Rear Dif Oil Question

[SoCalFJR1300]

I bought this 2008 FJR in Feb 13 from a local dealer with only 2,900 miles on it.

When I bought it I asked them what kind of maint they did on the bike.

They told me they changed the engine oil, diff oil, and brake and clutch fluid.

I just changed the dif oil at 12,000 miles for the first time and ONLY about a 2oz shot glass worth of fluid came out!!!

Could only 9,000 miles of riding used up a lot of the oil? Not leaking anywhere?

Guess I should have changed it sooner, just in case the dealer didn't!

 

[Bokerfork]

I don't think it holds much more than two shot glasses.

 

[art miller]

The final drive has a very small oil volume. It is more than a shot glass but less than you may think. Ride the bike and change the final drive lube every time you change the oil and filter. FJR's are very sturdy and if you do the recommended maintenance you will ride worry free for many miles.

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

The final drive has a very small oil volume. It is more than a shot glass but less than you may think. Ride the bike and change the final drive lube every time you change the oil and filter. FJR's are very sturdy and if you do the recommended maintenance you will ride worry free for many miles.

Yeah you're right I checked the quart bottle I bought and the see through side shows it's still about 3/4 full so it looks like it only took about 6 oz's to fill.

Seemed like it took more.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Wlfman]

The final drive has a very small oil volume. It is more than a shot glass but less than you may think. Ride the bike and change the final drive lube every time you change the oil and filter. FJR's are very sturdy and if you do the recommended maintenance you will ride worry free for many miles.

Yeah you're right I checked the quart bottle I bought and the see through side shows it's still about 3/4 full so it looks like it only took about 6 oz's to fill.

Seemed like it took more.

Thanks for the replies.

Owner's Manual Page 6-16 holds 0.21 qts which is 6.76 oz

 

[RossKean]

If you only got a shot glass out then it was either underfilled or you have a leak (or you drink really big shots). I doubt if any damage was done but keep an eye on it. I would change it again in a month or two and check the volume coming out. Also check the condition - color and the amount of junk stuck to the magnetic drain plug. If anything more than some fine dark material, you could have a problem.

 

[GPRIDER]

Changing your differential oil at every engine oil change is overkill, but whatever floats your boat. Waste of money in my opinion. Go by what the manual says, which is every 16,000 miles or 24 months.

GP

 

[RossKean]

Changing your differential oil at every engine oil change is overkill, but whatever floats your boat. Waste of money in my opinion. Go by what the manual says, which is every 16,000 miles or 24 months.
GP

I generally change mine a couple of times a year - approximately what is called for in the manual. I was suggesting an additional change in a much shorter interval to assess whether there might be an undetected leak and to see if there was any damage from the previous underfill or leak (i.e. excess particulate in the fluid).

 

[HotRodZilla]

I changed mine at 8k the other day. It was still golden and looked brand new. There was nothing on my plug. I won't do it again until 16k. Absolutely no reason, beyond submerging it to do an earlier change.

Oh, and what Ross was suggesting. Underfilled is one thing. Leaking is another.

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

Ok so if I show no signs of a leak at the pumpkin (nothing on the ground, not even a drop)

Where else could it be leaking from??

I'll check/change it again next month.

 

[TomInPA]

When this stuff leaks, it makes a complete mess. Black dirty junk all over the rear wheel and swingarm. It spreads out and attracts dirt. If you had a leak, you wouldn't need to guess.

 

[Bustanut joker]

I can tell you this, Gear oil needs to be warm or you'll wait a week for it to drain.

As far as changing with every oil change? That's just nutz. But whatever floats peeps boats.

 

[steve_g]

When this stuff leaks, it makes a complete mess. Black dirty junk all over the rear wheel and swingarm. It spreads out and attracts dirt. If you had a leak, you wouldn't need to guess.

My bmw had a seal leak, like tom says it attracts quite a mess. Luckily for me, that was he last straw and I traded it in on my fjr.

Who says bmw final drives suck?

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

Ok then I'm sure I don't have a leak, there's no residue anywhere.

 

[rbentnail]

If there's no gunk on the wheel, you don't have a leak. Stress less. I change mine once per year regardless of miles, I avg about 12k/yr. To me that's fine but as others have said whatever floats your canoe.

 

[Mossyrocks13k]

I change mine every time I put on new tires. New tires, new air cleaner, new plugs, TBS and new diff oil. Less than an afternoon and I know I'm good for awhile

 

[Bokerfork]

I had a 74 Chevy c10 pickup with 280,000 miles on it. Original differential fluid. You people worry too much. What's next? Changing your power steering fluid?

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

I change mine every time I put on new tires. New tires, new air cleaner, new plugs, TBS and new diff oil. Less than an afternoon and I know I'm good for awhile

Well my tires, no matter what I use, only last about 5,000 miles so that wouldn't work for me!

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

I had a 74 Chevy c10 pickup with 280,000 miles on it. Original differential fluid. You people worry too much. What's next? Changing your power steering fluid?

Some vehicles are much more sensitive than others as to fluid changes.

You either were extremely lucky or the Chevy had a VERY strong dif.