Author Topic: oil change questions  (Read 8462 times)

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Offline joethebike

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #20 on: July 30, 2017, 04:05:02 »
A little trick I read about and use to park in the garage is to run the rear wheel onto a 20mm thick plank of wood, put the stand down then tread and pull with much less effort as the bike has already been raised the 20mm of travel onto the centrestand.
1972 Suzuki T350 @180,000km, 1982Honda CX500EC @ 272,900km, 2005 DL650 @147,400km

Offline Sezyu

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #21 on: August 02, 2017, 17:32:10 »
Thanks for all the feedback. I back it into the space and it's a slight backward slant. The FJR, ST1100 and PC800 popped right up. Looking back I'm sure I stood too far from the bike and pulled it over, as Greywolf suggested. I've learned that lesson many times, it was doing without thinking. Haven't tried it again. It's fine on the side stand for now.
Previous bikes: 04'FJR 1300, 98'ST1100, 89'PC800, 87'Shadow1100, 83'CX650

(I didn't vote for him, I swear.)

Offline Freddyfruitbat

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #22 on: August 02, 2017, 19:51:47 »
May be stating the bleedin' obvious, but the other Important Point to note when using the centre stand is to ensure both its feet are firmly in contact with the ground (ie by feel, rocking the bike to and fro) before applying downward pressure from your right foot
KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS

Offline Ianmc

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #23 on: August 02, 2017, 20:30:18 »
When I changed the original Deathwing rear tyre for a Tourance Next ,it made it MUCH easier to get onto the centre stand.
Ian Mc.

Offline Ozbass

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #24 on: October 23, 2017, 13:11:25 »
I always do my oil changes cold. That way all the contaniments are in the sump and the oil doesn`t burn your pinkies when you drop the drain plug.

Offline greywolf

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #25 on: October 23, 2017, 16:52:49 »
Stromtrooper is now running a good sized argument about whether to change the oil filter every oil change or follow Suzuki's 3500 mile oil change maintenance schedule of changing the filter every third oil change following the initial 600 mile change of both. Blackstone oil tests indicate oil change intervals test well up to 10,000 mile intervals. Change the oil and filter as shown on this schedule and your engine will be fine. If you are uncomfortable with that, do it more often and whether you prefer hot or cold do what is comfortable for you. The engine will be fine. Be aware the schedules for hose replacement and spark plug replacement are ridiculous though.  :shock:

Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline gspy4u

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #26 on: October 24, 2017, 08:47:15 »
Most bikes don't come with a centre stand these days or at least you have to pay for that extra. Simply leave it on the side stand, walk around to the left side and gently pull it towards you until it's fairly level. You can easily see the level in the glass. If you're a little unsure then lean it on your hip.

Offline Tintent115

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #27 on: October 24, 2017, 12:18:32 »
I have never had a vehicle before, car, van, boat, bike where the manufacturer didn't recommend changing the oil filter at the same time as the oil. I can't see the logic of draining dirty oil out and putting new oil in only for it to be immediately contaminated, even to a small degree, by the dirty oil & swarf in the old filter?

Given that a genuine Suzuki filter is about 15 quid on ebay I will change mine annually at each oil change......

Offline kwackboy

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #28 on: October 24, 2017, 13:49:24 »
I don't care what any service schedule says , changing an oil filter with every oil change is best . I change my oil in my CB500f every 2k and it gets a fresh filter every time.
Chief trouble maker 🙂

Offline greywolf

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #29 on: October 24, 2017, 14:07:38 »
There are differing opinions on overkill. Some see it as better than maintaining a good standard while others see it as wasteful. People are probably most comfortable with doing what feels right to them so lets not disparage those who do that, regardless of their choice.
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline kwackboy

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #30 on: October 24, 2017, 14:47:19 »
My "disparagement" is against the service schedule and not personal Choice .
Chief trouble maker 🙂

Offline greywolf

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #31 on: October 24, 2017, 15:33:48 »
For a look at the care and feeding of a 400,000 mile V-Strom, see http://www.stromtrooper.com/DL1000-2002-2012/318818-400-000-mile-k3-DL1000-v-strom.html
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline Rich:-)

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Re: oil change questions
« Reply #32 on: October 24, 2017, 16:38:46 »


According to the manuals I have,

DL650 is every 3rd oil change
DRZ400E is every 3rd oil change
KTM SD990 is change with each oil change
Honda XR400 is change every time
Honda CB600F is also every time.
Yamaha WR250/450 is every other oil change


So it appears both Suzuki & Yamaha feel there is no need to change the filter everytime.

Something else to consider is that for even the very best oil & filter change (left to drain overnight) there will still be at least 100ml of old oil left in the engine. :grin:

And to blow your mind.. a paper filter actually filters better the older it gets.
As the larger pockets within the paper get partially filled with trapped particles the average size of particle that can pass through the filter reduces and thus a 1/2 used filter will filter more particles in total than a new one will.
The only side effect of this is reduced flow but luckily there is so much redundancy in the filters, due to the large filter surface area, that Suzuki feel confident to advise leaving the filter in for 3 oil changes.

Just to add to this.. most of us don't actually do the specified mileage between oil changes, so you could leave a filter in for more than 3 oil changes... You could actually change the filter by the mileage alone independently of the oil change interval....