Oil Change

[Tom of VA]

3dogs,

I tried it your way, and when I unscrewed the oil filter it spilled all over my dictionary. What now?

 

[06FJRAEPILOT]

The service manual calls for 4.23 quarts of oil for an oil change when the filter is replaced. I buy Shell Rotella T 5W-40 full synthetic in a gallon container, then add 8 ounces of STP Oil Treatment to increase the viscosity slightly and get added zinc for smooth tranny shifting and I'm right at the 4.25 quart point. On the centerstand, the oil level after running the bike and letting it settle is just slightly above the center mark in the oil window. Personally I wouldn't fill it all the way to the top of the window. Lee in the Mountains of Northern California B)

'04 FJR1300--22,000 miles and lovin' it.

Me too!!

 

[Neville McNaughton]

What filters are a substitute for the OEM one. My local dealer never has them. Is there a Fram # that will suhstitute?

Neville

 

[Reg# 43897]

You're trolling right? If not, then the Fram number 7317 will fit the FJR but people better than I have enough horrible things to say about Fram filters that I will never use the damned things ever again. There are lots of very good filters out there (particularly for Americans) such as Mobil 1 and Purolator Pure 1 that are equivalent to the 7317 sizing. I like Wix/Napa Gold products (Wix makes 'em for Napa). Baldwin's good, too. FYI, Wix is now listing their filters as motorcycle-specific now so that should address anybody who may have dealership concerns. I think that the Napa Gold number is 1358 or something like that. Go to the Wix site for a very good cross-reference tool.

John.

 

[JimV]

There are lots of very good filters out there (particularly for Americans) such as Mobil 1 and Purolator Pure 1 that are equivalent to the 7317 sizing.

Hey, the Purolator Pure One filters are BLUE, too! Now you're talking. I'll have to look into that. Otherwise I'm going to look into a K&N KN-148 because they have a bolt head on the end to make them easy to get on and off for the uber anal torque wrench types. :blink:

Cheers,

Jim

 

[f1fan]

I started using the Mobil 1 M-110 oil filter but have also used the Fram before.

If you are interested in reading about oil filters check out this link

Oil Filters

This site has a lot more really good information than just oil filters. It's worth a look IMO.

 

[Bounce]

Too many horor stroies about Fram filters over the years. I'd never use them or recommend them to anyone for bike applications.

 

[Neville McNaughton]

Thanks for the input on filters, Wal Mart has Fram alongside the oil. Will seek out the better alternative. I think it was fair to say that Fram was slammed by all.

Neville

 

[MrT]

3dogs makes his share of good points, especially his Rule #1.

Since this is an oil change thread and there might be some other newbies out there like me, I'll mention my first oil change. Having owned a 650 Bonneville back in the 60's, I developed early phobias about stuff vibrating loose from motorcycles -- those vertical twins shook everything loose. Starting with a clean slate on this 05 FJR i decided to go by the book. Long story short, the torque specs for both the oil filter and drain plug seem way too high, and after reading another thread about overtightened/stripped drain plugs i'm glad common sense stopped me short of the 31 ft/lbs torque spec for the drain plug. Same with the filter -- spun it on until the filter gasket touched -- after tightening the filter another 3/4 to full revolution the torque wrench still hadn't clicked to the owners manual torque spec, but even this old Bonny owner knew when to stop tightening! One forum member suggested going 10%-20% below the torque specs, so maybe he is onto something.

 

[FJrider1]

You're trolling right?    If not, then the Fram number 7317 will fit the FJR but people better than I have enough horrible things to say about Fram filters that I will never use the damned things ever again. There are lots of very good filters out there (particularly for Americans) such as Mobil 1 and Purolator Pure 1 that are equivalent to the 7317 sizing. I like Wix/Napa Gold products (Wix makes 'em for Napa). Baldwin's good, too. FYI, Wix is now listing their filters as motorcycle-specific now so that should address anybody who may have dealership concerns. I think that the Napa Gold number is 1358 or something like that. Go to the Wix site for a very good cross-reference tool.
John.

Napa's WIX filter does not seal, don't ask me how I know....

 

[markjenn]

3dogs makes his share of good points, especially his Rule #1.
Since this is an oil change thread and there might be some other newbies out there like me, I'll mention my first oil change. Having owned a 650 Bonneville back in the 60's, I developed early phobias about stuff vibrating loose from motorcycles -- those vertical twins shook everything loose. Starting with a clean slate on this 05 FJR i decided to go by the book. Long story short, the torque specs for both the oil filter and drain plug seem way too high, and after reading another thread about overtightened/stripped drain plugs i'm glad common sense stopped me short of the 31 ft/lbs torque spec for the drain plug. Same with the filter -- spun it on until the filter gasket touched -- after tightening the filter another 3/4 to full revolution the torque wrench still hadn't clicked to the owners manual torque spec, but even this old Bonny owner knew when to stop tightening! One forum member suggested going 10%-20% below the torque specs, so maybe he is onto something.

I tighten drain plugs by hand (I agree, the factory torque specs run too much risk of stripping), and torque oil filters by getting them as tight as possible with bare hands, but never using tools.

In doiing hundreds of oil/filter changes on cars/bikes over the years, I have yet to have the slightest problem with either drain plugs or filters loosening. In fact, the only instance where I've had any issue is when a dealer torqued my R1 drain plug to spec and stripped it at a 600-mile service. A few days later, it oiled my tire on a fast group ride and I almost dropped the bike. It required a new pan.

- Mark