Learning how to change motorcycle oil is just as important as learning to change a motorcycle tire. The oil in your motorcycle acts as a lubricant to the engine, keeping the metal parts from rubbing together to protect the motor.
If you learn how to do an oil change on a motorcycle at home, you can save yourself a lot of money. This guide will show you the steps to follow.
Checking your motorcycle oil is important. What happens if you do not change your motorcycle oil? Motorcycle oil changes provide the following benefits:
How often should you change your oil on your motorcycle to achieve these benefits? Conventional oil should be changed every 2,000 miles, while synthetic oil can go up to 10,000 miles without being changed.
How to Know If Your Motorcycle Needs an Oil Change?
Your bike might use one of these types of motor oil.
Mineral oil
This is motor oil in its purest form, like it's found underground. It breaks down the fastest and doesn't provide as much protection, but it is the cheapest.
Semi-Synthetic oil
Semi-synthetic motor oil blends mineral oil with synthetic varieties for a blend of performance and cost.
Fully Synthetic oil
This oil is made in the lab with the best additives for performance and longevity. However, it is also the most expensive.
While you should change the motorcycle oil at regular intervals (found in the owner's manual), you should also change it if you notice these signs:
How To Change Your Motorcycle Oil (DIY Steps)
How To Change Engine Oil & Filter
Supplies needed:
With these tools in hand, you are ready to learn how to change motorcycle oil.
- 1Warm up the engine to make it easier to get the oil out.
- 2Secure your bike with a stand.
- 3Put your drain pan below the plug and drain the old oil.
- 4Remove the old filter with your wrench.
- 5Apply some oil to the new filter and install it.
- 6Replace the sealing washer.
- 7Re-install the drain plug.
- 8Add oil. The owner's manual tells you how much you need.
- 9Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes before checking the oil level.
- 10Inspect the oil filter to ensure there are no leaks.
Additionally, you can use this YouTube video if you want to learn how to change motorcycle engine oil or you need more help figuring out how to change an oil filter on a motorcycle.
While you can learn how to change motorcycle oil without a stand, it's not advised. However, if you need to, make sure you sit on it and hold the bike upright while it's draining to get all of the old oil out.
How To Change Gear Oil
To learn how to change gear oil on a motorcycle, you will follow many of the same steps above but with the transmission fluid.
- 1Warm up the engine to make it easier to get the gear oil out.
- 2Secure your bike with a stand.
- 3Put your drain pan below the plug and drain the old gear oil.
- 4Replace the O-ring on the drain plug
- 5Re-install the drain plug.
- 6Add gear oil. The owner's manual tells you how much you need.
- 7Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes before checking the oil level.
How To Change Fork Oil
You can learn how to change fork oil on a motorcycle with these steps.
- 1Lift the front of the bike with a motorcycle lift.
- 2Remove the front wheel, calipers, fender or any parts attached to the fork legs.
- 3Mark the fork height and spring-preload setting before unwinding.
- 4Crack the caps loose.
- 5Remove the fork and unscrew the cap.
- 6Empty the oil into a container while you pump the fork leg a few times.
- 7Measure the appropriate amount of oil and fill the receptacle.
- 8Pump the leg a few times to expel any air.
- 9Put the bike back together in reverse order.
Changing Oil for Different Motorcycle Brands
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Changing Motorcycle Oil
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Is it bad to add oil without changing it?
You can add a small amount of oil to the motor without changing it, but if this becomes a habit, you are adding fresh oil to dirty oil, which only hurts the engine.
Where can you get motorcycle oil changed professionally? How much does it cost?
While you might know how to do an oil change on a motorcycle, sometimes it's more convenient to have it done by a professional. You can take it to your local motorcycle dealer for service, but how much to change motorcycle oil? It will probably cost about $200.
What color should motorcycle oil be?
Motorcycle oil should be yellow or green with a glossy or semi-transparent finish. If the oil is dark brown or black, it has broken down and old.
Can frequent oil changes remove sludge?
The best way to remove sludge is through oil changes. Make sure you use synthetic oil with special detergents to break down the sludge.
How long can you store motorcycle engine oil? (and does it expire?)
Motorcycle motor oil has a shelf life of five years. You shouldn't use the oil after it has sat for this long. To keep it working its best, store it in an unopened container in moderate temperatures.
What's the longest you can go without an oil change for a motorbike?
If you use conventional oil, you want to change the oil every 2,000 miles. However, some synthetic oils will last up to 10,000 miles without a change.
Conclusion
Whether you want to know how to change oil on a motorcycle for the Honda Wave 100 or how to change oil on a Honda VTX 1300 motorcycle, our steps will help you get the job done. Use our guide to keep all makes and models running their best.