- Do it yourself: Watching YouTube tutorials for your specific bike can be helpful in learning the process.
- Change the oil prior to storage: It’s better for your bike to have fresh oil before storing it over the winter.
- Use dedicated motorcycle oil: Make sure the oil meets SAE & JASO specs and is specifically designed for motorcycles. Take a look in your owner’s manual and you’ll find a recommendation for an API (American Petroleum Institute) service type or/ and a JASO (Japanese Automotive Standards Organization) standard.
- Perform the oil change with a warm engine: This helps the oil flow more easily.
- Prepare for potential mess: Put cardboard down under the entire area you’re working on to avoid making a mess.
- Take your time: Being patient and careful can help prevent any mishaps.
- Keep an open garbage can nearby: This makes it easier to dispose of wipe-up rags, empty oil bottles, etc.
- Use a drain pan that is big enough: This ensures that you can collect all the used oil without any spills.
- Consider using oil trays that drain directly into a container: This makes it easier to transport the used oil for recycling.
- Don’t over tighten the oil filter: Apply a coating of oil to the filter gasket and tighten it 1/4 turn past hand tight.
- Avoid overfilling the oil.
- Change the oil filter with each oil change: This helps maintain the cleanliness of the oil.
- Use a “rain gutter” made of tin foil or a trough made from a cereal or chip box to catch dripping oil.
- Clean the oil filter mating surface and lubricate the seal before installing a new filter.
- Torque the drain plug properly.
- Check the oil level with the bike off the kickstand. Or as your manual recommends. Your manual may recommend the bike be on a center stand or the side stand, or level surface, as well, it may recommend the dipstick be screwed in or just set in the hole.
- Check the oil level once again after the bike is warm
- Dispose of used oil properly: Never dump it on the ground. Most towns/cities have designated sites for used motor oil disposal.
Hope these tips help! Let us know if you have any other good tips.