Changing your engine oil

Engine oil is one of the “wearing parts” of a petrol engine. Mileage, engine heat and riding style are all factors which contribute to the oil and its additives gradually losing their lubricating property. So to make sure your engine gives you long, reliable service, you should always change the oil at the intervals specified by the manufacturer in your owner’s manual.

• DO NOT: Change your oil immediately after riding your bike – risk of burns from the hot oil!

• DO NOT: Change your oil and NOT change the oil filter – the new oil would soon be contaminated by the old, dirty filter.

• DO NOT: Tip oil down the drain – oil is a hazardous waste!

• DO NOT: Reuse the old seal – oil may drip and land on your rear tyre.

• DO NOT: Put car engine oil in a motorcycle engine!

Before changing the oil, ride your motorcycle until it is warm (not hot). Protect your garage floor with a large sheet to catch any splashes. Depending on the motorcycle, you may first need to remove the plastic fairing to get at the drain plug. And rather than borrowing your mum's best kitchen bowl, now might be a good time to invest in a proper oil drip pan. To enable the oil to drain from the engine, you need to let enough air in at the top – so now undo and remove the filler plug. 

Using a ratchet with a hex socket, loosen the oil drain plug and slowly unscrew and remove it. The oil is probably still quite hot, so you might want to make the last few turns using a cloth to protect your hands. 

Always fit a new oil filter each time you do an oil change. There are two types of filter: one looks like a can because it has its own casing, while the other looks like a rolled up mini accordion and is made of filter paper. This type needs to be installed in a casing on the engine.

An oil filter wrench attachment for the ratchet makes light work of undoing the can-type filter.

The new can filter is fitted with a seal, which you need to lightly oil prior to installation. 

Before installing the new filter, check that it is the same as the one you're replacing (height, diameter, sealing surface, thread, etc.). Tighten the new cartridge oil filter as instructed in your motorcycle handbook: Always follow the vehicle manufacturer's specifications!

The filters that look like a mini accordion are housed in a casing held either by a central screw or several screws around the edge. 

In almost all cases, you will find this type of filter at the front of the engine. Unscrew the cap (watch out for residual oil escaping!), remove the old filter (take note of which way round it was fitted), clean the casing and insert the new filter, making sure it is correctly aligned. 

Depending on the manufacturer, there may be seals or gaskets on the casing, cap or central screw, all of which you need to replace with new ones. For more on this topic, see Seals and gaskets in our DIY tips.

Once you have closed the casing and tightened the screws with a torque wrench, wipe off any traces of oil on the engine using a cleaning agent. Don't skimp on the cleaning, otherwise you will notice some rather nasty smelling gases once the engine gets hot – not to mention extremely stubborn stains.

Fit a new seal to the drain plug, tighten it according to manufacturer specifications and then pour in the fresh oil. 

Check your vehicle owner’s manual for the correct quantity, viscosity and specifications. And while you're at it, fit a new seal on the filler plug – that will save you a whole lot of work later on. 

If you’d like to make your next oil change an easier and cleaner job, it’s a good idea to replace the original drain plug with a Stahlbus Oil Drain Valve – this is the perfect moment to make this small but very useful improvement to your motorbike! 

With a Stahlbus Oil Change Valve, all you have to do to change the oil is simply unscrew the protective cap and attach the quick-release hose connector. This causes the valve to open, and you can let the oil drain into the container you have placed underneath.

When you detach the hose connector, the valve closes automatically, and you only need to screw the protective cap back on. Changing your engine oil couldn’t be any easier. There’s less wear to the thread in the engine case, and no seal to change. You can find our full range of Stahlbus drain valves at "My Bike".

And once you've cleared up the garage and disposed of the oil in the prescribed manner – unsightly oil stains on the floor are best shifted with an oil stain remover such as brake cleaner – you can get straight back on the road.

But before mounting your trusty steed, double check the oil level – particularly if your oil filter is fitted in a separate casing.