And always check the oil when at normal operating temperature

4) its always nice to smear some of that nice clean oil around the gasket for the drain plug seal and the oil filter cover.

Hope this helps!

Jack
 
Overnight is overkill.. 10-15min is ok. Good note on clean oil on the filter gasket.. A couple more tips:

1) You might wanna pour some oil into the filter before you screw it on
2) Some aluminium foil over the pipes, underneath the filter minimizes the mess
3) Any spilled oil can be cleaned up with kerosene but put some cardboard under the bike when doing an oil change
4) Use a clean funnel to pour the oil in and don't use that funnel for anything else, keep it in a plastic bag
 
where did you take this aldies maintenance course??
 
A box of single use latex gloves is handy doing this kinda stuff.
 
Good for you!! My girlfriend won't change her own oil even though I would walk her through it step-by-step...so she pays like $100 to get it done at a shop. It's just that attitude that makes me not do it for her myself, if she were at least willing to try but gave up I would gladly finish the job.
 
bboy - ever think she has no interest in doing the job? Imo it's got nothing to do with attitude.

I have no interest in cutting/dying my own hair, even though I could. An interested capable boyfriend wouldn't rag on me for it.
 
Change it for her, and just have her "reimburse" you for your services. Saves her the hundo, win-win :P.

bboySushi said:
Good for you!! My girlfriend won't change her own oil even though I would walk her through it step-by-step...so she pays like $100 to get it done at a shop. It's just that attitude that makes me not do it for her myself, if she were at least willing to try but gave up I would gladly finish the job.
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