Changing oil

[syl]

As it appears that I might not need a service for another 6 months or so, but my oil will need changing in 6 weeks, I was thinking about doing it myself (for the first time). Kawasaki Z750S.

I've got a socket set, torque wrench, etc. I'll need a new oil filter and the requisite amount of oil, together with a container to shove the old oil into.

Is there anything else I should know, or will need, before setting about the task? Is there a special tool for taking off the oil filter? Does the sump bolt need a new washer/gasket when it's replaced?

Some people have mentioned Hein Gericke as a source of oil with a free oil/air filter. Guess I should change the air filter too (do I need to know anything about that?) Other people say to get an OEM filter but I'm unsure why it should have any advantage.

Advice? Thanks in advance.
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Current bike: Kawasaki Z750S

[Whosthedaddy]

Emtpied out the oil over the weekend.

The sump plug should have a copper washer and I believe according to manuals and the like, it should be replaced, but mine was still in good nick so got used again

Although the oil emties out nicely, when it came to removing the filter, its suprising how much oil is still present in the engine and filter housing, pouring out and promptly made a mess everyhwere

My oil filter was simply held in place by a large spring, just be careful to replace the filter the correct way round. To help prime the filter a certain amount of new oil can be poured into the filter before refitting. Just give the rubber seal a nice clean and this should also be good enough to reuse.

Apart from a little fiddly and messy, an easy job.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[mchaggis]

The best filter wrench I have found is a strap wrench, which winds itself tighter as you turn it. I found a filters (a VW Golf which hadn't had a filter change in 30k miles ) which I couldn't shift with a screwdriver and hammer (this is normally an absolute fail safe). Result - I bought a strap wrench and an extended wrench (a bit of pipe over a short handled wrench would do fine) and it came off no bother at all.

See https://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm for a lot of useful advice and information. A strap wrench can be very useful for holding other things still too.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[irving]

[Walloper]

Everyones reused the old sump plug gasket.
As stated, they're normally made of copper or aluminium.
They work by deformation. The theory being, as you tighten the plug into the hole the softer copper/alloy will fill any wee gaps between the plug face and the sump hole face and make a 'good' seal.

So if you reuse the old one it has already been squeezed once and might not squeeze a 2nd/3rd time and you could end up with a 'weeping' sore for a drain plug.
If you have a new washer fit it. Less than a pound.

Do not over tighten the new filter as you could bust a blood vessel trying to get it off next year.

3/4 of a turn after the seal contacts the filter base.

And take your old oil to the local recycle place or a garage.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[stinkwheel]

I have re-used the sealing washer on my GPZ engine for more than 20 oil changes (ie, it still has the same one it came with). It doesn't leak.

That said, this is no garauntee that yours wont leak.

If it is copper, give it a clean up with some wire wool, heat it red hot then let it cool (a cooker is good for this if you don't have a blowlamp). Give it another gentle clean (without bending it) and you are good to go. This is called annealing and makes the copper all soft and squishy again so it squashes into any gaps and imperfections creating a seal.

[Walloper]

[Pete.]

I don't change my oil filter every oil change. I change it every second or third change. It really doesn't have that much crap to catch, unless you are prone to abusing your clutch doing wheelies/racing starts etc. If I were to ruin my clutch by dragracing etc I would drop the oil and change the filter immediately.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[stinkwheel]

[Walloper]

A wis in Aberdeen aboot a two months back getting trained. Me?
Ah met these fermirs at a waddin there in the hotel.
The quine it wiz wa the loon sittin it oor table, ken.
Told me whit a Snergie wiz.

Its a grand word for the bit of wood removed to make the erse hole on a rocking horse.

She said there were a few 'snergies' at the wedding.
From the other side of the family of course ken.

Feed that into your spell checker.

I would ner waste a drop on a fifty mile round trip.
Any excuse to get out.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair