How To Change Motorcycle Oil?

You may spend a considerable amount of money in servicing while changing the motorcycle oil. But from now you don’t need to give a single penny to the servicing for changing the motorcycle oil. 

Because here, I’m going to teach you how to change motorcycle oil in simple steps and provide you with a list of which pieces of equipment and tools you may require for changing it. So, consider reading this entire article to save a considerable amount of money in the future.

What Do You Need To Change Motorcycle Oil?

You need a few pieces of equipment and tools to change the motorcycle oil. Before starting the motorcycle oil changing procedures, make sure that you’ve all of these. Here, I list those pieces of equipment and tools with a short explanation:

• Appropriate Oil:

In the owner’s manual, you’ll get the entire information about what oil types require your motorcycle engine. The oil quantity is also written there. Check your manual first before purchasing the engine oil. Always buy an extra quarter of oil than the required quantity. 

• A Pair Of Hand Gloves:

The hotness of the motorcycle engine isn’t good for your hands’ skin. To protect the skin, use a pair of hand gloves.

• Oil Filter:

You should use such an oil filter that nicely fits your motorcycle engine. During the changing of oil, don’t forget to check the filter. But for filtering oil properly, it’s wise to purchase a new one every time. It doesn’t cost too much money.

• Removal Tools:

If you use a standard oil filter, you don’t need to spend too much labor to remove it. You can easily remove the standard oil filter by just attaching it with a wrench. 

• Funnel:

Funnel makes the step of filling a motorcycle engine with oil easier. You mandatorily require it while changing the oil.

• Wood Blocks:

Putting some wood blocks under the side stands helps to fit the motorcycle level and ensure the correct oil checking.

• Wrench And Socket:

To remove the filter/ drain plug, you need a wrench and socket.

• Sump Washer:

Always Use a new sump washer when you change the oil of your motorcycle. If your older sump washer is in good condition, change it despite that. It may cost some pennies, but a new sump washer will be more effective to complete the whole process in fewer hassles.

• Oil Tray:

For collecting the oil, you can use anything available around. But to make the oil draining process easier and spill-free, a wide shallow tray would be the best option. I prefer to use such an oil tray that has a spout in one corner.

• Torque Wrench: 

A torque wrench is not mandatory, but having it makes the process simpler. It helps to sump, plug and torque the filter without any tear-off on the threads.

9 Simple Steps To Change Motorcycle Oil:

Here I am writing down the 9 simple steps to change motorcycle oil. By following these steps properly, anyone can change his/her motorcycle oil easily:

1. Warm Up The Motorcycle Engine:

You should warm your motorcycle engine first to drain the oil from it. I always do 20-25 minutes of riding to warm my motorcycle engine before changing the oil because this slight bit of warming makes your motorcycle oil changing process much easier. 

2. Clean The Area:

It is essential to clean the oil change area before starting the whole process. Because if you do that in a dusty area, then there is a high possibility of putting such oil in your motorcycle engine, which is mixed with dust and dirt. 

So, cleaning the whole area for putting dust and dirt-free oil into your motorcycle engine. After that, set your motorcycle on a stand for doing the further steps.

3. It’s Time To Drain The Old Oil:

After getting back from the short riding, set your motorcycle on its side and stand in a wide space. Then put an oil tray underneath your motorcycle. Don’t touch any parts of the engine because it’s still too hot. 

Instead of hands, use the wrench and socket to remove the oil plug and the drain plug. Don’t remove the drain plug before the oil plug. For safekeeping, remove the washer too and put the plug in a dish. 

4. Wait Until The Draining Finish Completely:

Keep patience until all the old oil has drained into the oil tray. You aren’t required to do anything. On level ground, it can drain out by itself. But make sure that no bit of oil is hideaway in the nooks and crannies. You can forcibly remove all the residual bits of oil by careening your motorcycle on each side. 

Be careful while doing this because if anyhow your motorcycle falls then, it’ll be damaged badly. Tilting the motorcycle is a risky and toilsome task. If you think the weight of your motorcycle is too heavy for you to careen by yourself, then take help from any of your friends or cousin to do it safely.

