Are you doing all 38 steps w/ oil change???

[Flattracker60]

I am new to the YZ450. Are you guys following ALL gazillion steps per the manual when changing the oil? Screens..hoses..skid plates..all 16(I'm inflating these #'s a bit) drain bolts..HOLY COW!! And, is there a trick to removing the oil filter without dripping oil all over the side of the motor? ? Little help over here

[JYD]

its not too bad once you get tha hang of it. drain the engine oil first, then the frame, then the oil filter. i dont believe its necessary to clean the screen on the frame every oil change. but, your mileage may vary. there arent really any tricks....its gonna be a little messy, just use a big ass pan, and some brake cleaner when you're all done.

[tool]

And, is there a trick to removing the oil filter without dripping oil all over the side of the motor? Little help over here

the best way to change an oil filter is to lay the bike over on its side, with the grip end on a lift stand. this same technique works well for the clutch and flywheel. ?

[gonzo]

I just set it up on the triangle and let it drip. THen just wipe afterward. The worst is that little bolt on the side of the case.

[Satch0922]

According to Yamaha (and I am sure JYD will argue with them too since HE is the YZF expert), you should warm the engine for 3 minutes, remove the oil filler plug/dipstick, then drain the frame, then drain the crankcase. Then remove the hexhead bolt on the oil filter cover (this is the oil drain bolt) and let it drain. Then you can remove the remaining two bolts on the oil filter cover and remove the filter.

The screen in the frame should be checked and cleaned at least once or twice per season. Of course that depends on how much you ride and what type of riding you do.

[stroker101]

i would check the filters if the bike is brand new and your going through the break in period. this way you can tell if your having any abnormal wear inside the engine.

after a while you can skip to every other oil change, if there's no problems. this is what i do, but others may not find this suitable.

[Wyatt]

I hardly ever warm my bike up before I change oil. I also NEVER use the fraim drain bolt. I take the oil line loose where it connects to the motor near the clutch cover. It is less messy and gives a more complete drain.

[Hamish]

I hardly ever warm my bike up before I change oil. I also NEVER use the fraim drain bolt. I take the oil line loose where it connects to the motor near the clutch cover. It is less messy and gives a more complete drain

I'll second that ?

[ovrrdrive]

If bikes are anything like cars, if you aren't warming the oil up you aren't getting all of the contaminants out of the engine. This is an important step that shouldn't be skipped. It's like changing the oil and leaving 1/3 of the old stuff in.

But if you've had good results and believe what you're doing is right, by all means...

[Hamish]

the purpose of warming the engine before an oil change is to make the oil thinner which ensures it all runs back to the sump. If the engine was warm when it was last started, warming it again before the oil change isnt required.

[ovrrdrive]

I've always heard that the contaminants settle out of the oil and lay on the bottom of the pan ( or frame or whatever) and also that warm oil holds more of these contaminants in suspension. By warming the oil you circulate it which puts the junk back into suspension in oil that is more apt to hold them so they will be removed from the engine. The oil flowing more freely is just a bonus.

But as I said, if what you do works for you, by all means...

[etownyzf]

the oil change on this bike really is a pain in the butt-i love the bike though-sometimes i just drain the big drainplug on the bottom of the engine and the oil tank one-i dont change the filter everytime either-is that bad?

[Flattracker60]

It's only a pain if you also own a CRF450(I never new how friendy an oil change could be) like me, or if you compare it to a two stroke like my CR500...drain oil...add oil ?. Seeing as this YZ450 will be an ice bike only, there won't be too many oil changes, I'll adjust

[JYD]

According to Yamaha (and I am sure JYD will argue with them too since HE is the YZF expert), you should warm the engine for 3 minutes, remove the oil filler plug/dipstick, then drain the frame, then drain the crankcase. Then remove the hexhead bolt on the oil filter cover (this is the oil drain bolt) and let it drain. Then you can remove the remaining two bolts on the oil filter cover and remove the filter.

The screen in the frame should be checked and cleaned at least once or twice per season. Of course that depends on how much you ride and what type of riding you do.

the only reason i drain the crankcase first, is because when i drain the frame first, oil sprays all over my front tire, and i dont liek that too much.

[grayracer513]

Check the screen only every 4-5 changes, or when you find something troubling on the end of your mag drain plugs.

Don't use the "oil filter drain bolt" for that purpose since to do so runs dirty oil through the threads in the case, and will lead to bad threads. Use the technique described for laying the bike down.

As with any case cover, put all 3 bolts in the filter cover and run them down snug before torquing it up.

The frame drain doesn't make a mess if you hold the drip pan up under it to start with.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing about warming up the bike first is this: '03 and later YZF's refill the oil to the crankcases after you drain them. The crankcase is NOT the source of oil used by the feed pump, the frame/oil tank is. Only after about a pint of oil is returned to the frame will the feed pump be able to send it up to the camshaft, the most critical lubed part of the engine.

Warming the engine puts a fresh supply of oil in that area just before you drain it, so that once you are finished and ready to restart and check the oil level, there will still be a little bit more there than there would if you drained after it sat for week.

NEVER run the engine at high rpm on the first start after changing the oil, or any other cold start for that matter, for the same reason.

Now let's go get covered with dirt. ?

[RJB]

After my disasters today - yes, very carefully

[Wyatt]

Ok...maybe the practice of warming the bike is better....but I still won't do it. I have have changed the oil the same way on my '01 and now on my '04.

I think regardless of how we may do it a little differently, we can all agree that there is no subsitute for frequent oil changes. Regardless of your method......do it often.

[YZFmunky]

come on guys, do your oil changes properly. so what if it takes a little longer to warm the bike up a bit, and its not that hard to undo a few more bolts is it? dont be lazy, do it properly it not that much harder.