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Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 9:27 am
by gregor
So, just done an oil change after my winter hibernation. It's in the teens Celsius today and warm enough for a 60 mile return trip into the Pennines (without hand warmers) to get my annual MOT ( a compulsory annual vehicle check). Dropped the hot engine oil when I got home and let it trickle out over lunch.
Now getting the 20W/50 oil in is a slow process as the oil backs up the funnel nozzle . Why isn't there a bigger hole to let the oil in. A pain in the back for us old timers. Now inspired to do the spark plugs and air cleaner while the sun shines. The transmission oil can wait another year. By the way, I still consider the fully synthetic gearbox oil, grade 75W/140 to be a good call- a smoother less crunchy shift.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:26 pm
by towerworker
Gregor......just changed my fluids today as well. 20/50 Castrol in the engine and Lucas 80/90 in the FD and tranny. I've near 90,000 miles which I think is about 144K kilometers. I've been using the same fluids since I bought the bike with 17K 11 yrs ago. I'm afraid to try synthetic at this point. Had a bad experience trying to change to syn on a previous R. I've been real pleased. Bike runs like the proverbial bat outa hell!

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 2:51 am
by gregor
Nothing like experience for oils. I am aware of the reported seal issues and as a result have stuck with the semi synth for the bevel box.
Can you get the engine oil into the engine at a reasonable pace? Its very stop start for me as the funnel backs up and my back aches holding the funnel. I've tried a smaller diameter funnel that can get the spout right into the filling hole but the oil flow is inevitably even slower.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:12 pm
by towerworker
I understand the funnel issues. A decent sized funnel won't generally stay in the oil fill without holding it. Yesterday I forgot my generally used funnel (which I have to hold) and just poured by hand carefully into the fill. I've gotten used to the somewhat slow fill. I've not found any really better method.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:16 pm
by Sunbeemer
Here's a tip: If you pour the oil into the funnel's hole and don't let the funnel fill up, it flows in much quicker.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:18 pm
by towerworker
Been there...done that!! :)

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:06 pm
by Sunbeemer
Works with antifreeze too! :lol:

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 2:37 am
by gregor
Just why is that hole so small? I don't recall having such a pita servicing my K75 or R80/7. My leaky old Triumph T90 had a filler about 2" in diameter.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2018 9:12 am
by JeffEd65
Same problem here. I'm older and my 'good' tall funnel likes to fall out of the hole. Thinking through this I typically end up picking some super cold Ohio winter day to change oil. The oil is cold, thick and slow. Anyone ever try gently warming the oil before filling? Nothing crazy. The oven is off limits. Next time, I want to try to store the oil inside near the furnace or some other heat source.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Sun May 06, 2018 2:52 pm
by Riverside
Just browsing today and ran across this post. My "two cents" for what it's worth. For the other "old" guys out there..... buy a mechanics shop stool on wheels for your back problem and keep your oil in the house the night before changing it if the weather is cold. Another solution I have seen is a pour spout that fits onto the oil bottle allowing you to squeeze it or just leave it upside down in the fill hole.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Wed May 23, 2018 9:45 am
by gregor
Thanks, just assembled a highly rated rectangular Hawk wheeled mechanics stool, from Amazon at £25 in p&p. Looks good and working on the oil changes etc. should be easier.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Thu May 24, 2018 7:28 am
by gregor
£19 , so hope it takes my 94kg. Sounds lighter than stones and pounds or the US convention of pounds only.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Fri May 25, 2018 11:10 am
by sykospain
Being a cheapskate who also suffers from an achey back, I got myself one of those little camping canvas folding scissor stools. Perfect for wrangling a bike that's not on a lift. Five snoojits only....

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2018 3:07 pm
by dandeldesierto
There's some good ideas posed here, I found a funnel with an "offset" reservoir (it was one with a removeable flexible snout (which I removed)). The funnel, because of the offset, will stand reliably on it's own in the oil fill hole, which makes it possible to have both hands free for the pour.

Re: Oil Change Thoughts

Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2018 7:18 pm
by towerworker
Another method.....lay bike over on right side......remove left jug valve cover and poor oil down timing chain tunnel. Goes much faster.....