Oil change 1st generation

Excellent write up reg. I used synthetic when I changed my oil today, Mobil 1 Clean 5000. I will have to wait and see how it does. Waht fileter brand and number did you use? My manual says to not screw down the dipstic, to just push it in then remove it. I really don't see why, but I guess if you don't screw it in you will have a little more in the case. Possible safety margin? On mine, 1993, I had to take off the left mid and lower fairing, which is necessary to have access to the oil filter. Again, great job!! :smile:

 

Thanks, the pics were very helpful in locating the dipstick, all my bike friends tried to tell me that motorcycles dont have dipsticks.

 

Well I read that the dipstick is located on the cap of the oil fill hole, both of which my friends tried to tell me are not on motorcycles. I assumed (correctly) that the oil fill cap (and dipstick) would be located pretty close to the area that pic 5 shows oil going into a funnel and into the engine.

By the way, I used a Mobil-1 filter that is supposedly comparable to the Purolator Pure One, and Shell Rotella T oil. Both seemed to get high praise from people on this forum, so I hope it works fine using a big rig oil in a motorcycle engine.

 

Synthetic Oil

Hi, I used synthetic oil about two years ago on my 1996 VFR 750fT. My clutch went about 300 miles after I did this. I then read somewhere, not sure where anymore that you should not use fully synthetic oil in a VFR? I had to rebuild the clutch, and have not had any problems for over 10,000 miles. I recently did a trip to Valencia in Spain with 3 others and my VFR purred along without missing a beat for 3000 miles in one week!

 

Ok, so i just bought an 85 interceptor, i'm scared of the oil situation... I was told that once you use synthetic you must only use synthetic because it coats the clutch with something, so i'm scared to use anything other than synthetic because the previous owner may have used it...

is this at all correct or was the person an idiot that was telling me this?

 

I've never owned a motorcyle without a dipstick. If it's an internal combustion engine, it uses oil - and therefore has a way to change and check the oil level. I was a mechanic years ago - I've never even heard of a motorcycle that had no way to check or refill the oil. Where do people come up with this stuff?

 

Lots of bikes, Yamahas and Kawis especially-- some Hondas too-- have a "sight glass" window on lower clutch cover about 1" in diameter to see oil level, which is Ok at midpoint of window and easily allows some assesment of oil cleanliness.


OIL CHANGE:

TWO IMPORTANT points were not yet mentioned: Fill oil filter by hand, slowly, allowing some time for oil to soak in untill it appears about 2/3 full before mounting on engine; also, crank while keeping "Off-Run" switch in OFF position until after the red oil pressure light goes out. This protects rod and main bearings from a dry start and prolongs their health.

 

Sorry, not meaning to start a flame war - I said "that had no way to check or refill the oil". Dipstick and sight glass are both ways to check the oil level.

I've owned at least one Suzuki, several Kawasakis, and one Honda, with sight gauges instead of dipsticks.

I gotta stick to my guns here - all motorcycles have a way to check or refill the oil.

###
As far as the synthetic oil thing goes - you CAN mix-n-match synthetic and dinosaur oil, no harm will come to your engine. You can switch back-n-forth from one to the other, no harm will come to your engine. As long as you use oil that has the appropriate API service ratings (or better), it's all good.

The only problem I've ever seen with using synthetic oil, is that some motorcycle clutch plates will slip if you use synthetic oil designed for cars. But that usually can be resolved by dis-assembly and spraydown with brake cleaner, letting the clutch plates dry, re-assembly, and re-fill with oil.

<opinion rant on>
IMO, dinosaur oil is fine for 99.99999% of people in the world, if they change their oil regularly - including an oil change before & after winterizing or de-winterizing their bike. Everyone has differing opinions on this subject, there are a lot of passionately held beliefs in this area - YMMV.
</opinion rant off>

 

as far as checking your oil, chances are if you don't have a dipstick or a sight window your bike may have a weep bolt you remove to check your oil level.
in other words you loosen said bolt and when oil weeps out you are at the proper level.

 

Thanks, I'd forgotten about that method.