New WR450 and oil change "Q"'s

[Deus ex Machina]

I have been riding bikes for while although this is my first dirt bike in 25 years. So my question is what is with all these oil drain bolts? I was doing my first oil change last night and as I was reading thru the service manual I was like &%$#@!? Four oil drain bolts getting removed and the screen too, which sucked getting off bty. Is every one pulling all the drains on every oil change or what?

TIA ... Lee

[Deus ex Machina]

... and yes granted one of the drains is coming off anyway with the filter change.

[imdickie]

I have a 2005 and am in the same boat. I take out all the bolts but had problems with the screen in the oil line. Next oil change I am going to take it to a local shop to make sure they get the screen and filter.

[odonnks]

Best way to remove screen is with a 6 point deep well socket. It shouldn't be that tough to get out. Don't use a open end wrench.

I don't check mine every change, maybe every other or third. Never found anything in it either.

[snmhanson]

I did an oil change the other night and finally decided just to pull the main two bolts. I will pull them all and the filter every third or so change, probably everytime I change the filter. The left side small bolt is only a little below the main lower bolt so I don't see how much more oil I could drain by removing that one as well, plus it's kind of a pain to get to. I run my bike before the oil change so any particals that have settled at the bottom of the engine should get circulated around the bike as well and drain out one of the main bolts. Hopefully I am not taking any chances doing this but it sure makes it easier.

Matt

[TimBrp]

Best way to remove screen is with a 6 point deep well socket. It shouldn't be that tough to get out. Don't use a open end wrench.

I don't check mine every change, maybe every other or third. Never found anything in it either.

You're speaking of the downtube screen, correct?

[tmckeown]

Hi,

I normally just drain it from the bottom.

I've cleaned that screen twice is 147hrs and around 10 oil changes.

There has never been anything.

Timo Mc

[BeachBoy]

I just check the filter every ~3 oil change.

and when I oil change I do about 2-3 before changing everything (emptying all), the small oil changes I just replace the top part of oil.

[Deus ex Machina]

I have a 2005 and am in the same boat. I take out all the bolts but had problems with the screen in the oil line. Next oil change I am going to take it to a local shop to make sure they get the screen and filter.

I couldn't get the hose off the machine end of the screen. So I just pulled the screen and attached line off together as one unit. That was actually pretty easy.

Thanks for all the great input folks.

[OneToGo]

I did an oil change the other night and finally decided just to pull the main two bolts. I will pull them all and the filter every third or so change, probably everytime I change the filter. The left side small bolt is only a little below the main lower bolt so I don't see how much more oil I could drain by removing that one as well, plus it's kind of a pain to get to.

Matt

Same here, I decided after my fourth change or so, that the little bolt under the gear change spline can stay in place, never got more than 10 or so mils from it and you can lay the bike on the RHS to drain that oil anyway,

So for me its just:

1. main sump plug, 2. front tank drain and 3. filter cover off.

10 mins work instead of 30-40...

AND, being easier makes you want to change it more often

I change my filter every second oil change, pretty clean after the initial break-in.

[Beejay]

I only take the screen out every 5th, filter change every 3rd the rest of the oil changes I only drain from the frame tank & the bottom plugs.

[BeachBoy]

like me.

and the filter is always clean

[Thumper_Bloke]

Jeez what a mess! I just did my first oil change (new bike for me). WHAT A MESS!!! I've never had such a mess after an oil change! With all five or six drain points removed, you need a huge oil pan to catch all the droppings. YUCK!

Anyways, it's done (per manual) and i feel better about the lifeblood of the engine.

I have a question on filling it back up. Of course the manual says 1.2 liters after a complete oil & filter change. But do you try to put oil in the tiny top tube hole or just put all of it in the crankcase fill hole?

Cheers.

[TimBrp]

Crankcase fill hole only.

[Arnaud]

OK, now two questions from another WR450 owner who recently did his first oilchange on this bike....:

- after how many hours riding / miles (km's) do you change the oil?

- what oil-type do you use: semi-synthetic or fully-synthetic

Since I had major gear-damage in my previous bike (WR400 '99), I got the advise to only use fully-synthetic oil....

Cheers,

Arnaud.

[MountainMax]

LOL, I made a mess chaning my oil too, the first three plugs were ok but when i pulled the frame oil drain, the oil went right up and over my front tire and all over the floor, OOPS, anyhow it was the messiest oil change ever.....