Changing your oil

We all know how important checking and changing our engine oil is but by nature we’re lazy and often put off this fairly straightforward task. This month Haynes show us how to change the oil. The procedure is taken from their new Triumph 675 Daytona and Street Triple manual.

Choosing oil

Modern, high-revving engines place great demands on their oil. It is very important that the correct oil for your bike is used.

Always top up with a good quality motorcycle oil of the specified type and viscosity and do not overfill the engine. The Triumph 675 illustrated uses a semi or fully synthetic motorcycle engine oil, SAE 10W/40 or 15W/50 viscosity, conforming to API grade SH or higher and JASO MA.

Never use an engine oil designed for car engines.

Checking the engine oil level

1 Start the engine and let it idle for several minutes to allow it to reach normal operating temperature. Stop the engine and leave the motorcycle undisturbed for a few minutes to allow the oil level to stabilise.
2 Support the motorcycle in an upright position on level ground – don’t check the oil level with the bike on its sidestand.
3 Unscrew the oil level dipstick from the right-hand side of the engine (see photo 1).
4 Wipe off the oil, screw the dipstick fully home, then unscrew it again (see photo 2). Check that the oil is between the upper and lower level lines (arrowed) in the hatched area at the bottom of the dipstick (see photo 3).
5 If topping up is necessary unscrew the filler cap from the top of the clutch cover (see photo 4). Top up the engine oil to the correct level with the recommended grade and type of oil, using a funnel if necessary (see photo 5). DO NOT top up via the hole for the dipstick.
6 Make sure the O-rings on the dipstick and filler cap are in good condition and correctly located. Use new ones if necessary. Fit the dipstick and filler cap.
If you have to add oil frequently, you should check whether there is an oil leak. Oil could leak from the engine casting joints and gaskets, or on a high mileage bike the engine could be burning oil.

Changing the oil and filter

Consistent routine oil and filter changes are the single most important maintenance procedure you can perform on a motorcycle. The oil not only lubricates the internal parts of the engine, transmission and clutch, but it also acts as a coolant, a cleaner, a sealant, and a protector. Because of these demands, the oil takes a terrific amount of abuse and should be changed often with new oil of the recommended grade and type. On the 675 Triumph engine shown the oil filter should be changed with every oil change.

1 Before changing the oil, warm up the engine so the oil will drain easily. Place the motorcycle on its sidestand, making sure it is on level ground. Position a clean drain tray below the oil drain plug and filter on the front of the engine.
2 Unscrew the oil filler cap from the clutch cover to vent it and to act as a reminder that there is no oil in the engine (see photo 4).
3 Unscrew the oil drain plug and allow the oil to flow into the drain tray (see photos 6 and 7). Note that a new sealing washer should be fitted.
4 Unscrew the filter using a filter removal socket or a strap wrench and tip any residual oil into the drain tray (see photos 8 and 9).
5 When the oil has completely drained, fit the plug into the sump using a new sealing washer and tighten it to the specified torque setting (see photo 10). Avoid overtightening, as you will damage the threads in the sump.
6 Smear engine oil onto the rubber seal on the filter, then screw the new filter onto the engine until the seal just seats (see photos 11 and 12). If a filter socket is available, tighten the filter to the specified torque setting. Otherwise, tighten the filter as tight as possible by hand, or by the number of turns specified on the filter or its packaging. Note: Do not use a strap or chain wrench to tighten the filter as you will damage the filter body.
7 Refill the engine to the correct level using the recommended type and amount of oil. Install the dipstick and filler cap, using new O-rings if the old ones are damaged, deformed or deteriorated. Start the engine and let it run for two or three minutes. Stop the engine, wait a few minutes, then recheck the oil level on the dipstick. If necessary, add more oil to bring the level up to the correct level on the dipstick. Check that there are no leaks around the filter and drain plug. If the filter is leaking tighten it some more. If the drain plug is leaking make sure it is tightened to the correct torque, and if it is you will need to drain the oil again and replace the sealing washer with a new one.

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