First Oil Change

[drummerboy]

Should I do my first oil change at 600 miles per the Owner's manual or do it early? I've got 85 miles on a new 08 FJR. I've seen posts regarding doing the first one real soon like at only 25 miles???????????

 

[Brodie]

Should I do my first oil change at 600 miles per the Owner's manual or do it early? I've got 85 miles on a new 08 FJR. I've seen posts regarding doing the first one real soon like at only 25 miles???????????

drummerboy,

Congratulations on your new ride, and welcome to the FJRForum.

Do it now - and at 600 miles.

I did my first oil change at 220 miles and the oil was saturated with contaminates making it look silverish (is that a word?). Why allow that stuff circulate for another 500 miles. It will only cost you the price of 5 quarts of oil and a filter - chump change for the potential longevity.

Can't hurt.

Brodie

 

[Sagebrush]

85 miles is pretty early, at 200 miles my engine oil had some junk in it, probably from the clutch. The rear drive was yucky at 200 miles and it was much better at 1,000.

Change it when you want to, just stay within Yamaha's requirements and keep records. :yahoo:

 

[RichardS]

Did mine at 270 miles when I put it away for the winter.

 

[ian]

I did the first oil change on the sidewalk out in front of the dealer after I WALKED the bike out the door. Couldn't believe how much oil was in my oil. Ian, Iowa

 

[Bluegrass FJR]

It certainly won't hurt it any to change it before 600 miles. You can change it as often as you like and are willing to pay for.

I've owned two FJRs. I let the shop do the 600 mile service, including the oil changes, on both. Both bikes never gave/have never given me a problem.

I bet you'll be fine to wait until 600 miles. Even 600 miles is a very short change interval.

 

[BulletBrad]

Did mine at around 100 miles with a fully warmed up motor and rear drive. Once I hit 600 it went in the backroom and got a fresh load of Amzoil 10w-40 and new filter. This past fall I changed to Yamaha full synthetic 15W-50 and have loved how it makes the shifting seem smoother on my 07AE. I've always changed mine every 4000 miles and then a final change when it gets put up for the winter.

 

[Duezzer]

if you change the oil 1/2 way thru recommended intervalls and at the interval

use a good MA oil and new filter

you will feel twice as good about how you treat your bike

 

[Bustanut joker]

I did the first oil change on the sidewalk out in front of the dealer after I WALKED the bike out the door. Couldn't believe how much oil was in my oil . Ian, Iowa

I know! It's disgusting innit! :blink:

You'd think they'd add some dirt or something!

:jester:

 

[zorkler]

I did the motorman break in and changed it at 60 miles .

 

[PA1195]

Should I do my first oil change at 600 miles per the Owner's manual or do it early? I've got 85 miles on a new 08 FJR. I've seen posts regarding doing the first one real soon like at only 25 miles???????????

I do a brisk break-in ride for about 100 miles max, and then dump the debris and do a filter change. The last several bikes I've owned have shown little silver sheen in the second oil drain at 600 miles, compared with doing it for the first time at only 600. I've also confirmed this by installing a magnetic drain plug - less stuff on the plug at 600 if changed earlier.

Makes sense to get rid of any early metal before the filter potentially gets loaded. How the early change effects long term performance is anybody's guess. As long as it outlives the Warranty Yamaha's happy. It's for us, not them.

Gary in Fairbanks

 

[Gerry.GEG]

'did a modified Motoman breakin, changed oil/filter at 25 miles, changed again at dealer 600, TPS, rear drive shaft change with synthetic, then changed oil in the fall when ready to put away for the winter with Rotella T Synthetic and new K&N filter. Probably won't change again depending on mileage until fall when putting away for winter.

Change the oil and filter. Very cheap insurance then again at 600. what could it hurt?

I think most of us change too much but it's better to do that than wait too long.

Should I do my first oil change at 600 miles per the Owner's manual or do it early? I've got 85 miles on a new 08 FJR. I've seen posts regarding doing the first one real soon like at only 25 miles???????????

 

[madmike2]

I asked an "independent" motorcycle mechanic about changing the engine oil early because I had so much "glittery metallic substance" in my oil when I changed it at 50 miles. His response, "Don't worry about that stuff, it'll settle into the nooks, crannies and low spots in the crankcase and won't hurt your engine."

Hmmmmm....Ohhhh-kaaaaay! I think I'd rather have the initial "break-in fuzz" in the filter and drained from the crankcase, thank you very much.

As to the final drive, it does look horrific but some of that is because Yamaha puts some sort of moly lube in the final drive. I changed mine at the normal interval and it was "black". Subsequent changes have not been like the first change.

YMMV. It's your bike, treat it how you want.

 

[fjrboomer]

Oh Rats! I did not change mine until the 600 mile recommended. I guess I might as well ride to the junk yard tomorrow as the engine and tranny are trash. If I had only known. By the way has anyone heard of a failure of either on the FJR with low miles or even high miles? Just wondering.

 

[madmike2]

Oh Rats! I did not change mine until the 600 mile recommended. I guess I might as well ride to the junk yard tomorrow as the engine and tranny are trash. If I had only known. By the way has anyone heard of a failure of either on the FJR with low miles or even high miles? Just wondering.

That wasn't my point, at all.

There are plenty of people who are riding their bikes who have done exactly what the manual suggests. That's why the engineers who designed the bike have published instructions as they have.

Each owner should do whatever they are comfortable with. Heaven forbid someone buy a used bike that wasn't broken in/oil changed exactly how they would have done it. :tongue-firmly-in-cheek-smiley: