Okay, so, I recently did an oil change on my Kawasaki Ninja 650, and I thought I’d share my experience since it was my first time doing it myself. I mean, I’ve watched a bunch of videos and read a few guides online, but actually getting my hands dirty was a whole different story.
First off, I gathered all my tools and materials. I made sure I had the right type of oil. I just picked up some MOTUL 4T 10w-40. Seemed like a popular choice. I used a new oil filter, a wrench, a drain pan, and some shop towels. Gotta keep things tidy, you know?
The next thing I did was warm up the bike. I let it idle for a few minutes. I guess this helps the oil flow better when you drain it. Once it was warm enough, I turned it off and got ready for the messy part.
I positioned the drain pan under the bike and located the drain plug. This was a bit tricky, but I managed to find it. With a deep breath, I loosened the plug with my wrench. It wasn’t easy, I had to apply some muscle. And then, whoosh, the old oil started pouring out. It was pretty dark, so I guess it was time for a change. I think the manual said to do it every 7500 miles or once a year. I was somewhere around 8000 miles, so, yeah, perfect timing.
While the oil was draining, I went ahead and replaced the oil filter. It’s located on the side of the engine. Unscrewing the old one was simple enough, but I made sure to put a little bit of new oil on the gasket of the new filter before screwing it on. Someone online mentioned it helps with the seal, so why not, right?
Once all the old oil was out, I put the drain plug back in. I tightened it, but not too much. Don’t want to strip the threads. Then, I filled the engine with fresh oil. I poured it in slowly, checking the oil level window on the side of the engine. It took a bit of time to get it to the right level, but I didn’t want to overfill it.
After everything was done, I started the bike and let it run for a few minutes again. I checked for any leaks around the drain plug and the oil filter, and thankfully, there were none. Phew! I also reset the oil change indicator, or whatever that thing is called. I was happy I made it by myself.
- Gather tools and materials: new oil, oil filter, wrench, drain pan, shop towels.
- Warm up the engine: let it idle for a few minutes.
- Drain the old oil: position the drain pan, loosen the drain plug, let the oil drain completely.
- Replace the oil filter: unscrew the old filter, lubricate the new filter’s gasket, screw on the new filter.
- Refill with new oil: tighten the drain plug, pour in new oil slowly, check the oil level.
- Check for leaks: start the engine, inspect the drain plug and filter for leaks.
- Reset oil change indicator: follow the bike’s manual for instructions.
Honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. It felt good to do it myself and save some money. Plus, I learned a thing or two about my bike. If you’re thinking about doing your own oil change, I’d say go for it. Just make sure you have everything you need and take your time. It’s a pretty rewarding experience. And oh, don’t forget to clean and lubricate the chain every 400 miles or so. Keeps things running smooth. I did the MotoMan style break-in and did my first oil change at 75 miles. Now I’m at about 8000, so I guess I’m on track. I like to change it every season though, just to be safe.
