Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
#1
07-22-2007 | 07:37 AM
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Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
Just a word of warning and advice so nobody else makes the same stupid mistake I just made. I've changed my oil and oil filter myself on my bike several times before, but this time I couldn't unscrew the oil filter. It turns out my muscle power hadn't dramatically decreased since I replaced the last one on; I just hadn't waited until the bike had completely cooled off when I changed the oil and I presume because heat causes things to expand the filter was too tight to unscrew. I had changed the oil about a half hour after riding the bike but couldn't unscrew the filterand Ididn't want toknock the bike off its center stand trying too hard to unscrew it. But when I tried again two or three hours later to replace the filter it came off easy as pie and I could pop a new one on no problem. So remember there's a reason for waiting for the bike to COMPLETELY cool off before changing the oil.
#2
07-22-2007 | 08:29 AM
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RE: Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
Definitely never change the filter just after a ride. It is a good idea to drain out the dirty oil when it's still warm since crap is still suspended in the oil, and will not have settled to the bottom of the pan yet. In other words, you're likely to get more grimeout of the engine if you drain the oil while still warm.
#4
07-22-2007 | 03:16 PM
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RE: Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
ORIGINAL: j_christopherhall
Just a word of warning and advice so nobody else makes the same stupid mistake I just made. I've changed my oil and oil filter myself on my bike several times before, but this time I couldn't unscrew the oil filter. It turns out my muscle power hadn't dramatically decreased since I replaced the last one on; I just hadn't waited until the bike had completely cooled off when I changed the oil and I presume because heat causes things to expand the filter was too tight to unscrew. I had changed the oil about a half hour after riding the bike but couldn't unscrew the filterand Ididn't want toknock the bike off its center stand trying too hard to unscrew it. But when I tried again two or three hours later to replace the filter it came off easy as pie and I could pop a new one on no problem. So remember there's a reason for waiting for the bike to COMPLETELY cool off before changing the oil.
Just a word of warning and advice so nobody else makes the same stupid mistake I just made. I've changed my oil and oil filter myself on my bike several times before, but this time I couldn't unscrew the oil filter. It turns out my muscle power hadn't dramatically decreased since I replaced the last one on; I just hadn't waited until the bike had completely cooled off when I changed the oil and I presume because heat causes things to expand the filter was too tight to unscrew. I had changed the oil about a half hour after riding the bike but couldn't unscrew the filterand Ididn't want toknock the bike off its center stand trying too hard to unscrew it. But when I tried again two or three hours later to replace the filter it came off easy as pie and I could pop a new one on no problem. So remember there's a reason for waiting for the bike to COMPLETELY cool off before changing the oil.
#5
07-22-2007 | 07:02 PM
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RE: Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
Thanks for the input on that one. That makes complete sense and as it turns out that's exactly how I did it, i.e., drained the oil while it was still warm and then changed the filter later on after the bike cooled off. It's not a question of strength since I'm the one who put the last oil filter on and removed it the last couple times so all I could figure is that there must have been some slight expansion while it was still hot that was preventing me from unscrewing the old one.
Thanks.
Thanks.
#8
07-23-2007 | 01:37 AM
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RE: Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
ORIGINAL: KevyzToy
I start my bike and let it run for a couple of minutes to let the oil warm up.
I start my bike and let it run for a couple of minutes to let the oil warm up.
#9
07-23-2007 | 04:19 AM
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RE: Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
Thanks for the tips.The filter is/wasslightly lubed. Running it a couple minutes makes sense too; just next time I won't try to change the filtera half hour after a 20-mile ride.
#10
07-23-2007 | 12:55 PM
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RE: Oil Change -- make sure the bike's cooled off COMPLETELY
ORIGINAL: gerrynolan
I change mine after a long ride to make sure all the metal particals are suspended in the oil. Just something that was always drilled into my head being an auto tech for 20+ years.
I change mine after a long ride to make sure all the metal particals are suspended in the oil. Just something that was always drilled into my head being an auto tech for 20+ years.
doesn't need to be a LONG ride. but it will take a couple minutes and a few revs through the range to stir up all the junk.
and the trick for stuck filters when hot is to stab them with a screw driver and use that as a handle (if you don't have a strap wrench the right size)