5. Remove The Used Oil Filter:

Remove the used oil filter from your motorcycle during the draining of old oil. There are two types of oil filters, and the removing process of them is also separate. 

For a spin-on oil filter, just unscrew the filter. You can do it by only using your hands. But if you aren’t able to do that by hand, then use the special air filter removal wrench to unscrew it. 

The removal process of a cartridge-type oil filter is a little bit complex. The required tools and the removal procedures of cartridge-type oil filters vary. So, check the owner’s manual appropriately before unscrewing this type of oil filter.

6. Install A New Oil Filter:

After removing the used oil filter, now you need to install a new one. Before installing the new air filter, wipe down the oil filter’s gasket area with a clean cloth. Then to create a good seal, use the finger to spread a bit of new oil on the oil filter’s gasket.

You can simply install a new spin-on type oil filter by using your hands. You don’t need any wrench to install this type of oil filter because most of the time, using a wrench over tightens the spin-on type oil filter. You can install and remove spin-on type oil filters simply by the hands without using any special tools.

But you require a special tool for installing a new cartridge-type oil filter. Basically, this type of oil filter cover’s reinstalling process is complex, and you need specific tools to do that. But the best thing is checking the owner’s manual. There you’ll get all the necessary instructions about the whole procedure.

7. Refit The Drain Plug:

Some of you also know drain plugs as sump plugs. When all the old oil drains out from your motorcycle engine, then it’s time to reinstall the oil drain plug. I recommend you to screw only with your hands to minimize the risk of cross-threading. 

Don’t push the plug forcibly to screw in. Continue trying until the most portion of the plug screws in. When you are able to place the plug properly, use a torque wrench and set the manufacturer’s suggested torque setting. With that, the tightening task is over.

I always prefer to follow the guidelines of the owner’s manual. In the owner’s manual, you’ll get all the instructions about how much you need to tighten the drain plug. Those who don’t have a torque wrench can use any of the socket wrench or box wrench. It may require an extra quarter to a half turn if you use a socket wrench or box wrench to tighten.  But make sure that you do not over-tighten the drain plug/ sump plug.

8. Refill The Motorcycle Oil Tank:

When all the above steps are done correctly, you’re all set to refill the motorcycle tank with new fresh oil. Before starting the refilling procedure, check your owners’ manual to know how much liter oil you required to fill the motorcycle oil tank.

Use a funnel to prevent the wastage of oil. Don’t check the oil level periodically. Careful about the risk of overfilling oil. Accidently if you overfill the motorcycle tank, then follow step 3 to drain out the residual oil.

9. Finishing Task:

We’re just one step away from finishing all the procedures of motorcycle oil changing. When you fully refill your motorcycle tank, then refit the oil fill plug correctly. It’s good to clean up once before refitting it. Ensure that you dispose of both the old oil and the filter altogether.

Now, run the motorcycle engine to check the leaks. After that, double-check the oil level of your motorcycle. Remove or add oil according to the necessity. When you are satisfied with the oil level and the other things are also OK, then congratulations. You have just changed your motorcycle oil successfully.

How Often Do You Change The Oil In Your Motorcycle? 

How often you change the motorcycle oil will depend on several factors. These factors are how many miles you drive and what types of oil you use. In the owner’s manual, you’ll get detailed information about your motorcycle oil changing period. 

There are 3 types of motorcycle oil that we often use. Below I make a table to inform you about the lasted period of these 3 types of oil:

Motorcycle Oil Types	Need To Change
Mineral Motorcycle Oil	After riding every 2,000 to 3,000 miles, and should twice in a year.
Semi-Synthetic Motorcycle Oil	After riding every 5,000 to 6,000 miles, and at least once a year.
Synthetic Motorcycle Oil	After riding every 7,000 to 10,000 miles, and at least once a year.

As per the general rule, a rider should need to change motorcycle oil once a year. Simply, after riding 3,000 to 5,000 miles, you are required to change your motorcycle oil.

Last Few Words:

Changing the motorcycle oil isn’t an easy task. You must be careful from the first to the last step. By clicking here, you can directly watch the step of how to change motorcycle oil.

You may also want to read :

30 Motorcycle Tips For Beginners [That’ll Make You Pro]

How To Become A Motorcycle Mechanic?